Hidden Gems of Dragon Fruit: Its Role in Pharmacognosy and Therapeutics

Year : 2025 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 01 | Page : 92 101
    By

    Mansi D. Patil,

  • Hitendra S. Patil,

  • S.P. Pawar,

  • Roshan M Chaudhari,

  • Rahul B.Lovhare,

  • Mohini P. Patil,

  1. Student, Department of pharmaceuties, P. S. G. V. P. Mandal’s college of pharmacy, shahada, Maharashtra, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of pharmaceuties, P. S. G. V. P. Mandal’s college of pharmacy, shahada, Maharashtra, India
  3. Principal, Department of Pharmacy, P. S. G. V. P. Mandal’s college of pharmacy, shahada, Maharashtra, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Department of pharmaceuties, P. S. G. V. P. Mandal’s college of pharmacy, shahada, Maharashtra, India
  5. Assistant Professor, Department of pharmaceutical chemistry, P.S.G.V.P.Mandal’s College of pharmacy, shahada, Maharashtra, India
  6. Student, Department of pharmaceuties, P. S. G. V. P. Mandal’s college of pharmacy, shahada, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The Cactaceae family includes the medicinal plant Hylocereus spp., also known as dragon fruit. The skin’s unique morphology, which reflects the body’s oval form, is characteristic of dragon fruit. Dry conditions are ideal for dragon fruit growth. Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a fantastic functional food that has attracted attention recently due to its numerous therapeutic benefits, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective, and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. It also offers nutraceutical benefits because of its prebiotic activity. Additionally, it demonstrates anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-anemia, wound healing, and microvascular protective qualities. Many phytoconstituents that can be extracted from peels, seeds, and meat parts, including polyphenols, pigments, flavonols, palmatic acids, isopenoids, steroids, vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, and roughage, have contributed to these therapeutic benefits. The largest variety of crops is reportedly grown in India. Dragon fruit is no different. Dragon fruit is ideal in Maharashtra and certain regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan. It has been discovered that a dragon fruit-producing company is a feasible source of food, money, and jobs. The restricted number of commercial producers of dragon fruit is predicted to contribute to the high marketability of the product in the local market.

Keywords: Hylocereus Spp, hepatoprotective, betacynin, agroclimatic, colletotrichum, cytotoxicity.

[This article belongs to Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacognosy ]

How to cite this article:
Mansi D. Patil, Hitendra S. Patil, S.P. Pawar, Roshan M Chaudhari, Rahul B.Lovhare, Mohini P. Patil. Hidden Gems of Dragon Fruit: Its Role in Pharmacognosy and Therapeutics. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacognosy. 2025; 12(01):92-101.
How to cite this URL:
Mansi D. Patil, Hitendra S. Patil, S.P. Pawar, Roshan M Chaudhari, Rahul B.Lovhare, Mohini P. Patil. Hidden Gems of Dragon Fruit: Its Role in Pharmacognosy and Therapeutics. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacognosy. 2025; 12(01):92-101. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjopc/article=2025/view=205240


