Abstract
Melocanna baccifera is a unique bamboo which produces the largest fruits in the grass family. Its gregarious flowering once in 45–50 years in north east India and adjacent regions is a botanical enigma, resulting in a glut of fruits. Proper utilization of M. baccifera fruits is not extant and huge quantities of fruits are left underexploited due to lack of scientific information on their chemical composition and nutritional potential. Here we report the nutritional properties of M. baccifera fruits and the ecological significance of its fruiting. This pear-shaped, fleshy bamboo fruit is rich in amino acids (lysine, glutamic acid), sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose) and phenolics (ferulic acid). Protein content (free, bound) in M. baccifera fruits is very low. Fruits are rich in saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid), minerals (potassium) and only B series vitamins (B3) are detected in them. Rat feeding experiments showed that M. baccifera fruit alone is not a complete food, but with other protein supplements, it is a valuable food additive. This study could lead to better utilization of M. baccifera fruits during future flowering/fruiting events. These results could also help in the successful management of rodent outbreaks and other ecological problems associated with M. baccifera fruiting.
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Introduction
Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz, belonging to the grass family Poaceae, is a unique bamboo naturally distributed in north east India, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh and cultivated in several gardens world over1,2. M. baccifera is locally known as ‘Muli’ bamboo and it has prime economical as well as ecological significance. It spreads aggressively and dominates over other vegetation in a short time3,4. Over 150 million people depend on this bamboo for making homes, agricultural supplements, mats, baskets, paper and pulp and its young shoots are used as food. Flowering of M. baccifera is reported to occur once in forty five to fifty years (monocarpic) and is in synchrony with populations which are distributed over a wide geographical area2. This gregarious flowering or mast flowering is a botanical enigma not so common in the plant kingdom, but is characteristic of woody bamboos5. M. baccifera, just like other woody bamboos, dies after flowering and fruiting. Its fruits are the largest among all bamboos (also in the grass family), pear-shaped, avocado like, green, fleshy, single seeded (caryopsis) and weighing up to 300 g2 (Fig. S1). The quantity of fruits produced from the culms of M. baccifera is enormous reaching up to 83.6 tons per hectare6 when compared to other bamboo fruits like Bambusa bambos and Dendrocalamus strictus5 which accounted only 36 tons/ha5,7. Recent flowering of M. baccifera from 2004-‘08 occurred in 1.76 m ha geographical area in north east Indian states (Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Assam) and about 26 mt of Muli bamboo flowered and died3. The huge amount of fruits produced on M. baccifera flowering inevitably attracts various animals (mainly rodents) and ultimately leads to rodent outbreaks. Due to rapid life cycle and faster reproductive maturity, rodents (rats) colonize and start multiplying in quick succession when the food resource (fruits) is abundant. The fruiting season usually ranges between 2–3-(5) years and the increase in rodent population in this period is enormous8. When the fruiting season is over (or even during the fruiting season), the rodent population migrates to local villages, starts feeding on the rice and maize fields, results in heavy food loss and famine and these events inflicted significant human mortality in the past6,9,10. Muli flowering and associated events are locally known as ‘Mautam’ (meaning ‘bamboo death’) and flowering-induced famine in 1959 claimed 10,000 to 15,000 lives throughout north east India3. The aggressive fruit feeding by rodents and the reason for their population outbreak following the mast flowering of this bamboo are not scientifically explained so far.
M. baccifera fruits are eaten as food by the local tribal people5 and also used as a medicine against low blood pressure11. There are only very few reports on the nutritional, chemical and medicinal aspects of M. baccifera fruits, possibly due to their infrequent (once in 45–50 years) occurrence. One such preliminary report indicated 50.3% starch, 11.6% protein, 0.2% fat and 3.0% ash in M. baccifera fruits8. A recent phytochemical study on M. baccifera fruits led to the isolation of olean-12-en-28-carboxy-3β-acetate, β-sitosterol glucoside, stigmasterol glucoside, 3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-al, isochavicinic acid and eugenol12. Another study reported significant DPPH radical scavenging and moderate antimicrobial activities of M. baccifera fruit extracts13. Effective utilization of M. baccifera fruits for human consumption has never been considered and this is primarily due to lack of reliable scientific data on their nutritional potential. But young shoots (young tender culms) of various bamboos were extensively studied for their nutritional properties14,15. Here we report the nutritional properties of M. baccifera fruits and our results could enhance the utility of this fruit as a food source/medicine. This study may also help to standardize and develop methods to mitigate the rodent outbreak and associated ecological problems during future flowering events.
Results
Amino acids, proteins
Free amino acids in M. baccifera fruit pericarp analyzed by HPLC revealed the presence of various essential (EA) and non-essential (N-EA) amino acids (Table 1). Lysine (EA, 397.67 μg/g, FW) and glutamic acid (N-EA, 367.00 μg/g, FW) were the two major amino acids in M. baccifera fruit pericarp. The free amino acid composition of fruit liquid at different growth stages is given in Table 2. Alanine (N-EA), histidine (EA), methionine (EA) and glycine (EA) were present in fruit liquid throughout the fruit maturation stages. Valine (EA), tyrosine (N-EA), leucine (EA) and isoleucine (EA) were detected only in the early stages of fruit liquid. Serine (N-EA) and glutamic acid (N-EA) were present only in the later stage of maturation i.e., after 28 days. Alanine (N-EA, 14.0 μg/mL), threonine (EA, 13.9 μg/mL), serine (N-EA, 10.8 μg/mL), glutamic acid (N-EA, 9.2 μg/mL), histidine (EA, 6.8 μg/mL) and phenyl alanine (EA, 6.2 μg/mL) were the major amino acids in mature (35 days) fruit liquids.
