Unlocking the potential of wild Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) germplasm through nutritional, bioactives and antioxidant diversity

Abstract

Rambutan ( Nephelium lappaceum L.), an underutilised fruit crop found in the forestlands of Arunachal Pradesh, possesses high nutritional and bioactive properties that could enhance the food and nutritional security of local inhabitants. The present study assessed the nutritional composition of twenty rambutan genotypes, along with multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis and cluster analysis, to evaluate their diversity. The studied genotypes varied significantly in their biochemical composition. Genotype GR19 recorded the highest total carbohydrate content (51.31 %) and vitamin A content (2.17 mg/100 g), whereas GR9 exhibited the highest total phenol content (164.37 mg GAE/100 g) and antioxidant activity (97.33 %). Genotype GR20 was notable for its total soluble solids (13.60 °Brix), total sugars (19.38 %), starch content (3.69 %), and potassium content (21.00 mg/100 g), in contrast GR17 recorded the highest flavonoid (42.57 mg CE/100 g) and tannin (3.33 mg/100 g) contents. The highest vitamin C content was recorded in GR4 (65.92 mg/100 g). The maximum total soluble protein (3.29 mg/100 g) and crude protein (0.39 %) contents were observed in GR6. Cluster analysis identified three major groups, with the third cluster comprising only four genotypes (GR17, GR18, GR19, and GR20), indicating maximum diversity. Overall, based on ranking and scoring, GR19 and GR9 were identified as the most nutritionally superior genotypes and can be promoted for crop improvement programmes as well as for use in the nutraceutical industry.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. South African Journal of Botany, 2026 · DOI ↗