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Comparative analysis of carotenoid content in Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) collected from Australia, Thailand and Vietnam

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Abstract

Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) is the richest source of lycopene and β-carotene of all known fruits but the influences of collection sites, variety and environment on carotenoid accumulation is unknown. This study analysed the carotenoid content of 44 M. cochinchinensis aril samples collected from Australia, Thailand and Vietnam using HPLC, UV–visible spectrophotometry and compared with the colorimetry method. The highest lycopene content was observed in samples collected from Ha Noi (7.76 mg/g) of Northern Vietnam and Lam Ha (6.45 mg/g) and Lam Dong (6.64 mg/g) provinces of Central Vietnam. The highest β-carotene content was observed in a sample from Nam Dinh (9.60 mg/g) in Northern Vietnam while a variety from Hoa Binh province in Northern Vietnam had high contents of both lycopene (5.17 mg/g) and β-carotene (5.66 mg/g). Lycopene content was higher in samples collected from low temperatures (<14 °C) and higher elevations whilst β-carotene content was greatest at temperatures between 27 and 33 °C. Crop improvement for increased lycopene and β-carotene requires rapid and accurate methods of quantification. All three analytical methods utilised were in agreement for lycopene quantification. The (a*/b*)2 transformed colour value resulted in more linear relationship for lycopene indicating that colorimetry method could potentially be developed to select lycopene rich fruits in the field.

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Acknowledgement

We are grateful for the support from Thu Nga Nguyen and Huong Nguyen in (Hanoi University of Agriculture), Nonnipa Labbunruang and Wanisika Phadungsii (Tammasat University) and Thuy-em Pham (Saigon) for collection assistance; Duc Nguyen (Hanoi University of Agriculture) for access and the use of laboratory facilities, Cuong Nguyen (Hanoi University of Agriculture) for agronomy advice; Rattanapong Charntawong (Thailand gac farm), Dr Sophie Parks (NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia) and Professor Minh Nguyen for providing M. cochinchinensis fruit samples. We thank RMIT University for the travel grant awarded to Tien Huynh to permit the samples to be collected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Applied Sciences (Biotechnology), RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, 3083, Australia

    Dilani Wimalasiri & Tien Huynh

  2. School of Medical Sciences, Health Innovations Research Institute (HIRi), RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, 3083, Australia

    Terrence J. Piva

  3. School of Applied Sciences (Chemistry), Health Innovations Research Institute (HIRi), RMIT University, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia

    Robert Brkljača & Sylvia Urban

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  1. Dilani Wimalasiri
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  2. Robert Brkljača
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  3. Terrence J. Piva
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  4. Sylvia Urban
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  5. Tien Huynh
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Correspondence to Tien Huynh.

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Wimalasiri, D., Brkljača, R., Piva, T.J. et al. Comparative analysis of carotenoid content in Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) collected from Australia, Thailand and Vietnam. J Food Sci Technol 54, 2814–2824 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-017-2719-0

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