Nutritional, chemical, and morphological assessment of Couroupita guianensis: a potential edible fruit for human consumption

Couroupita guianensis, a member of the Lecythidaceae family, is a plant widely known for its large, edible and unconventional fruits. The objective of the present study was to investigate the nutritional and chemical composition of the fruits of this species and to perform structural, ultrastructural, and histochemical tests to elucidate the sites of its pulp involved in the production of bioactive substances. The nutritional analysis revealed low fat and protein levels, but the pulp stood out as a significant source of dietary fiber, representing 6.72% of the content. Furthermore, the pulp showed 14.5 ∘Brix and approximately 18.97% total carbohydrates, with an energy value of 56 kcal.100 g⁻¹. The fruit pulp exhibited an antioxidant potential of 183 ± 29 mg GAE.100 g⁻¹ and 3517 ± 1055 µmol Fe²⁺.100 g⁻¹, as determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu and FRAP methods, respectively. LC–MS analysis identified phenolic compounds, with emphasis on hydrolysable tannins. Furthermore, as determined by microscopy, the inner mesocarp was found to consist of vascularized parenchymal tissue accumulating lipid droplets. This region also contained sclereid clusters with secondary polylamellated walls and living protoplasts that accumulated phenolic compounds, probably ellagitannins, near the cell wall and the tonoplast. Additionally, ellagitannin-producing cells were identified, together with the dynamic transport of substances with bioactive potential. Considering these characteristics, along with the abundance of pulp per fruit and the ease of collection, the remarkable potential for consumption and commercialization of the fruit from the C. guianensis species stands out.