Determination of phytochemicals and vitamin content of underutilized Baccaurea angulata fruit

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the phytochemicals and vitamin content of Baccaurea angulata fruit. Baccaurea angulata or locally known as 'belimbing dayak' or 'belimbing hutan' is an underutilized fruit of family Euphorbiacea which widely distributed in Borneo and several other region of Indonesia. The fruit were divided into three different portion which is skin, berry and whole fruit and the phytochemical and vitamin content were evaluated. The results indicated that whole fruit part contains flavonoid and condensed tannin. While the berry showed positive screening for tannin and the skin containing strong flavonoid. However screening for alkaloid, saponin, triterpine and steroid test showed negative result in every part of the fruit. Result for vitamin content analysis indicated berry contain the highest amount of vitamin A compared to whole fruit and skin. While vitamin C recorded in all part of the fruit. Vitamin E is not found in any part of the Baccaurea angulata fruit. The finding of high amount of phytochemicals type flavonoid and tannin with high vitamin A and Vitamin C in the B. angulata suggested that the fruit can be useful for treating many chronic disease.