Effect of Maturation Degree on the Fixed Oil Chemical Composition, Phenolic Compounds, Mineral Nutrients and Antioxidant Properties of Pistacia lentiscus L. Fruits

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the maturity stage effects on the bioactive metabolites content, the antioxidant activity and color variation of Algerian Pistacia lentiscus L. fruit. For this propose, both red and black fruits of the selected species representing two different maturation stages immature and mature, respectively are chosen. Our experimental study was initiated by a GC/MS analysis in order to determinate the fixed oils chemical composition. An AAS for macroelements and ICP-MS for microelements was carried out to evaluate the mineral composition. Furthermore, phenolic, anthocyanins and total sugars compounds level were determinate. Also, a chromameter was used to detect the color changes of fruits powders. At last, antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH and FRAP assays. As a result, the fixed oil qualitative evaluation, revealed new molecules were synthesized in the mature fruit oil which gives it a higher quality than one of the immature stage, we also noted that the accumulation of the oils increases with the fruits maturation while the sugar content decreases significantly. In addition, the results obtained showed that the bioactive molecules were found to be significantly high at the mature stage and its affects positively the P. lentiscus antioxidant activity. High levels of minerals (Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu and Zn) observed in mature fruits ensure a high nutritional quality compared to immature ones.  To conclude, the phytocomponents of P. lentiscus fruit are accumulated during maturation, which provides it with an important qualitative and quantitative value in terms of both curative and/ or nutritional fields.   ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********