Anthocyanin and phenolic characterization, chemical composition and antioxidant activity of chagalapoli (Ardisia compressa K.) fruit: A tropical source of natural pigments

Chagalapoli (Ardisia compressa K.) is a tropical fruit of deep purple color with a high content of pigments. Anthocyanins, polyphenol composition, antioxidant activity and physicochemical characteristics of chagalapoli fruits (CF) are analyzed. The proximal and mineral composition is similar to that found in common berries (strawberry, blackberry and blueberry). A high content of total phenolics (1051.3 ± 43.5 mg of gallic acid equivalents/100 g of FW) is present, among which anthocyanins predominated (796.0 ± 2.3 mg of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside equivalents/100 g FW). Twelve anthocyanins were separated and ten of them identified by HPLC-DAD-MS. The main anthocyanins were malvidin-3-O-galactoside (35%), delphinidin 3-O-galactoside (28%) and petunidin 3-O-galactoside (19%). Other polyphenols identified included: flavonols, flavan-3-ols (catechin and proantocyanidin dimers) and hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives. The antioxidant activity of CF was 40% higher than that found in common berries, which were simultaneously analyzed. The high content of anthocyanins in CF and its peculiar anthocyanin profile make this under-utilized fruit a promising source of pigments and phenolic nutraceuticals.