In Biuret protein assay, BSA standard only gave violet color and M. baccifera pericarps, seeds and fruit liquids did not give a similar color change or significant absorbances at 578 nm. This showed only very low or non-detectable levels of free protein contents. The average weight of precipitated (bound) protein from the fruits was also very low, seed 0.0040 g (0.08%, w/w) (n = 3) and pericarp 0.0069 g (0.14%, w/w) (n = 3), respectively. Dry almond (Prunus dulcis) seeds, known to be protein rich, were used as positive control and average weight of precipitated protein in them was found to be 14.84% (w/w) (n = 2).
Sugars
Sugar analysis of M. baccifera on fruit liquid and pericarp showed a glucose-fructose-sucrose pattern that exists from pre-maturation to maturation stages (Figs. 1 and 2). In M. baccifera fruit pericarps, glucose-fructose-sucrose contents were 0.50, 0.51 and 0.13%, respectively, on the 7th day of maturity. In fully matured fruit pericarps (42 days), their contents were 0.10, 0.15 and 0.31%, respectively (Fig. 2). In fruit liquids, glucose-fructose-sucrose contents were 0.16, 0.26 and 0.00% (on the 14th day), 0.08, 0.09 and 0.48% (35th day) and 0.30, 0.42 and 0.30% (42nd day, seed instead of fruit liquid), respectively (Fig. 1). Fruit liquid was absent on the 7th day (first week) of fruit growth.
Sugars in the fruit liquid of M. baccifera. Filled bar - glucose; Dotted bar - fructose; Unfilled bar - sucrose. Fruit liquid was absent in the first week (7th day); Inner seed of mature fruit was analyzed on 42nd day; Each data point is an average of a minimum of 4 separate measurements on fruit samples.
Sugars in the pericarp of M. baccifera. Filled bar - glucose; Dotted bar - fructose; Unfilled bar - sucrose. Each data point is an average of a minimum of 4 separate measurements on fruit samples.
Total phenolics, phenolic acids
Total phenolic content in M. baccifera fruits estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau assay was 2.06 ± 0.003 mg ferulic acid equivalent/g, DW (n = 3). For identifying phenolic acids present in free, esterified and bound fractions of M. baccifera fruits, twelve most common phenolic acid standards (caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, gentisic acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid, sinapic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid) were used as standards in HPTLC analysis. None of the standards (their Rf values) matched with the free fraction indicating absence or non-detectable levels of free phenolic acids in M. baccifera fruits. In esterified and bound fractions only ferulic acid (and no other phenolic acids) was detected. HPTLC quantification showed ferulic acid contents in esterified and bound fractions as 45.92 ± 6.86 μg/g, DW (n = 3) and 8.65 ± 0.36 mg/g, DW (n = 3), respectively.
Lipids
Lipid analysis of M. baccifera fruits revealed the presence of fifteen saturated/unsaturated fatty acids (Table 3). M. baccifera fruits consisted mainly of saturated fatty acids with palmitic acid (C16:0) as the major constituent (0.13 g/100 g, DW (n = 3).
Vitamins
Vitamin analysis of M. baccifera fruits showed the presence of vitamin B series and neither vitamin C nor fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K) were detected in the fruits. Vitamin B3 and B2 dominated the profile with 2.68 and 2.13 mg/100 g, FW (n = 3), respectively (Table 4).
Minerals
Mineral analysis by ICP-MS and AAS revealed M. baccifera fruit as rich in potassium, 831.5 mg/100 g, DW (n = 3) (Table 5).
Fruit liquid, pericarp, seed and whole fruit feeding experiments
Fruit liquid drinking by rats
M. baccifera fruit liquid intake was 7.86 ± 1.73 mL/animal (n = 7) whereas water intake was only 2.55 ± 1.51 mL/animal (n = 7) during 6 h experiment. The average fruit liquid drinking affinity in rats was significantly higher (3.08 times) compared to intake of water (p < 0.0001).
Fruit liquid, sucrose, glucose and fructose feeding preference on rats
M. baccifera fruit liquid intakes by the rats in the three combinations were (fruit liquid: sucrose: water 2.27 ± 0.75: 5.07 ± 2.44: 3.40 ± 1.28 mL/animal (n = 4)), (fruit liquid: glucose: water 8.2 ± 0.5: 0.90 ± 0.56: 1.3 ± 0.9 mL/animal (n = 4)) and (fruit liquid: fructose: water 9.83 ± 0.58: 0.90 ± 0.53: 0.63 ± 0.32 mL/animal (n = 4)). Clearly, rats showed a high affinity to sucrose compared to the bamboo fruit liquid. But compared to glucose and fructose, the fruit liquid was consumed at significantly higher quantities (p < 0.0001). The average liquid intake per animal in 6 h in fruit liquid/sucrose/water, fruit liquid/glucose/water and fruit liquid/fructose/water combinations was 10.74, 10.40 and 11.36 mL, respectively.
Fruit pericarp, seed, normal food, water feeding preference on rats
Food intakes by rats in 24 h were (normal food: mature fruit pericarp: : water 9.69 ± 2.83: 9.99 ± 2.12 g: 19.97 ± 6.16 mL/animal, n = 6) and (normal food: mature seed: water 6.52 ± 1.27: 25.64 ± 6.86 g: 6.50 ± 2.96 mL/animal, n = 6). Rats showed a relatively higher preference to M. baccifera seed compared to its pericarp and normal food. Water intake is high for rats provided with fibrous fruit pericarp and considerably low when provided with seeds. Maximum weight loss of M. baccifera fresh fruit pericarp (50 g) and seed (50 g) in 24 h under similar conditions were 7.75 ± 1.97 g (n = 6) and 16.94 ± 3.15 g (n = 6), respectively. Normal food (50 g) under experimental conditions gained weight 0.75 ± 0.34 g (n = 6). Weight loss of water was minimal.
