Emerging Exotic Fruits: New Functional Foods in the European Market

Laura Cornara; Jianbo Xiao; Antonella Smeriglio; Domenico Trombetta; Bruno Burlando

doi:10.2991/efood.k.200406.001

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Volume 1, Issue 2, April 2020, Pages 126 - 139

Emerging Exotic Fruits: New Functional Foods in the European Market

Authors

Laura Cornara¹^{, *}, Jianbo Xiao², Antonella Smeriglio³, Domenico Trombetta³, Bruno Burlando⁴^{, 5}

¹Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa 26, Genova 16132, Italy

²Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau

³Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy

⁴Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, Genova 16132, Italy

⁵Biophysics Institute, National Research Council (CNR), via De Marini 6, Genova 16149, Italy

^*Corresponding author. Email: cornaral@gmail.com

Corresponding Author

Laura Cornara

Received 23 February 2020, Accepted 31 March 2020, Available Online 14 April 2020.

DOI: 10.2991/efood.k.200406.001 How to use a DOI?
Keywords: Superfruits; functional food; dragon fruit; cherimoya; finger lime; star fruit
Abstract: The consumption of exotic fruits is rapidly increasing in European countries. Some of these products have attracted much interest due to their alleged properties of preventing malnutrition, over-nutrition, and disease, maintaining a healthy body. Scientific studies on these fruits are multiplying, including chemical characterizations and biological investigations on in vitro and in vivo experimental models. This review concerns four edible fruits: Hylocereus undatus (dragon fruit), Annona cherimola (cherimoya), Citrus australasica (finger lime), and Averrhoa carambola (carambola or star fruit). By screening biomedical databases, viz. Scopus, WOS, and PubMed, a total of 131 papers have been selected. Data reveals a wide series of biological effects that confirm traditional medicinal uses or suggest new therapeutic applications. Most studies concern problems related to nutrition, such as body redox balance, metabolic syndrome, and hepatoprotective effects, but other properties have been highlighted, including anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, as well as cardiovascular and skin protection. Pharmacological investigations have also been focused on specific compounds, assuming a potential role in drug discovery. In summary, food products, byproducts, and single compounds derived from these plants could be exploited in the prevention of disease or for specific treatments of health problems.
Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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Journal: eFood
Volume-Issue: 1 - 2
Pages: 126 - 139
Publication Date: 2020/04/14
ISSN (Online): 2666-3066
DOI: 10.2991/efood.k.200406.001 How to use a DOI?
Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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ris enw bib

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Laura Cornara
AU  - Jianbo Xiao
AU  - Antonella Smeriglio
AU  - Domenico Trombetta
AU  - Bruno Burlando
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/04/14
TI  - Emerging Exotic Fruits: New Functional Foods in the European Market
JO  - eFood
SP  - 126
EP  - 139
VL  - 1
IS  - 2
SN  - 2666-3066
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/efood.k.200406.001
DO  - 10.2991/efood.k.200406.001
ID  - Cornara2020
ER  -

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