The phyto-constituents and antioxidant activity of the fruit pulp of Trichosanthes cucumerina L. have not been reported in literature and were therefore studied. Two identified morphotypes of this plant (Morphotype I [V1] having long fruit with deep green background and white stripes; and Morphotype II [V2] having light green coloured long fruit) were used for the studies. The dry matter contents of the pulp of the V1 and V2 were 10.9 and 9.6 g/100 g fresh weight (FW), while the ascorbic acid contents were 25.7 and 24.8 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), and lycopene contents were 18.0 and 16.1 mg/100 g FW, respectively. The total phenolics, total flavonoids and total ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of V2 were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than that of V1 by 46.8%, 78.0% and 26.2%, respectively. Bulk of the carotenoids is made up of lutein in the concentration of 15.6 and 18.4 mg/100 g FW, for V1 and V2, respectively. The alpha-carotene contents were 10.3 and 10.7 mg/100 g FW while the beta-carotene contents were 2.4 and 2.8 mg/100 g FW for V1 and V2, respectively. It is concluded from the results of this study that the two morphotypes of T. cucumerina possess valuable nutraceutical properties that can qualify them as viable substitute to the Solanaceous tomato.
Keywords: Trichosanthes cucumerina L; antioxidant power; flavonoids; phenolics.