Changes in lycopene, total carotenoid and anti-radical activity in teasel gourd [Momordica subangulata ssp. renigera (G. Don) de Wilde] fruit fractions at different stages of maturity

• Seed aril of ripe fruits of spine gourd is second richest source of lycopene after gac.
• Lycopene, carotenoids, xanthophylls increased with ripening process while β-carotene, phenolics, tannin and flavonoids decreased.
• The changes in compounds followed linear and exponential pattern.
• Strong correlation exists between lycopene and antioxidant activity but it was significantly influenced by other phytochemicals in aril and pulp extracts.

The study investigated phytochemical changes in aril and pulp of Momordica subangulata ssp. renigera (G. Don) de Wilde fruit during ripening process. Aril had higher lycopene (57.0 ± 2.2 μg/g), carotenoids (149.8 ± 0.3 μg/g), flavonoids (396.0 ± 2.3 mg/100 g), phenolics (297.7 ± 2.2 mg/100 g), tannin (495.4 ± 2.8 mg/100 g), and xanthophylls (111.8 ± 0.9 mg/100 g) than pulp at stage-1. Carotenoids, lycopene and xanthophylls in aril fraction increased from turning yellow to ripe stage by 205.0%, 524.5%, and 303.7%, respectively while in pulp by 633.2%, 557.4%, and 1113.2%, respectively. Flavonoids (18.3%, 16.5%), tannins (24.4%, 26.8%), phenolic (20.2%, 19.5%), β-carotene (87.4%, 70.6%), and chlorophyll (55.1%, 82.0%) were decreased in aril and pulp. The ABTS and DPPH activities reduced in both fractions with ripening. The ABTS anti-activity had strong correlation with lycopene (r = 0.984; p < 0.01), phenolics (r = 0.976; p < 0.01), tannin (r = 0.984; p < 0.01), β-carotene (r = 0.951; p < 0.01), carotenoids (r = 0.923; p < 0.01), and chlorophyll (r = 0.951; p < 0.01). Ripe fruits of M. subangulata ssp. renigera can be used for higher recovery of lycopene for herbal industry.