Fruit + normal food and fruit alone feeding experiments, serum hematological and biochemical parameters
Fruit feeding experiments were stopped on 8th day since two animals from the group T II (fed with M. baccifera fruit alone) died. As shown in the Table 6, eight days consumption of M. baccifera fruit alone significantly reduced the body weights of animals in the T II group from 28.83 ± 1.42 g to 18.87 ± 1.43 g (p < 0.001, compared to control group) whereas control and T I group animals showed increments in their body weights from 26.16 ± 2.85 g and 27.33 ± 1.75 g to 28.46 ± 3.06 g and 30.36 ± 2.12 g, respectively. Serum protein content of the T II Group was significantly reduced to 1.03 ± 0.31 g/dl from 6.49 ± 0.69 g/dl of the control group (p < 0.001) and serum urea was significantly increased to 65.51 ± 10.3 mg/dl from 33.7 ± 6.01 mg/dl of control group (p < 0.001). In T II group, the hemoglobin content was reduced to 10.13 ± 1.14 g/dl from the control values of 12.28 ± 0.40 g/dl. Again, T II group animals showed significant increase in serum total cholesterol level (170.01 ± 14.71 mg/dl) than that of control animals (92.34 ± 14.70 mg/dl) (p < 0.001), with a remarkable reduction of HDL-cholesterol (33.93 ± 9.20 mg/dl) (Table 7). T I group showed a reduction in cholesterol (77.23 ± 3.05 mg/dl) with an HDL-cholesterol value of 48.42 ± 6.80 mg/dl. Serum triglyceride and alkaline phosphatase levels in all three groups did not show any significant changes. GOT and GPT values of T II group were significantly increased to 93.96 ± 9.10 IU and 35.05 ± 8.25 IU from 62.60 ± 9.34 IU and 25.78 ± 3.59 IU, respectively, of control group (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in GOT and GPT values between control and T I group (Table 7).
Discussion
M. baccifera fruit pericarp and fruit liquid have essential and non-essential amino acids. Free amino acids are building blocks in protein synthesis and they also have critical roles in plant growth and physiology16. Lysine and glutamic acid are the two major amino acids found in M. baccifera fruits. Lysine is one of the essential amino acids required for growth and tissue repair in humans. It is also widely used as a nutritional supplement in foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals and animal feeds. Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid and its derivatives and conjugates have been designed as effective anticancer agents17. A recent epidemiological study found that increase in dietary glutamic acid is likely to reduce blood pressure18. It also acts as a neurotransmitter in mammalian brain and as a precursor for the synthesis of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) in GABAergic neurons19,20. Bamboo young shoots are also known to be rich in various essential and non-essential amino acids14,15. A preliminary study8 reported the protein content in M. baccifera fruits as 11.6%. Moreover, several popular scientific articles claimed high contents of protein in M. baccifera fruits and inferred it as the major reason for rat multiplication during its flowering and fruiting9,21. In this study, by free and bound protein assays, we found only very low levels of proteins in M. baccifera fruit liquid, pericarp and seeds. This finding rejects the protein-driven rat multiplication hypothesis9,21 during fruiting.
M. baccifera fruit pericarp and fruit liquids at various growth stages showed glucose-fructose-sucrose patterns. Glucose and fructose showed gradual decrease in their levels with growth of the fruits and sucrose content showed an increase with fruit growth. The low level of sucrose till 21 days could be attributed to sucrose metabolism into glucose and fructose and its high content (after 21 days) could be associated with sucrose accumulation. Free sugars act as substrates for synthesis of complex carbohydrates such as starch and cellulose. Sugar signals are also critical in determining plant growth and development22,23. The sweetness and quality of fruits are also determined by sugars. As reported earlier2,5, we also observed various predators (rats, monkeys, borers etc.) visiting M. baccifera fruits. The presence of sugars may well be a critical factor attracting rodents and other predators into these fruits. Sugars, mainly sucrose, induce taste to the fruits and ultimately provide energy to animals and humans who consume them.
In feeding experiments, rats showed a clear affinity (3.08 times) to M. baccifera fruit liquid compared to water. They also showed high affinity to sucrose compared to the bamboo fruit liquid. But compared to glucose and fructose, fruit liquid was consumed at significantly higher quantities (p < 0.0001). The average liquid intake per animal in 6 h in fruit liquid/sucrose/water, fruit liquid/glucose/water and fruit liquid/fructose/water combinations was 10.74, 10.40 and 11.36 mL, respectively. The overall drinking of liquids went up when these combination of liquids were provided compared to water alone (2.55 mL). Rats, in feeding experiments, also showed a relatively higher preference to M. baccifera seed compared to pericarp and normal food. Water intake was high for rats provided with fibrous pericarp and considerably low during seed intake. These data indicate that sucrose is the major taste factor in M. baccifera fruits and this explains the affinity of rats and other predators towards these fruits during gregarious flowering. Sugars are also making M. baccifera fruits an energy-rich diet to predators and act as one of the factors resulting in their (mainly rats) multiplication on fruit feeding.
