Evaluation of bioactive constituents of Garcinia indica (kokum) as a potential source of hydroxycitric acid, anthocyanin, and phenolic compounds

Abstract

The composition of metabolites in the rind of ripe fruits of Garcinia indica was analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The fruits were particularly rich in hydroxycitric acid (15.60%–22.92%), which makes them a suitable candidate for weight-loss supplements; in anthocyanin (4.47–7.08 mg g−1), a value much higher than that recorded for the majority of fruits and vegetables, which makes the fruit a good source of natural colour; and in phenolics, making it a good source of antioxidants as well (given the significant correlation between total phenols and flavonoids and antioxidant activity). A total of 38 anthocyanin compounds were identified and quantified, most of them for the first time. Cyanidin-3-sambubioside, peonidin-3-arabinoside, and pelargonidin-3-glucoside were the major anthocyanins. Of the 30 individual phenolic compounds identified, ortho/para coumaric acid, naringenin, and apigenin were particularly abundant, which have myriad industrial applications. The first principal component (PC1) explained 93.05% of the total variability and was positively correlated to hydroxycitric acid, apigenin, and catechin. Clustering and heat map enabled the most suitable accessions for different bioactive compounds to be identified. Overall, the present study highlights G. indica as a rich, new, and sustainable source of bioactive substances with food, pharmaceutical, and other industrial applications.