Composition and potential use of some tropical fruits
Bressani, R.; Elías, L.G.; Molina, M.R.; Navarrete, D.
Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 27(4): 475-493
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-0622 PMID: 96749 Document Number: 121093
It is suggested that fruit such as mango, crab apple, peachpalm fruit and others could be used in Latin American diets of poor quality as sources of vitamin A and ascorbic acid. Information is presented on the use of some little-known although relatively abundant tropical fruits in Central America as constituents of high-protein foods, to provide ascorbic acid and provitamin A as well as flavour. Fruit pulp was added fresh or drum-dried to a mixture of maize and soya beans processed by extrusion cooking to a paste or powder and given to rats for 28 days. The addition of fruit pulp to the diet resulted in poorer performances and protein efficiency ratio decreased from 2.22 to between 0.88 and 1.57. The chemical composition of the fruit and seeds of jicara or morro (Crescentia alata), chalum (Inga spp.) chilacayote (Cucurbita ficifolia), caulote (Gauzuma ulmifolia) and cashew (Anacardium occidentale) are given. These are not eaten by humans but could be used as animal feed.