Total phenolic content (M. baccifera fruits 2.06 ± 0.003 mg ferulic acid equivalent/g, DW) positively correlates with the antioxidant properties of a food source. Phenolics are secondary metabolites with at least one aromatic ring and one hydroxyl group. Based on the number of aromatic rings present they are classified either as simple phenols or polyphenols24. Phenolic acids are phenols with at least one carboxylic acid group. The role of plant phenolic acids in food industry has been associated with their nutritional and antioxidant properties. The quantity of phenolic acids present in plants as ‘free acids’ is very low as they are generally conjugated either to monosaccharides, polysaccharides, lignins or polyphenols through ester, ether or acetal bonds24. On HPTLC analysis, we detected only ferulic acid and no other common phenolic acids in M. baccifera fruits. HPTLC quantification showed ferulic acid contents in esterified and bound fractions as 45.92 ± 6.86 μg/g, DW and 8.65 ± 0.36 mg/g, DW, respectively. The content of bound ferulic acid in M. baccifera fruits is more than that of cereals (wheat, maize, rice etc.), which is reported to be in the range of 0.8 to 2.0 mg/g, DW25,26. Ferulic acid, known for several biological activities and thus reducing the risk of major diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer etc., is a useful dietary component for human health25,27. Owing to its biological significance, several studies on its identification and estimation from various plants were reported in the literature28,29,30. The bound form of ferulic acid can be released and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract through the actions of microorganisms, enzymes and glucose transporters31. Dietary intake of bound ferulic acid via whole grains has been proposed to prevent colon cancer and other digestive cancers25. Feruloylated oligosaccharides, obtained from insoluble feruloylated polysaccharides through the actions of hydrolytic enzymes without esterase activity, have numerous applications in food industry. Their antioxidant properties, better than free ferulic acid, inhibition against glycation and probiotic effects have been reviewed recently32. Similar studies on bound ferulic acid rich M. baccifera fruits may yield valuable information on the type and activity of feruloylated oligosaccharides.
M. baccifera fruit mainly consisted of saturated fatty acids with palmitic acid (C16:0) as the major constituent (0.13 g/100 g, DW). Palmitic acid is a good therapeutic agent with reported anticancer activities against human leukemic cell lines33. IC50 value of palmitic acid against leukemic cell lines has been reported in the range of 10–15 μg/ml33. M. baccifera fruits are rich source of palmitic acid, enhancing their biological significance. Vitamin B3 (2.68 mg/100 g, FW) and B2 (2.13 mg/100 g, FW) are the major vitamins in the fruits. Vitamin B3 (niacin) is an essential nutrient and an important pharmacological agent. It has been reported to lower serum lipid and cholesterol levels34,35. It also acts as a precursor for biosynthesis of NAD+, an important coenzyme which has profound physiological as well as neurological importance in humans36. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is needed for growth and maintenance of good health in humans. It helps to break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins by the body to release energy. Mineral analysis revealed M. baccifera fruit as rich in potassium (831.5 mg/100 g, DW). Bamboo shoots are also widely reported to be rich in potassium37. Potassium is a critical mineral essential for the proper functioning of cells, tissues and organs in human body. It is also important in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. Potassium rich diet is attributed to protect against stroke-associated mortality38. Essential minerals like Mg (43.67 mg/100 g), Fe (9.14 mg/100 g), Cu (2.9 mg/100 g), Zn (3.27 mg/100 g) and Mn (1.17 mg/100 g) were also found in trace quantities in M. baccifera fruits.
In fruit feeding experiments, the weight reduction and significant changes in serum parameters of T II group animals are indications of semi-starvation and utilization of their stored energy in muscles, liver etc. Animals change from semi-starvation to starvation stage when they do not get sufficient energy from the food source and are forced to shift their physiology from carbohydrate dominated catabolism to lipid- or protein-dominated catabolism. This eventually results in severe hypoglycemia and leads to death of the animal. In T II group, two animals died in the afternoon of 8th day of the experiment. The dropped serum glucose level of this group (65.65 ± 4.82 mg/dl) (p < 0.05) indicates that the lethality could be due to hypoglycemia and other complications associated with starvation. In T II group, significant reduction in serum protein and increase in serum urea (p < 0.001) clearly show the starvation of animals due to less availability of food and a shift to protein catabolic phase with significant increase in blood urea level. The reduction in hemoglobin content may be due to severe protein catabolism observed in bamboo fruit alone fed animals. The reason that increased serum total cholesterol observed in T II group may be due to the primary shift of metabolism from a hexose dependent pathway to a lipid dependent one where the cholesterol stored in lipid droplets of adipose tissue is released to serum for obtaining energy39,40. Moreover, these feeding experiments showed that M. baccifera fruit alone is not sufficient for the maintenance of normal growth and physiology in animals. On the contrary, the normal food supplemented with bamboo fruit showed maintenance of body weight, serum biochemical and hematological parameters to normal values with a reduction in serum total cholesterol level. This is mimicking the bamboo field scenario where rodents take M. baccifera fruits along with other grains and food items. The actual mechanism of cholesterol lowering activity of M. baccifera fruits in normal fed animals may be attributed either to the presence of vitamin B3, whose cholesterol lowering activity has been widely reported34,35, or/and to other metabolites in the fruits.
The current belief is, M. baccifera suddenly dies after peak flowering/fruiting leaving the enhanced rat population short of fruits and at this crunch they feed on nearby grain fields and destroy stored grains, leading to famine. But our results show a possible correlation between bamboo fruit production, ‘rat floods’ and subsequent famine. Bamboo flowering and fruit setting usually lasts for 2–5 years as observed by us41,42 and in other studies2,5. Fruit production gradually increases from minimal in first year to its peak in 2nd or 3rd year and then diminishes culminating in the death of these bamboos. Rats which devour the fruits in the initial years will have less bamboo fruits and hence consume more of normal foods (protein rich grains). Due to this mixed diet, rats multiply much faster resulting in more individuals. At the time of the peak fruit production (2–3 years) there will be more bamboo fruits and more rats. As a result, the rats due to the taste (of sugars) eat more bamboo fruits and for additional dietary requirements they attack nearby grain fields causing imminent famine. In the event of scarcity of normal food (grains such as rice, wheat), the rats are left with no option but to eat only bamboo fruits (low in protein, but tasty due to sugars) and this shift in food intake leads to starvation and ultimately to their death. Our study indicates this as one possible natural mechanism to check the rodent outbreak associated with M. baccifera flowering.
