Effects of sulphur preservative on phytochemical and antioxidant capacity of peels of mango cultivars (<i>Mangifera indica</i> L.) produced in South Africa

Abstract

Fruits have abundant phytochemicals that contribute as bioactive molecules with ability to lower incidence of diseases. Mangoes are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants. In this study, peels of six selected mango cultivars (Tommy Atkins, Peach, Saber, Sunshine, Keitt and Vhavenda) were treated with sulphur dioxide solutions (0, 10, 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 ppm) as preservative of phytochemicals and antioxidants capacity. Regardless of cultivar, sulphur concentration had effect on composition of polyphenols and antioxidant capacity of mango peels, reaching a plateau at 50 ppm. Vhavenda cultivar has significantly highest polyphenols and antioxidant capacity than the other cultivars evaluated. This study reveals that mango peels are a prospective source of natural antioxidants as they constitute significantly higher total antioxidant capacity and phenolic content.

Keywords: Antioxidants, mango cultivars, peels, phytochemicals, sulphur.

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(41), pp. 6007-6012