Functional and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Artocarpus Heterophyllus (Jackfruit) Fruit and Leaves at Different Ripening Stages

Jackfruit is an exotic fruit that has aroused interest due to its size and nutritional potential. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the physicochemical properties of pulp, seeds, peel, and leaves of Artocarpus heterophyllus. The fruit was collected at three stages of maturity (M1, immature; M2, physiological maturity; and M3, commercial maturity) and left at two sets of vegetative development (NL, new; OL, old). Weight, size, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, moisture, ash, phenolics, carotenoids, organic acids, saponins, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were determined.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity were used in a solution obtained by microextraction, and quantification was performed using spectrophotometric methods in microplates. The results showed a high concentration of total phenolics in the leaves (50.78 mg GAE 100 g−1 DW in M1) and carotenoid in the pulp of M3 (316.8 mg β-carotene 100 g−1 DW). At the same time, malic acid was mainly found in the pulp (3,077.7 mg 100 g−1 DW in M1), saponins in the leaves (11.3% in NL), and antioxidant activity in the pulp and seeds of M1 (3.8 and 4.2 mmol TE g-1 DW, respectively) and M2 (4.0 and 4.3 mmol TE g−1 DW, respectively).

In turn, leaves showed inhibition of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, and Staphylococcus aureus. These results highlight the diversity and relevance of chemical constituents in different parts of jackfruit and their potential benefits for human health, including the leaves, seeds, and shells.