Physico-Chemical, Nutritional, Functional, Textural and Morphological Characterization of Sand Pear Fruit (Pyrus pyrifolia L.) from Northern Region of India

Abstract

The present study was aimed to study the proximate, physico-chemical properties and nutritional components including total sugar, reducing sugar, ascorbic acid and minerals of sand pear cultivated in North India. The following physical properties i.e. weight, polar length, equatorial length and colour of the sand pear were also studied. Furthermore the pear cultivar was characterized for functional properties with respect to total phenolic contents analysis and total dietary fiber analysis. The results indicated that the fruit is a good alimentary source of sugars, minerals, ascorbic acid and polyphenols. The edible part of the fruit has a high level of total dietary fiber content. Additionally, textural properties in terms of hardness and morphological properties (scanning electron microscopy) of the fruit were also studied. The overall results indicate that sand pear could be best for utilization or favourable practicing owing to excellent product quality and high concentrations of nutritional and functional compounds.