Determination of the Phytochemical Components, Nutritional Content, Biological Activities, and Cytotoxicity of Ripening Karanda (Carissa carandas) Fruit Extract for Functional Food Development

Ripening karanda fruits are a natural source of phytochemicals, which exhibit various biological properties. The present study aimed to determine the types of phytochemicals, biological properties, and cytotoxic and hemolytic effects of ripening karanda fruits. Two mechanical tools were used to collect the phytochemicals under low temperatures during the extraction process. The extracts were investigated for antioxidants using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. The total phenolic contents were studied using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The phytochemicals of the total extract were analyzed by gas column chromatography-mass spectrometry. The saccharide types, including the total sugar content, were determined using thin-layer chromatography and the Lane-Eynon method. The total ascorbic acid was analyzed in accordance with the AOAC 967.21 method. The cytotoxic and hemolytic effects of phytochemicals were investigated using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) and human red blood cells (hRBCs). The results showed that the appropriation for repeated ultrasonic extraction is four times. The fresh ripening karanda fruit (Fresh-RKF) and freeze-dried powder of ripening karanda fruit extracts exhibited antioxidant activity in vitro and exerted a noncytotoxic effect on hPBMCs at a concentration of <= 2.5 mg/mL and a hemolytic effect on hRBCs at a concentration of >5.0 mg/mL. The Fresh-RKF extract comprised 0.27% of total sugar and 0.01% of ascorbic acid. These data could support the development of supplemental foods using ripening karanda fruits as the primary ingredient.