In conclusion, this study reports the nutritional properties of M. baccifera fruits for the first time. Free amino acids (lysine, glutamic acid), simple sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose), phenolic acids (ferulic acid), fatty acids (palmitic acid), vitamins (B3) and minerals (potassium) identified in this unique bamboo fruit reveal its nutritional and therapeutic potentials. Significantly, the protein content (free, bound) in M. baccifera fruits is very low. In vivo rat feeding experiments showed that fruit alone is not a complete food, but along with other protein supplements, they are valuable food additives. This study enriches our knowledge of this unique bamboo fruit, which could lead to its better utilization during future flowering and fruiting events. Our results could also help in the successful management/prevention of rodent outbreaks and other ecological and social problems associated with fruiting of M. baccifera.
Methods
Chemicals, reagents
Amino acid standard kit, caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, gentisic acid, trans-ferulic acid, salicylic acid, sinapic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid were purchased from Sigma Aldrich, Bengaluru, India. β-Mercaptoethanol, PMSF, Tris-HCl, ammonium acetate, phenol, bovine serum albumin, glucose, fructose and sucrose were purchased from SRL, Mumbai, India. Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum urea, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total protein were determined using commercially available kits (SPAN Diagnostics Ltd., Surat, India).
Melocanna baccifera fruits
M. baccifera from various locations in north east India was introduced into the Bambusetum of Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (N 08°45. 262–430′ E 077°01. 429–583′) during 1988 to 1996 and its growth, multiplication and interaction with other habitats are under constant observation43. M. baccifera gregarious flowering during 2009 to 2015 produced clumps with attractive flowers and fruits (Fig. S1) and our studies were centered on five clumps (Accession numbers 58, 359, 365, 394, 403) in JNTBGRI Bambusetum43. Clump 58 was introduced from Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun in 1988 (under cultivation) and clumps 359, 365, 394 and 403 were introduced from four locations (all wild) from Manipur in 1996. The altitude of origin varies from 435 m (Dehra Dun, clump 58) to 1061 m (Saikul, clump 365) above MSL43 (see Supplementary information). The altitude of JNTBGRI Bambusetum varies between is 79–186.6 m above MSL. M. baccifera, due to its adaptability to survive in different ecological habitats, is widely cultivated in many gardens around the globe.
In this study, M. baccifera fertilized flowers borne in the respective five clumps grown in JNTBGRI Bambusetum were marked and their progressive development from young fruits to mature ones at intervals of 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days were carefully recorded in the field. Fruits at various growth stages were plucked and their size and fruit/seed weights were noted. Fruits were also cut open, fruit liquid contents (filled in cavities of 14–35 days old fruits) were pipetted out, specific gravities measured and in mature ones seeds (embryo + scutellum) were removed with scalpel and weighed. Fruit length: 3.02 ± 0.51 (7 days), 6.78 ± 0.88 (14), 7.80 ± 1.13 (21), 8.41 ± 0.72 (28), 9.11 ± 0.76 (35), 9.93 ± 1.51 cm (42 days) (n = 30). Fruit breadth: 0.51 ± 0.11 (7 days), 2.34 ± 0.71 (14), 3.10 ± 0.64 (21), 3.80 ± 0.66 (28), 4.87 ± 0.80 (35), 5.49 ± 0.62 cm (42 days) (n = 30). Fruit weight: 0.23 ± 0.12 (7 days), 11.09 ± 7.34 (14), 21.37 ± 10.63 (21), 36.38 ± 17.80 (28), 75.02 ± 32.37 (35), 104. 39 ± 26.96 g (42 days) (n = 30). Fruit liquid: 0.00 ± 0.00 (7 days), 0.53 ± 0.38 (14), 0.99 ± 0.52 (21), 1.19 ± 0.61(28), 0.95 ± 0.72 (35) (n = 30), 0.25 mL (42 days) (n = 1). Average specific gravities of fruit liquids were 1.00 ± 0.00 (n = 30) and did not show significant variations with growth stage of the fruit. Average mature fruit and seed weights were 104.39 ± 26.96 (42 days) (n = 30) and 6.09 ± 1.92 g (42 days) (n = 30), respectively. Average mature seed weight (42 days) was only 5.83% of total fruit wt. M. baccifera specimens were authenticated by Dr. K. C. Koshy, one of the authors and voucher specimens were deposited at the Herbarium (TBGT) of the Institute (see Supplementary information).
Amino acids
Amino acid composition of M. baccifera fruit pericarp was analyzed using HPLC-1200 Infinity series (Agilent Technologies, USA) equipped with a C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), binary pump delivery system, robotic autosampler and diode array detector. M. baccifera fresh fruit pericarp (1 g) was homogenized and extracted (10 mL × 2; 15 min each) with 80% methanol, filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure. These pericarp samples or standard amino acids (20 μL) were automatically mixed with O-phthalaldehyde/β-mercaptoethanol reagent (50 μL) before injected onto the C18 column. The column was maintained at 40 °C and the detection wavelength was set at 340 nm. Mobile phase A: 0.05 M Na2HPO4 (pH 5.2):methanol:tetrahydrofuran (80:19:1), mobile phase B: 0.05 M Na2HPO4 (pH 5.2):methanol (20:80), flow rate of 1 mL/min. A linear gradient changing from 0% to 100% of mobile phase B over a time period of 52 min was used. Amino acids in pericarp were expressed as μg/g, FW (Table 1)44.
Amino acid compositions of M. baccifera fruit liquids at 14, 21, 28 and 35 days (of maturity) were analyzed using a HPLC-LC 10AS (Shimadzu, Japan) equipped with a Na type (ISC-07/S1504 Na, 19 cm × 5 mm) column packed with strongly acidic cation exchange resin (styrene divinyl benzene copolymer with sulphinic group) and a fluorescence detector45 (Table 2).
