Chemical characterization of the pulp, peel and seeds of cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal)

Abstract

Summary The chemical characterization of the pulp, peel and seeds of cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal) was determined. In artisanal fruit processing, 26.3% of peel and 9.7% of seeds were obtained. The seeds showed a high potential for the development of value-added products because of their dry matter contents (23.46%) as follows: carbohydrate (69.37% dry basis (d.b.)), nitrogen (3.18 g/100 g of seed d.b.), K (0.023 g/100 g of seed d.b.), Fe (0.0185 g/100 g of seed d.b.) and dietary fiber (21.27 g/100 g of seed d.b.). The carbohydrate, dietary fibre and mineral contents of the pulp, peel and seeds also highlighted the agroindustrial potential of the fruit in that these constituents could be used to develop functional foods, food additives, preparations for functional diets and dietary supplements.