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Title: Antioxidant, Sugar, Mineral and Phytonutrient Concentrations Across Edible Fruit Tissues of Orange-Fleshed HoneyDew Melon (Cucumis melo L.)

Author
item Lester, Gene

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2008
Publication Date: 5/18/2008
Citation: Lester, G.E. 2008. Antioxidant, sugar, mineral and phytonutrient concentrations across edible fruit tissues of orange-fleshed honeydew melon (Cucumis melo L.). Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. 56:3694-3698.

Interpretive Summary: Novel orange-fleshed honey dew melon was segmented into sub-peel, outer, middle, and inner (near the seed cavity) tissues and assayed for antioxidants, fruit sugars, minerals, phytonutrients, and total protein concentrations. From the sub-peel to near the seed cavity, antioxidants (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase), phytonutrinets (Ascrobic acid, B-carotene, 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid, soluble solids), minerals (boron and copper),and sugars increased in concentration. Calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and sodium decreased in concentration. These results show that depending on which melon section is assayed, can significantly affect the resulting nutrient, chemical, or mineral concentration; confounding treatment results.

Technical Abstract: Orange-fleshed honey dew melon (Cucumis melo L.) equatorial mesocarp was segmented into hypodermal (sub-peel), outer, middle, and inner (near the seed cavity) tissues and assayed for enzymatic antioxidants, fruit sugars, minerals, phytonutrients, and total protein concentrations. Moving inwards from the sub-peel to near the seed cavity, antioxidants (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase), phytonutrinets (B-carotene, 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid, soluble solids), sucrose, and total sugars increased in concentration. Calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and sodium decreased in concentration. Ascorbic acid, boron, copper, fructose, glucose, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc concentrations were higher on a dry weight basis in the sub-peel vs. near the seed cavity, but vice-versa on a fresh weight basis. These results show that the melon mesocarp sections assayed, and expressed on a dry or fresh weight basis, can significantly affect the resulting nutrient, chemical, or mineral concentration.