Determination of Antioxidants, Fatty Acids and Mineral Content of Cherry Tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum var. Cerasiforme) Grown in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract

Cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) are small, nutrient-rich fruits, with vibrant colors, sweet flavor and health-promoting components. This study aims to investigate the fatty acids, mineral content and antioxidant properties of red, orange, yellow, and purple varieties grown in Bahrain, providing the first biochemical assessment of locally cultivated cherry tomatoes under arid conditions. Fatty acids were extracted, methylated, and analyzed using gas chromatography. The mineral content was assessed through sample digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis. Antioxidant properties, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reducing power (RP), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), were evaluated using colorimetric assays. Additionally, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined spectroscopically. Fatty acid analysis revealed that the total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) ranged from 20.84% to 23.04%, whereas the monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ranged from 22.34% to 25.42% and 52.18% to 56.36%, respectively. The mineral content analysis showed potassium (K) as the predominant mineral, ranging from 44.48 to 60.36 mg/100g. Sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) ranged between 1.96 and 3.37 mg/100g. Other minerals, including iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn), were found in trace amounts (0.04 to 0.20 mg/100g). The antioxidant properties examination indicated that TAC values varied from 40.85 to 54.78 mg AAE/g DW, while RP values ranged from 7.18 to 11.53 mg AAE/g DW. FRAP values were between 1.94 and 2.22 mg/g, and %DPPH inhibition ranged from 43.23% to 54.57%. Lastly, TPC and TFC ranged from 0.57 to 0.68 mg GAE/g and 7.92 to 11.00 mg RE/g, respectively. In conclusion, cherry tomato varieties grown in Bahrain contain essential nutrients, including minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants, with variable yet comparable profiles shaped by arid environmental conditions.

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