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Organic acids in Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana): The good (ellagic), the bad (oxalic) and the uncertain (ascorbic)

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Williams, D. J., Edwards, D., Pun, S., Chaliha, M., Burren, B., Tinggi, U. and Sultanbawa, Y. (2016) Organic acids in Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana): The good (ellagic), the bad (oxalic) and the uncertain (ascorbic). Food Research International . ISSN 09639969

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Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2016.08.004

Abstract

The phenolic ellagic acid (EA) is receiving increasing attention for its nutritional and pharmacological potential as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent. The Australian native Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) fruit is an abundant source of this phytochemical. The fruit also contains large amounts of vitamin C (mainly as ascorbic acid, AA) and possibly the undesirable oxalic acid (OA). Regular consumption of high oxalate foods poses a variety of health risks in humans including interference with calcium absorption and kidney stone formation. Oxalate is also the end-product of AA metabolism so that consumption of fruit with heightened AA content has the potential to elevate urinary oxalate levels. The aims of this study were to investigate the distribution of EA and the presence of other bioactives in other Kakadu plum tissues. Chemical analysis of Kakadu plum fruit and leaves for EA (free and total), OA (water-soluble and total), calcium (Ca) and AA indicated that EA and AA concentrations were high in the fruit while the leaves had significantly higher EA levels but little or no detectable AA. OA content in fruit and leaves was substantial with the fruit being placed in the high-Oxalate category. These findings suggest that there is potential to elevate oxalate levels in the urine of susceptible people and intake of fruit-derived products should be closely monitored. By measuring tissues collected from specific trees, high EA-producing or low OA-containing individuals were identified.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Crop and Food Science
Additional Information:Crown copyright
Keywords:Quantification of organic acids Nutraceutical plant Kakadu plum fruit and leaves Oxalate: Calcium ratio Link between oxalic and ascorbic acids Identification of individual trees possessing high bioactive tissues
Subjects:Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Agricultural chemistry. Agricultural chemicals
Plant culture > Fruit and fruit culture
Plant culture > Fruit and fruit culture > Culture of individual fruits or types of fruit
Live Archive:15 Aug 2016 03:53
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:44

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