Physicochemical Analysis, NMR Profiling, FTIR Analysis, Lipid and Carbohydrate Content of Rivina humilis Berries: 10.55434/CBI.2023.10106

La Toya Roberts; Dane  Warren; Andrea Goldson-Barnaby; Raymond Reid

doi:10.55434/CBI.2023.10106

Authors

La Toya Roberts The University of the West Indies
Dane Warren The University of the West Indies, Jamaica
Andrea Goldson-Barnaby The University of the West Indies https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8195-5383
Raymond Reid The University of the West Indies, Jamaica

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55434/CBI.2023.10106

Keywords:

Rivina humilis, dogblood, pigeon berry, lipid, sugars

Abstract

Rivina humilis L. belongs to the Phytolaccaceae family. The berries of the plant are underutilized. Physicochemical properties of the fruit inclusive of total soluble solids, pH, moisture, and lipid content were determined. Berry extracts were characterized utilizing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. The fruit is low acid with a pH of 6.1, moisture content of 84 %, lipid content of 15 % (dry weight basis), and a total sugar content of 6.9 % (fresh weight basis). Galactose was identified as the major carbohydrate and oleic acid, the major fatty acid within the fruit. This paper provides further information regarding the physicochemical and nutritional composition of the berries, which are not utilized commercially.