Nutrients and bioactive compounds in popular and indigenous durian (Durio zibethinus murr.)

• Nutrients and bioactive compounds of durian from Nonthaburi province, Thailand were reported.
• This is the first report of an indigenous durian, Kob-ta-kam variety.
• Cha-ni and Kob-ta-kam contained higher level of nutrients and bioactive compounds.
• Indigenous varieties of durian contained higher nutritive values than popular varieties.

This study identified nutrients, fatty acids, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of two popular varieties (Mon-thong, Cha-ni) and two indigenous varieties (Kra-dum and Kob-ta-kam) of durian. Each of variety was collected from 3 gardens in Nonthaburi province, Thailand. At optimal ripeness, the edible part was separated, homogenised or freeze dried, as fresh or dry samples for further analysis using standard methods. All durian varieties contained a considerable amount of dietary fibre (7.5–9.1 g/100 g dry matter, DM) and high amounts of carbohydrate and sugar (62.9–70.7 g and 47.9–56.4 g/100 g DM respectively). Cha-ni, Kra-dum and Kob-ta-kam varieties had monounsaturated (MUFA) (6.1–7.8 g/100 g DM) > saturated (SFA) (4.2–5.7 g/100 g DM) > polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (0.8–1.5 g/100 g DM), whereas the Mon-thong variety had SFA > MUFA > PUFA (5.1, 4.0, 1.1 g/100 g DM, respectively). The Kob-ta-kam variety showed greater potential for health benefits in terms of carotenoids and β-carotene (2248 μg and 1202 μg/100 g DM respectively). Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were not significantly different among each variety, though the Cha-ni variety had the lowest. This study provides data on nutrients, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of indigenous and popular durian varieties that could be used for consumer education as well as for incorporation into the food composition databases.