Free proteins
M. baccifera fruit liquids (100 μL each) or fruit pericarp/seed (500 mg each, homogenized in 5 mL buffer, supernatant) (100 μL each) or BSA (protein standard) (10, 30, 50 μL; i. e., 130, 390, 650 μg) and Biuret reagent (1 mL) were mixed, total volume was made up to 1.5 mL with water and incubated at 37 °C for 5 min. After incubation, optical densities were recorded at 578 nm with water as a blank. BSA (protein standard) solution was prepared by mixing 100 μL BSA (6.5 g/dL) and 400 μL of water. Fruit liquid, pericarp and seed samples (at various growth stages or concentrations) were repeatedly tested.
Bound proteins
Fresh M. baccifera fruit pericarp and seed (of three fruits) were cut into small pieces and 10 g each were ground using a laboratory grinder. Ground pericarp (5 g each) and seed (5 g each) were subjected to the phenol extraction protocol46. Briefly, M. baccifera pericarp (5 g) or seed (5 g) was ground in liquid nitrogen with glass powder and 75 mL extraction buffer (0.7 M sucrose, 0.1 M KCl, 0.5 M Tris-HCl, 50 mM EDTA, pH 7.5, 2% β-mercaptoethanol, 1 mM PMSF made in isopropanol). Into this mixture, 75 mL of phenol saturated with Tris-HCl, pH 7.5 was added, shaken at 4 °C (30 min), centrifuged at 4 °C for 30 min at 12,000 rpm and the upper phenol phase was collected. Equal volume of extraction buffer was added to the phenol phase, stirred for 30 min at 4 °C and centrifuged for 30 min at 12,000 rpm at 4 °C. Phenol phase was again collected and extraction/centrifugation was repeated for three times. Final upper phenol phase (about 50 mL) was collected in a conical flask, 5 times volume of 0.1 M ammonium acetate (made in methanol) was added, shaken well and kept at −20 °C overnight. Proteins in M. baccifera pericarp or seed were precipitated by this method. After centrifugation steps with methanol and acetone, the pellets were dried and weighed46. Dry almond (Prunus dulcis) seeds, known to be protein rich, were used as positive control and protein in almond seeds were precipitated, dried and weighed as in the same protocol (n = 2).
Sugars
Sugars in M. baccifera fruits were analyzed by HPTLC-densitometry (Camag, Switzerland) using pre-coated silica gel 60 F254, 20 × 10 cm, 0.2 mm thickness (E. Merck, Germany). The silica gel plates were pretreated by dipping in 0.2 M aqueous solution of monobasic potassium phosphate and wet plates were dried at 90 °C for 45 min. Plates were then cooled at room temperature for 2 h and stored in a desiccator47. M. baccifera pericarp and fruit liquid samples at various growth stages were applied onto these pretreated silica gel plates as 6 mm wide bands with automatic Linomat V sample applicator (Camag, Switzerland), fitted with a micro syringe, in N2 flow (application rate 100 nL/s, space between two bands 13.0 mm, slit dimension 6 × 0.4 mm, scanning speed 20 mm/s). The plates were developed three times, each time to a distance of 80 mm, with acetonitrile-water (85:15, v/v) in a paper-lined twin-trough HPTLC chamber (Camag, Switzerland), which was equilibrated with the mobile phase for 10 min. Fresh solvent was used for each run and between runs the plate was thoroughly dried with a hair drier48. After the third development the plate was dried, derivatized by spraying with anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid reagent and heated at 110 °C for 10 min. The plates were scanned densitometrically at 580 nm (tungsten lamp) using TLC Scanner 3 (Camag, Switzerland) equipped with winCATS software. M. baccifera fruit liquid or pericarp or seed at various growth stages were taken and each individual growth stage (data point) was generated by a minimum of 4 sample measurements (Figs 1 and 2). Fruit liquid (14, 21, 28, 35 days; 0.5 μL each) was directly loaded on to the plates. Fruit pericarp/seed (7, 14, 21, 28, 35 days and inner seed of mature fruit, 42 days; 0.5 g each) was extracted twice with water (10 mL × 2; 30 min each), filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure to 10 mL and 5 μL (each) was loaded. Sucrose, glucose and fructose stock solutions (1.0 μg/μL) were made in water and spotted in the range (sucrose 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 μg), (glucose 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 μg), (fructose 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 μg) to obtain their calibration graphs. Sucrose (y = 6336x + 10.60, R2 = 0.997; Rf = 0.19 ± 0.01, n = 30), glucose (y = 5112x + 5.320, R2 = 0.994; Rf = 0.29 ± 0.02, n = 30), fructose (y = 5443.x + 44.56, R2 = 0.999; Rf = 0.35 ± 0.02, n = 30).
Total phenolics
Total phenolic content in M. baccifera fruits was estimated using Folin-Ciocalteau assay49. Dried fruit powder (1 g) was extracted with 10 mL of 80% aqueous methanol containing 1% HCl for 2 h at room temperature using a magnetic stirrer. The mixture was centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 15 min and the supernatant was collected. The pellets were washed (80% aqueous methanol) and supernatants were pooled. Volume of the supernatant was reduced to 5 mL under reduced pressure at 40 °C and used for the assay. Either 100 μL of extract or various known concentrations of standard ferulic acid was made up to 1 mL with water and mixed with 4 mL Folin-Ciocalteau reagent (previously diluted to 1:10 with water). Mixtures were allowed to stand for 5 min at room temperature, then 4 mL of 20% Na2CO3 was added and again kept at room temperature for 15 min. Absorbances were measured at 765 nm and the concentrations were expressed as mg ferulic acid equivalent per gram, DW. All experiments were carried out three times with different M. baccifera fruits.
