Bioactive properties of exotic tropical fruits and their health benefits.

Exotic fruits are found in the group of tropical fruits and their perishable nature limits their export to distant markets. In general, their consumption is local; they are underutilized or little valued both at home and industrially; however, its consumption has increased significantly in recent years due to its high nutritional value. These fruits are a source of bioactive compounds such as fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, phenolic acids and polyphenols, which have been associated with reducing the risks of chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress. These bioactive compounds have been shown to possess various in vitro and in vivo biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, neuroprotective, and among others. Therefore, obtaining functional ingredients from tropical fruits considered exotic is viable and used to develop functional and nutraceutical foods, prepare products for the pharmaceutical industry and food preservation. This review discusses the most relevant information published in the 2010-2020 period from the main scientific databases, including Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Medline and Scielo, on phenolic compounds and reported bioactivities of exotic tropical fruits such as acai (Euterpe oleraceae), acerola (Malpighia emarginata), persimmon (Diospyros kaki), chicozapote (Manilkara zapota), litchi (Litchi chinensis), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) noni (Morinda citrifolia), rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), white pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) and red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and their relationship with their potential beneficial effects on health.