‘Atoaa’ is Ashanti plum (Spondias mombin)

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• Tekonline.org 11 years ago

  Spondias mombin is loaded with many essential nutrients: high levels of antixodants, low sodium, and high potassium, among others.
  
  Antioxidants protect us from DNA damage which often is a precursor to cancer. Antioxidants ...
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  Spondias mombin is loaded with many essential nutrients: high levels of antixodants, low sodium, and high potassium, among others.
  
  Antioxidants protect us from DNA damage which often is a precursor to cancer. Antioxidants also impede the process that converts bad cholesterol to plaques in the lining of arteries. This process often leads to strokes and heart attacks. The very high potassium content compared to sodium implies it would help control high blood pressure. (Please see excerpts below for a nutritional study).
  
  
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  Food Research International
  Volume 44, Issue 7, August 2011, Pages 2326–2331
  
  Exotic Fruits: their Composition, Nutraceutical and Agroindustrial Potential
  
  
  Nutritional properties of yellow mombin (Spondias mombin L.) pulp
  
  Júlia Hauck Tiburskia, Corresponding author contact information, E-mail the corresponding author, Amauri Rosenthalb, 1, Rosires Delizab, 1, Ronoel L. de Oliveira Godoyb, Sidney Pachecob
  
  DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2011.03.037
  
  
  
  Abstract
  Yellow mombin (Spondias mombin L.) is a tropical fruit with increasing acceptance in both national and international fruit markets. The aim of this work was to evaluate the centesimal composition, mineral content, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, and characterize the carotenoids of frozen yellow mombin pulp. Results indicated that the yellow mombin pulp contained an important amount of potassium and copper. The antioxidant activity and total phenolic values scored 17.5 mmol TEAC g?1 and 260 mg galic acid/100 g respectively, higher than those reported for other fruits. Five carotenoids were identified, ?-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeinoxanthin, ? and ? carotene, being ?-cryptoxanthin the major one, accounting for the high level of pro-vitamin A activity in the pulp. A 100 g portion of yellow mombin pulp can provide more than 37% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A.
  
  Keywords
  Spondias mombin L.; Carotenoids; Phenolics; Antioxidants; Minerals
  1. Introduction
  In the Northeast of Brazil, there are many areas where the climate and the characteristics of the land are especially favorable for the production of tropical fruits. The fruit production and processing in these areas represent important economical activities not only due to the relevant regional commercialization, but also due to the increasing national and international market. The attractiveness of the flavor and aroma of these exotic fruits produced in enormous diversity is mainly responsible for the high acceptance related to their sensory attributes. However, the knowledge of the nutritional value of these fruits has also a great importance and potential contribution for the consumption enhancement, considering the great concern of the consumers worldwide about healthy eating habits (Sloan, 2003) and by associating fruits with a primary source of nutrients and functional compounds. Also, the choice of efficient technological methods for their processing depends on this kind of information.
  
  The yellow mombin (Spondias mombin L.) belongs to the Anacardiaceae family and it is found in the tropical areas of America, Asia and Africa and in Brazil mainly in the regions North and Northeast. It is known as cajá or taperebá in Brazil; ciruela amarilla in Mexico and Ecuador; jobo in Central America and hogplum or yellow mombin in North America. The fruit is a small ovoid drupe (3 to 5 cm long) with thin yellow skin and a sour–sweet taste ( Bosco, Soares, Aguiar Filho, & Barros, 2000).
  
  No commercial orchards occur in Brazil and all fruits are collected from wild plants. The fruit has been harvested not only to supply local market demands in the region of production, but also in other parts of the country where it is highly appreciated and mainly commercialized as frozen pulp. The yellow mombin frozen pulp is one of the most prized in Brazilian markets due to its exotic and appreciated flavor besides its excellent nutritional quality which is more and more valued by consumers. It is used for the preparation of juices, popsicles, ice creams, yogurts and jams (Janick and Paull, 2008 and Soares et al., 2006).
  
  However, an extensive and global characterization that points out the actual nutritional value of the pulp of yellow mombin has not yet been done. The aim of the study was to determine the chemical composition and the mineral content, to quantify the total phenolics, the antioxidant activity and to characterize the carotenoids from the frozen pulp of yellow mombin, aiming at contributing to the study of nutritional aspects in order to further exploit the technology of fruits produced in northeastern Brazil and others producing regions in the world.
  
  Conclusion
  Based on these results, we conclude that the pulp of yellow mombin has high levels of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and copper when compared to other fruits. It also presents higher levels of phenolics and antioxidant compounds than the majority of fruits consumed in Brazil, showing a high content of carotenoids as well. Briefly, it has a composition that confers high nutritional and functional value, which can be associated with the prevention of various diseases. One can say that it may have a promising place in the market and further studies focusing on sensory properties and consumer acceptance of yellow mombin-based products are recommended.
  
  Acknowledgments
  The authors wish to thank Dr. Wilson Aragão (Embrapa CPATC) for providing the yellow mombin pulp, the CNPq (The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) for the scholarship of the first author, the Faperj (Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for the Support to the Rio de Janeiro State Research) and Embrapa for the financial support.