Extraction of soluble, insoluble phenolic acids
Free, esterified and bound phenolic acids in M. baccifera fruits were analyzed as described in the literature50 with modifications. Dried defatted fruit powder (5 g) was cold extracted with methanol:acetone:water (7:7:6) (50 mL × 3; 60 min each), filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure, acidified to pH ~ 2 (using 6N HCl) and centrifuged. Aqueous supernatant thus obtained was first extracted twice with hexane to remove low polar molecules and then extracted 4 times with diethyl ether-ethyl acetate (1:1) to obtain free phenolic acid fraction. The remaining aqueous phase, containing soluble phenolic acid esters, was concentrated under reduced pressure and hydrolyzed (for identifying the phenolic moiety) with 25 mL of 4N NaOH for 4 h at room temperature. The hydrolysate was acidified with 6N HCl and extracted 4 times with diethyl ether-ethyl acetate (1:1). The organic fraction was concentrated under reduced pressure and marked as phenolic acid ester fraction. The residue, containing bound insoluble phenolic acids, remained after methanol:acetone:water extraction was alkaline hydrolyzed under the similar conditions to release and extract phenolic acid moieties from their bound forms.
Identification, estimation of phenolic acids
Three phenolic acid fractions and authentic phenolic acid standards (caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, gentisic acid, trans-ferulic acid, salicylic acid, sinapic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid) were either dissolved in methanol or in chloroform-methanol (1:1) and applied by Linomat V sample applicator of HPTLC (Camag, Switzerland) onto a pre-coated silica gel TLC plate (60 F254, E. Merck, Germany, 20 × 10 cm, 0.2 mm thickness). The plate was developed up to 80 mm in 10 mL of chloroform:methanol (8.5:1.5) mobile phase in a twin trough glass chamber (Camag, Switzerland) under saturated conditions. After development, the plate was documented under UV 254 and 366 nm using Reprostar 3 (Camag, Switzerland) and then scanned densitometrically at 254 nm using TLC Scanner 3 (absorbance mode) (Camag, Switzerland) for estimation of phenolic acids. Percentage phenolic acid (ferulic acid) contents (% ± SD, n = 3, DW) were calculated from peak areas using the standard curve (y = 13096x + 578.8, R2 = 0.988) with a linear relationship in the range 0.04 to 0.8 μg.
Lipids
M. baccifera mature fruit was dried, powdered and 30 g fruit powder was subjected to Soxhlet extraction with n-hexane (300 mL) for 8 h, extract was concentrated to get the crude lipid fraction (0.06 g, 0.2%). Crude lipids in the extracted fraction were converted to their methyl esters51. Briefly, the crude lipid fraction was refluxed at 70 °C for 4 h with 2% sulfuric acid in methanol, cooled to room temperature and then the esters were extracted into ethyl acetate. This fraction was further passed over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated using a rotary evaporator to obtain the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Fatty acid composition of the FAME was analyzed using a 6890 N series Gas Chromatograph (Agilent Technologies, USA) equipped with a Flame Ionization Detector (FID) with a split injector. A fused silica capillary column (DB-225, 30 × 0.32 mm i.d., J&W Scientific, USA) was used with the injector and detector temperatures maintained at 230 and 250 °C, respectively. Oven temperature was programmed at 160 °C for 2 min and then raised at a rate of 4 °C/min to 230 °C and held for 20 min at 230 °C. Nitrogen gas was used as carrier gas at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. Structures of the fatty acid methyl esters were analysed using a 6890 N GC-MS Series (Agilent Technologies, USA) equipped with a DB-225 column (30 m × 0.25 mm i.d.) connected to a 5973 Mass Spectrometer operating in the EI mode (70 eV; m/z 50–550; source temperature 230 °C; quadruple temperature 150 °C). Column temperature was initially maintained at 100 °C for 2 min, increased to 300 °C at 10 °C/min with a hold time of 20 min at 300 °C. Inlet temperature was maintained at 300 °C and split ratio was 50:1. Structural assignments were performed based on the interpretation of mass spectrometric fragmentation with that of standard FAME mixture and also matching with the library (Table 3). Three separate M. baccifera fruit samples were analyzed for their fatty acid contents.
Vitamins
Vitamin content in M. baccifera whole fruit was analyzed using standard protocols (Table 4). Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6 were analyzed following a HPLC method52. Vitamin B7, B9 and B12 were quantified using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay according to the manufacturer’s instruction (RIDASCREEN® developed by R-Biopharm® Darmstadt, Germany). Vitamin C was measured by 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol method53. Fat soluble vitamins were measured using the methods described elsewhere54,55.
Minerals
M. baccifera dried fruit powder was subjected to microwave-assisted digestion before carrying out mineral analysis (Table 5). Dried fruit powder (0.1 g) was treated with mixture of 7 mL nitric acid (Suprapur grade, Merck, Germany) and 1 mL H2O2 in a Multiwave 3000 Microwave Digestion System (Anton Paar, Graz, Austria). Microwave digestion, operation conditions: (i) 350 watts with ramp time of 0 min, hold time of 25 min, (ii) 500 watts with ramp time of 5 min, hold time of 35 min. The digested solution was made to 100 mL with high purity water (Barnstead Smart2Pure, Thermo Scientific, Germany). An inductively coupled Plasma Spectrometer iCAP Qc (Thermo Scientific, Germany) equipped with a quadrupole mass analyser and an autosampler ASX-520 (CETAC, Omaha, NE, USA) was used for trace mineral analysis. Data acquisition was carried out using Qtegra software. Operation conditions: spray chamber temperature 2.70 °C, peristaltic pump speed 40 RPM, cool flow 14.00 L/min, sampling depth 5, plasma power 1550 W, axillary flow 0.80 L/min, nebulizer flow 0.97 L/min and number of main runs 3.
