Carotenoids Content of Some Locally Consumed Fruits and Yams in Cameroon

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency constitutes a public health problem in Cameroon. Data on provitamin A content of fruits locally consumed are scarce. To solve this nutritional problem, it is important to promote the consumption of yellow/orange fruits or green leafy vegetables which are rich sources of provitamin A. In order to achieve this, the carotenoids content of seven fruits (Mango: Mangifera indica, papaya: Carica papaya, water melon: Cucurbita moschata, pumpkin: cucurbita pepo, guava: Psidium guayava, cythere apple: Spondias cytherea and fruit of Parkia biglobosa) and two yam varieties (Dioscorea schimperiana and bulbifera) consumed in Cameroon were determined by HPLC method. Water content in the fruits varied from 56.30% (Papaya) to 93.76% (water melon), while in tubers, it varied from 62.94 (D. bulbifera) to 80.65 (D. schimperiana, red variety). Papaya solo, as well as red and yellow pumpkin contained all the five carotenoids analyzed. Quantitatively, amongst fruits, mangoes are the richest in total pro-vitamins A carotenoids with a mean content of 2854.74±429.78 μg/100 g FW, followed by the red pumpkin (1204.74±26.49). Guavas had the lowest mean values of 21.84±0.86 and 29.07±1.62 μg/100 g FW for the different harvest periods. For the fruits, ß-carotene is the highest provitamins A carotenoid. In tubers, ß-Cryptoxanthin and Zeaxanthin was mostly found. The fruit of Parkia biglobosa was very rich in α-carotene (166.34 μg/100 g FW) and was the only fruit that lacked zeaxanthin. Carotenoid content of different foods analyzed, could help improve vitamin A status among the target populations.