Physicochemical characterization of the fruits of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina)

Abstract Unconventional food plants emerge in a context where people increasingly care about living healthier. Among these plants, the snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) of Asian origin and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, produces fruits that can reach more than 1 m in length. This study ai...

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Main Authors: Ana Carolina Xavier Pereira de Maria Fernandes, Luis Carlos Cunha Junior, Diogo Pedrosa Correa da Silva, André José de Campos, Cristiane Maria Ascari Morgado, Daniela Santana de Souza, Abadia dos Reis Nascimento
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos (ITAL) 2025-04-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Food Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1981-67232025000100410&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Ana Carolina Xavier Pereira de Maria Fernandes
Luis Carlos Cunha Junior
Diogo Pedrosa Correa da Silva
André José de Campos
Cristiane Maria Ascari Morgado
Daniela Santana de Souza
Abadia dos Reis Nascimento
author_facet Ana Carolina Xavier Pereira de Maria Fernandes
Luis Carlos Cunha Junior
Diogo Pedrosa Correa da Silva
André José de Campos
Cristiane Maria Ascari Morgado
Daniela Santana de Souza
Abadia dos Reis Nascimento
author_sort Ana Carolina Xavier Pereira de Maria Fernandes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Unconventional food plants emerge in a context where people increasingly care about living healthier. Among these plants, the snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) of Asian origin and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, produces fruits that can reach more than 1 m in length. This study aimed to physiochemically characterize the fruits in different lengths and harvest times. The fruits were harvested with the following lengths: between 0.2-0.35 m, 0.45-0.6 m, and 0.7-0.85 m; and at the following times: 115 and 135 days after planting. The attributes evaluated were soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, firmness, pH, dry matter, antioxidant activity, and polyphenols. The fruits of meter okra with 0.2-0.35 m and 0.45-0.6 m presented better color characteristics, greener, brighter, and with greater saturation. In addition, they presented higher values of soluble solids and lower firmness. At 115 days after planting, the fruits showed higher values of vitamin C, better color, lower acidity, and higher soluble solids content. Thus, we conclude that the fruits should be harvested with a maximum of 0.6 m and up to 115 days after planting.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Instituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos (ITAL)
record_format Article
series Brazilian Journal of Food Technology
spelling doaj-art-ce29dc29759e403095a911e4f3bbff4e2025-08-20T02:08:43ZengInstituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos (ITAL)Brazilian Journal of Food Technology1981-67232025-04-012810.1590/1981-6723.11223Physicochemical characterization of the fruits of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina)Ana Carolina Xavier Pereira de Maria Fernandeshttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-3857-5741Luis Carlos Cunha Juniorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7490-4537Diogo Pedrosa Correa da Silvahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7787-7500André José de Camposhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5958-8107Cristiane Maria Ascari Morgadohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6319-344XDaniela Santana de SouzaAbadia dos Reis Nascimentohttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3952-5878Abstract Unconventional food plants emerge in a context where people increasingly care about living healthier. Among these plants, the snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) of Asian origin and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, produces fruits that can reach more than 1 m in length. This study aimed to physiochemically characterize the fruits in different lengths and harvest times. The fruits were harvested with the following lengths: between 0.2-0.35 m, 0.45-0.6 m, and 0.7-0.85 m; and at the following times: 115 and 135 days after planting. The attributes evaluated were soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, firmness, pH, dry matter, antioxidant activity, and polyphenols. The fruits of meter okra with 0.2-0.35 m and 0.45-0.6 m presented better color characteristics, greener, brighter, and with greater saturation. In addition, they presented higher values of soluble solids and lower firmness. At 115 days after planting, the fruits showed higher values of vitamin C, better color, lower acidity, and higher soluble solids content. Thus, we conclude that the fruits should be harvested with a maximum of 0.6 m and up to 115 days after planting.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1981-67232025000100410&lng=en&tlng=enQualityPost-harvestUnconventional food plantsVegetablesTitratable acidityVitamin C
spellingShingle Ana Carolina Xavier Pereira de Maria Fernandes
Luis Carlos Cunha Junior
Diogo Pedrosa Correa da Silva
André José de Campos
Cristiane Maria Ascari Morgado
Daniela Santana de Souza
Abadia dos Reis Nascimento
Physicochemical characterization of the fruits of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina)
Brazilian Journal of Food Technology
Quality
Post-harvest
Unconventional food plants
Vegetables
Titratable acidity
Vitamin C
title Physicochemical characterization of the fruits of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina)
title_full Physicochemical characterization of the fruits of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina)
title_fullStr Physicochemical characterization of the fruits of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina)
title_full_unstemmed Physicochemical characterization of the fruits of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina)
title_short Physicochemical characterization of the fruits of the Unconventional Food Plants (UFP), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina)
title_sort physicochemical characterization of the fruits of the unconventional food plants ufp snake gourd trichosanthes cucumerina
topic Quality
Post-harvest
Unconventional food plants
Vegetables
Titratable acidity
Vitamin C
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1981-67232025000100410&lng=en&tlng=en
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