Health promoting compounds in Cape Gooseberry

Topic 1. Health-promoting compounds (Withanolides) in Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) fruit.

With anolides are a group of naturally occurring steroidal lactones which are mainly produced by the solonaceae family. Their name comes from the genera withania, that initially was considered to be the unique source. There is evidence, however, that the genus physalis also contains withanolides. There is high interest in these biocompounds since there is studies about their pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory activities, among others.
Studies have been done on the whole plant of physalis peruviana L. including fruit, suggesting that cape gooseberry also contains of withanolides, but the withanolide content of the fruits is still unknown.
A study to assess the contents of withanolides in cape gooseberry fruit and its processed
product is needed to find out if this fruit and products have the special health promoting properties related to withanolides.

Aim
Set up the analytical method to identify and quantify withanolide. Apply this method to obtain the withanolide profile in cape gooseberry fruits and the effect of processing on this profile.