Chen Si-Yuan, Xu Cheng-Yuan, Mazhar Muhammad Sohail, Naiker Mani
School of Health, Medical & Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University Australia, Bruce Hwy, North Rockhampton, QLD 4701, Australia.
Research Institute for Northern Agriculture, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Brinkin, NT 0810, Australia.
Molecules. 2024 Nov 30;29(23):5676. doi: 10.3390/molecules29235676.
Dragon fruit, which is native to northern South America and Mexico, has become a significant crop in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Vietnam, China, and Australia. The fruit ( spp.) is rich in various bioactive phytochemical compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and pigments such as betalains and anthocyanins, which contribute to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. This comprehensive review introduces the origin, classification, and global production of dragon fruit, with a particular focus on its bioactive phytochemicals and therapeutic potential. Additionally, it critically evaluates the current industry standards for fresh dragon fruit production across key producing countries. While these standards primarily focus on quality, classification, and grading criteria, they lack focus on parameters related to the fruit's bioactive content. The absence of established quality standards for fresh produce in the Australian dragon fruit industry presents a unique opportunity to develop guidelines that align with both international benchmarks and the therapeutic potential of the fruit. By addressing this gap, this review can potentially help Australia to position its dragon fruit industry to achieve greater consistency, competitiveness, and consumer appeal. As the demand for functional foods continues to rise, aligning Australian production practices with global standards becomes critical to meeting domestic market expectations. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of dragon fruit's nutritional and therapeutic significance and highlights its potential role in establishing a robust standard for the Australian dragon fruit industry. A review of global industry standards reveled that Australian standard could incorporate classifications of dragon fruits, including external factors like appearance, size, and defect tolerance. Future research is needed to prioritize understanding of the impact of cultivation practices and environmental factors on the bioactive composition of dragon fruit, enabling the development of best practices for growers. Additionally, further studies are needed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of these bioactive properties through clinical trials, particularly their potential in preventing chronic diseases. The advancement of analytical methods for quantifying bioactive compounds will provide deeper insights into their health benefits and support the establishment of bioactive-oriented industry standards. Moreover, investigations of post-harvest handling and processing techniques could optimize the preservation of these valuable compounds, enhancing dragon fruit's role as a functional food.
火龙果原产于南美洲北部和墨西哥，现已成为包括越南、中国和澳大利亚在内的全球热带和亚热带地区的重要作物。这种水果（多种品种）富含多种生物活性植物化学化合物，包括酚酸、黄酮类化合物以及甜菜碱和花青素等色素，这些成分赋予了它抗氧化、抗炎和抗菌特性。这篇综述全面介绍了火龙果的起源、分类和全球产量，特别关注其生物活性植物化学物质及其治疗潜力。此外，它还对主要生产国新鲜火龙果生产的现行行业标准进行了批判性评估。虽然这些标准主要侧重于质量、分类和分级标准，但它们缺乏对与水果生物活性成分相关参数的关注。澳大利亚火龙果行业缺乏新鲜农产品既定的质量标准，这为制定符合国际基准和该水果治疗潜力的指导方针提供了独特契机。通过填补这一空白，本综述有望帮助澳大利亚定位其火龙果产业，以实现更高的一致性、竞争力和消费者吸引力。随着对功能性食品的需求持续上升，使澳大利亚的生产实践与全球标准保持一致对于满足国内市场期望至关重要。本综述全面阐述了火龙果的营养和治疗意义，并强调了其在为澳大利亚火龙果产业建立健全标准方面的潜在作用。对全球行业标准的审查表明，澳大利亚标准可以纳入火龙果的分类，包括外观、大小和缺陷容忍度等外部因素。未来需要优先研究栽培实践和环境因素对火龙果生物活性成分的影响，以便为种植者制定最佳实践方法。此外，还需要进一步研究通过临床试验评估这些生物活性特性的治疗效果，特别是它们在预防慢性病方面的潜力。用于量化生物活性化合物的分析方法的进步将更深入地了解它们对健康的益处，并支持建立以生物活性为导向的行业标准。此外，对采后处理和加工技术的研究可以优化这些宝贵化合物的保存，增强火龙果作为功能性食品的作用。
