Author(s) :

Izaora Mwamba, Jean-Noël Kanyinda Mputu, Dya Fita Dibwe, Bienvenu Kamalandua Mvingu, Sophie Laurent, Tienabe Nsiama.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Carica papaya L. is a tropical fruit known for its nutritional benefits and content of biologically active compounds. Nevertheless, limited data exist concerning the tissue-specific partitioning of phytochemicals within fruit tissues. The present study examined the presence of different classes of secondary metabolites in the peel, pulp, and seeds of C. papaya via qualitative phytochemical analysis, together with biochemical inference based on data from literature sources. Secondary metabolite analyses revealed the unique presence of distinct phytochemical profiles in various fruit tissues. The pulp showed positive results for the presence of anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins, alkaloids, quinones and terpenoids/sterols. Tannins, alkaloids, quinones, and terpenoids have been found in the peel, while the seed sample demonstrated the prevalence of flavonoids related to saponins, alkaloids, and terpenoids. Metabolites already described in C. papaya and associated with the mentioned fruit parts have been found using the LOTUS Natural Products Database and scientific literature. Nevertheless, these compounds were only used to interpret the presence of certain phytochemical groups without experimental confirmation in the studied samples. Based on data analysis, it can be suggested that alkaloids, shikimic acid-, and phenylpropanoidrelated metabolites and terpenoids are the most abundant classes of metabolites in C. papaya. The findings indicate a tissue-dependent phytochemical localization within C. papaya fruits and illustrate the possible biochemical specificity in each tissue, such as the peel, pulp, and seeds. While the hypothesis on biochemical specificity still needs to be proven using advanced methods such as LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, NMR dereplication, and spatial metabolomics, this study will prove beneficial in determining the biochemical specificity of each tissue and may serve as a basis for valorizing the waste products of the papaya fruit.

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