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• Alonte Din 11 years ago

  Why do you go to such lengths without adding a picture for our education?

  Why do you go to such lengths without adding a picture for our education?

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• IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

  I stated this problem somewhere Paragraph 5. The photos were attached and sent to Ghanaweb; it is the website that didn't publish them.
  
  I gave a link to a site where I published those photos. You may either logon to that s ...
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  I stated this problem somewhere Paragraph 5. The photos were attached and sent to Ghanaweb; it is the website that didn't publish them.
  
  I gave a link to a site where I published those photos. You may either logon to that site or text/mail me for them.
  
  Good morning!

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• Felix 11 years ago

  Good, Mr Ghanaweb teacher.

  Good, Mr Ghanaweb teacher.

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• JB Osei-Brown 11 years ago

  'Atoaa' is NOT Asante but Akan: Akyems, Kwahus, Akuapims etc all call that thing 'Atoaa'. As a matter of fact, I did not know other other name.
  
  I used to eat them but hated them because of their particular scent, which att ...
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  'Atoaa' is NOT Asante but Akan: Akyems, Kwahus, Akuapims etc all call that thing 'Atoaa'. As a matter of fact, I did not know other other name.
  
  I used to eat them but hated them because of their particular scent, which attracted snakes.

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• Ken Ntiamoa 11 years ago

  I guess snakes like atoaa too.
  
  Ken

  I guess snakes like atoaa too.
  
  Ken

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• JB Osei-Brown 11 years ago

  Ken,
  
  In Twi we say 'ama me se femfem me'.
  
  After eating those plums (I'm hearing that word for the first time today!), one could not enjoy anything for a while.
  
  I followed the link provided in the original posting to ...
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  Ken,
  
  In Twi we say 'ama me se femfem me'.
  
  After eating those plums (I'm hearing that word for the first time today!), one could not enjoy anything for a while.
  
  I followed the link provided in the original posting to see the picture - looked soooo.. juicy, loading back memories of the past - when I was still a school boy.

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• Kwesi 11 years ago

  That's its greatest drawback. What happens to your teeth if you eat too many or if you eat green (non-ripe) ones. I bet you can't chew meat immediately. That feeling on your teeth is very unpleasant.
  
  But most acidic fruits ...
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  That's its greatest drawback. What happens to your teeth if you eat too many or if you eat green (non-ripe) ones. I bet you can't chew meat immediately. That feeling on your teeth is very unpleasant.
  
  But most acidic fruits do that if you eat too many of them. Even mangoes and oranges too can give that feeling. But atoa, ataaba, akukor or aadon is the greatest culprit. Don't joke with too much of it.

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• IDRIS PACAS 11 years ago

  Point of correction is 'accepted'. I'm not an Akan and can't even speak Twi either.
  
  I saw the name 'atoaa' online and asked a colleague who teaches Asante Twi. He confirmed that 'atoaa' is correct.
  
  I guess Fantes too ar ...
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  Point of correction is 'accepted'. I'm not an Akan and can't even speak Twi either.
  
  I saw the name 'atoaa' online and asked a colleague who teaches Asante Twi. He confirmed that 'atoaa' is correct.
  
  I guess Fantes too are Akans, but my Fante friend said they call it 'ataaba'. If so, most Akans but not all call it by that name.
  
  Anyway, the botanical name is one and only one -- Spondias mombin.

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• JB Osei-Brown 11 years ago

  Till today, I did not know the botanical name, though I had picked and eaten it a thousand times. Thanks for the education!
  
  One very interesting I know about its tree was it had a thick and ridged-bark, which we (my friend ...
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  Till today, I did not know the botanical name, though I had picked and eaten it a thousand times. Thanks for the education!
  
  One very interesting I know about its tree was it had a thick and ridged-bark, which we (my friends and I) would pluck, plain and simulate 'rubber-stamps' by removing parts we did not need.
  
  By the way, I was a member of the African Personality and later Ghana Young Pioneers Movement - I still have my red scarf. Very soon my grand child will see it.
  
  Nkrumah Never Dies !!

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• Adom 5 months ago

  You have a problem with the Ashanti plum meanwhile the Fantis call it Atamba instead of Atoa so it's not true Akans because the Wasa people have a different name for it and they are also Akans

  You have a problem with the Ashanti plum meanwhile the Fantis call it Atamba instead of Atoa so it's not true Akans because the Wasa people have a different name for it and they are also Akans

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• francis kwarteng 11 years ago

  Dear Prof. Idris,
  
  The good professor is here again with his usual insightful essay(s).
  
  Again, he has given some of us useful information on a topic we are not familiar with.
  
  I always learn something new whenever I ...
  read full comment

  Dear Prof. Idris,
  
  The good professor is here again with his usual insightful essay(s).
  
  Again, he has given some of us useful information on a topic we are not familiar with.
  
  I always learn something new whenever I pick my way through your well-researched masterpieces.
  
  Prof. Idris, I hope you will not disappoint us in your next instalment, which I impatiently look forward to.
  
  Thanks.

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