Changes in free amino acid, phenolic, triterpene and biogenicamine contents in Coccinia grandis pickles during aging

Abstract

Coccinia grandis (C. grandis) is a perennial plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. It is primarily native to Southeast Asia but has recently been cultivated domestically in Korea due to climate change. In this study, immature fruits of C. grandis, which are rich in bioactive substances, were processed into acidified pickles and stored for 15–55 days to investigate changes in their phytochemicals. The individual components of the phytochemicals in C. grandis were identified using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography system, and the main substances that were identified in this step then quantified using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The qualitative analysis tentatively identified a total of 30 compounds (fourteen hydroxycinnamic acids, one hydroxybenzoic acids, thirteen flavonols and two triterpenes) in C. grandis pickles. Quantification of the phytochemicals showed that the major polyphenols—which included ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin and kaempferol—were highest on day 25 of aging and gradually decreased thereafter. Moreover, triterpenes decreased rapidly as the fruit was processed into pickles, and they further decreased with increasing time in aging. These results therefore indicate that C. grandis fruit has various bioactive substances that make it suitable for use in functional food development through pickle production. © 2024