Major minerals, Na, K and Ca, were analyzed using a PinAAcle 900H Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (Perkin-Elmer, Singapore) with flame and graphite furnace. M. baccifera dried fruit powder (2 g) was ashed at 500 °C, dissolved in HCl, made up to 10 mL with distilled water and aspirated in AAS56 (Table 5).
Fruit liquid, pericarp, seed, fruit feeding experiments
Animals
Inbred male and female Wistar rats and male Swiss albino mice reared in JNTBGRI Animal House caged in uniform hygienic conditions and fed with standard pellet diet (Kamadhenu Feeds, Bangalore) and water ad libitum were used for experiments. The animals were maintained a 12 h light/dark cycle, with a temperature range of 23–25 °C and a relative humidity of 45–55% throughout the experimental period. Animal studies were carried out in accordance with the guidelines of Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), Government of India. These animal experiments were also approved (B-01/12/2011/PPD-03 dated 19.12.2011) by the Institute Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC).
Fruit liquid drinking preference by rats
Fourteen normal female Wistar rats (178–200 g) were divided into two groups of seven each. Group I and II were kept as control and test, respectively and animals were caged individually. Control group (I) animals were provided with 10 mL of drinking water (per animal) and the test group (II) animals were provided with 10 mL of M. baccifera fruit liquid (of 21–28 days old fruits) (per animal) for 6 h using feeding bottles under similar conditions. Animals were fed with standard food pellets during the experiment. After 6 h, the drinking rates by control and test group animals were measured.
Fruit liquid, sucrose, glucose, fructose feeding preference by rats
Twelve normal male Wistar rats (229–249 g) were divided into three groups of four animals each. Animals in each group were individually caged and fed with standard food pellets. Animals in group I were individually provided with 10 mL fruit liquid (of 21–28 days old fruits), 10 mL drinking water and 10 mL of 0.5% sucrose. Group II animals were (individually) provided with 10 mL fruit liquid (of 21–28 days old fruits), 10 mL drinking water and 10 mL of 0.5% glucose. Animals in Group III were (individually) provided with 10 mL fruit liquid (of 21–28 days old fruits), 10 mL drinking water and 10 mL of 0.5% fructose. To animals (in each group), the liquids were provided with three separate feeding bottles simultaneously. The amounts of liquids consumed by all three groups were measured after 6 h.
Fruit pericarp, seed, normal food, water feeding preference by rats
Twelve normal male Wistar rats (184–233 g) were divided into two groups of six animals each and the animals in each group were caged individually. Group I animals were separately supplied with 50 g of normal food pellet and 50 g of fresh M. baccifera pericarp (of mature fruit, 42 days). Group II animals were separately supplied with 50 g of normal food pellet and 50 g of fresh M. baccifera seed (of mature fruit, 42 days). All animals were provided with 200 mL drinking water. The pericarp and seed were chopped finely and in an identical manner for easier accessibility to the animals. After 24 h, the intake of normal food, fruit pericarp, seed and water were measured in each cage to determine the feeding preferences by the rats. To find out the weight loss (due to water loss) during the experimental hours, 50 g each of fresh M. baccifera pericarp, seeds and normal food pellets were kept separately for 24 h in the Animal House and their weight losses were determined (n = 6, each). Loss of water under similar experimental conditions were also verified (n = 6).
Fruit + normal food and fruit alone feeding experiments, serum hematological and biochemical parameters
Eighteen Swiss albino male mice (23–30 g) were selected and divided into three groups of six animals each. Control animals were provided with 50 g of standard food pellet, the first test group (T I) animals received 50 g of standard food pellet along with 50 g of fresh finely chopped M. baccifera fruits (mature fruits) and the second test group (T II) of animals received 50 g of fresh finely chopped M. baccifera fruits alone (mature fruits), every day in an identical manner. All three groups were provided with 100 mL water daily. The animal weights were taken at the start and end of these experiments (Table 6). These experiments were designed for 14 days, but stopped on 8th day since two animals in group T II died. So on the 8th day of the experiment, the blood samples from tail vein of all animals were collected to measure the hemoglobin contents and then animals were sacrificed, blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and the serum biochemical parameters were determined (glucose, urea, GOT, GPT, total cholesterol57, HDL cholesterol58, triglycerides59 and alkaline phosphatase60) using commercial assay kits (Table 7).
Statistics
Results of various assays are expressed as mean ± SD Statistical comparisons were done using one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s Post-hoc comparison. Unpaired Student’s t-test was used when only two groups were involved. Values of p < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.
Additional Information
How to cite this article: Govindan, B. et al. Nutritional properties of the largest bamboo fruit Melocanna baccifera and its ecological significance. Sci. Rep. 6, 26135; doi: 10.1038/srep26135 (2016).
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for providing financial support (Grant number SR/S0/PS/0015/2011) to this study. This work was also supported by the Plan Funded Research Programme of the Government of Kerala, India.
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S.B. and K.C.K. designed the concept; K.C.K. and B.Gopakumar performed the field studies and provided M. baccifera samples; B.Govindan, A.J.J., S.N.A.N., S.B. and R.V. designed and carried out the chemical, nutritional and biological assays; B.Govindan and K.S.L.M. carried out the fatty acid analysis; B.Govindan, K.C.K. and S.B. wrote the manuscript with inputs from other authors.
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Govindan, B., Johnson, A., Nair, S. et al. Nutritional properties of the largest bamboo fruit Melocanna baccifera and its ecological significance. Sci Rep 6, 26135 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep26135
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep26135
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