References

  1. Le Bellec, F.; Vaillant, F.; Imbert, E. Pitahaya (Hylocereus Spp.): A New Fruit Crop, a Market.Fruits. 2006, 61(4), 237–250. DOI: 10.1051/fruits:2006021.
  2. Chien, P. J.; Sheu, F.; Lin, H. R. Quality Assessment of Low Molecular Weight ChitosanCoating on Sliced Red Pitayas. J. Food Eng. 2007, 79(2), 736–740. DOI: 10.1016/j. jfoodeng.2006.02.047.
  3. Kumar SB, Issac R, Prabha ML. Functional and health-promoting bioactivities of dragon fruit. Drug Invent Today. 2018;10.
  4. M. Arivalagan, G. Karunakaran, T. Roy, M. Dinsha, B. Sindhu, V. Shilpashree, G. Satisha, K. Shivashankara, Biochemical and nutritional characterization of dragon fruit (Hylocereus species), Food Chem. 353 (2021) 129426, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129426
  5. N.L. Le, Functional compounds in dragon fruit peels and their potential health benefits: a review, Int. J. Food Sci. Technol. 57 (5) (2022) 2571–2580 https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.15111
  6. Merten S. A review of Hylocereus production in the United States. J Prof Assoc Cactus Dev. 2003; 5(1):98-105
  7. Lodi, K. Z., Cappelari, M. B., Pilatti, G. C., Fontana, R. C., Camassola, M., Salvador, M., & Branco, C. S. (2022). Pre-clinical evidence for the therapeutic effect of Pitaya (Hylocereus lemairei) on diabetic intestinal microenvironment. Natural Product Research, 37(10), 1735–1741. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2022.2110091
  8. Nishikito, D. F., Borges, A. C. A., Laurindo, L. F., Otoboni, A. M. M. B., Direito, R., Goulart, R. d. A., Nicolau, C. C. T., Fiorini, A. M. R., Sinatora, R. V., & Barbalho, S. M. (2023). Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Other Health Effects of Dragon Fruit and Potential Delivery Systems for Its Bioactive Compounds. Pharmaceutics, 15(1), 159. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010159
  9. S. Ibrahim, G. Mohamed, A. Khedr, M. Zayed, A. El-Kholy, Genus Hylocereus: beneficial phytochemicals, nutritional importance, and biological relevance-A review, J. Food Biochem. 42 (2) (2018) 12491,https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.1249
  10. Latif AZBA, Haque M, Shanmugasundaram C, Rao USM. Clinical study of preventive potentials of consumption of Buah naga [Cactaceae] against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity as well as the other associated biological effects. Asian J Res Pharm Sci. 2012; 2(1):16-23.
  11. Perween T, Mandal KK, Hasan MA. Dragon fruit: An exotic super future fruit of India.JPharmacognPhytochem.2018.7(2):1022.https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.705.255.
  12. Sonawane MS. Nutritive and medicinal value of dragon fruit. Asian J Hortic. 2017; 12(2):267-71.https://doi.org/10.15740/HAS/TAJH/12.2/267-271.
  13. Xu L, Zhang Y, Wang L. Structure characteristics of a water soluble polysaccharide purified from dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) pulp. Carbohydr Polym. 2016; 146:224-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.03.060.
  14. M. Arivalagan, G. Karunakaran, T. Roy, M. Dinsha, B. Sindhu, V. Shilpashree, G. Satisha, K. Shivashankara, Biochemical and nutritional characterization of dragon fruit (Hylocereus species), Food Chem. 353 (2021) 129426,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129426
  15. Sushmitha HS, Roy CL, Gogoi D, Velagala RD, Nagarathna A, Balasubramanian S, et al. Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies on Hylocereus undatus Seeds: An In Vitro Approach. World J Pharmacol Res. 2018; 7(14):986-1006.
  16. Vijaysinha Kakade, Dinesh Jinger, Vishambhar Dayal, Sangram Chavan, Nangare D D, Wakchaure G C, Dinesh D.Dragon Fruit: Wholesome and remunerative fruit crop for India.Artical December 2020.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346985101.
  17. Salunkhe VN, Bhagat YS, Lonkar SG, Kakade VD, Chavan SB, Kochewad SA, Nangare DD. First report of Colletotrichum truncatum causing anthracnose of dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) in India. Plant Disease. 2023 Mar 1;107(3):945.
  18. Zee F, Yen CR and Nishina M (2004) Pitaya (Dragon fruit, Strawberry pear) in Fruits and Nuts (9):1-3 Cooperative Extension Service, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.
  19. Le Bellec F (2003). La pitaya (# Hyclocereus# sp.) en culture de diversification à l’île de la Réunion.
  20. Mizrahi Y, and Nerd A (1999) Climbing and Columner Cacti: New Arid Land Fruit Crops. p. 358-366. In: J. Janick (ed.), Perspectives on New Crops and New Uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA.
  21. Perween T (2017) Studies on the effect of nutrient application in vegetative and reproductive phenology of dragon fruit. Thesis submitted to the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India.
  22. Lichtenzvei J, Abbo S, Nerd A, Telzur N, Mizrahi Y (2000) Cytology and mating system in the climbing cacti Hylocereus and Selenicereus. American Journal of Botany, Columbus, v.87:1058-1065.
  23. Obenlanda, D.; Cantwellb, M.; Loboc, R.; Collin, S.; Sievert, J.; Arpaia, M. L. Impact of Storage Conditions and Variety on Quality Attributes and Aroma Volatiles of Pitahaya (Hylocereusspp.). Sci. Hortic. 2016, 199, 15–22. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2015.12.021.
  24. Gao-Xi, A.,& Wan, R. (2004). Study in producing Pitaya ice cream, China Dairy Industry,32(10), 9–11.
  25. To L V., Ngu N, Duc ND, Trinh DTK, Thanh NC, Mien DVH, et al. Quality assurance system for dragon fruit. Pref 11 Open Address 12. 1999.
  26. Shekade DP, Patil PD, Mote G V., Sahoo AK. Potential use of dragon fruit and Taro leaves as functional food: a review. Eur J Eng Sci Technol. 2018; 1(1):10-20. https://doi.org/10.33422/EJEST.2018.07.77.
  27. Perez GRM, Vargas SR, Ortiz HYD. Wound healing properties of Hylocereus undatus on diabetic rats. Phyther Res. 2005; 19(8):665-8. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1724.
  28. Y.Y. Yong, G. Dykes, S.M. Lee, W.S. Choo, Effect of refrigerated storage on betacyanin composition, antibacterial activity of red pitahaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and cytotoxicity evaluation of betacyanin rich extract on normal human cell lines, Lwt 91 (2018) 491–497, https://doi.org/10.1016/J. LWT.2018.01.078.
  29. K. Ritarwan, N. Nerdy, Antibacterial activity of red dragon fruit leaves extract and white dragon fruit leaves extract against meningitis bacterial, Orient. J. Chem. 34 (5) (2018) 2534–2538, https://doi.org/10.13005/ojc/340540.
  30. Eldeen IMS, Foong SY, Ismail N, Wong KC. Regulation of pro inflammatory enzymes by the dragon fruits from Hylocereus undatus (Haworth) and squalene-its major volatile constituents. Pharmacogn Mag. 2020; 16(88):81. https://doi.org/10.4103/pm.pm_271_19.
  31. E. Rodriguez, M. Vidallon, D. Mendoza, C. Reyes, Health-promoting bioactivities of betalains from red dragon fruit (HylocereusPolyrhizus (weber) britton and rose) peels as affected by carbohydrate encapsulation, J. Sci. Food Agric. 96 (14) (2016) 4679–4689, https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.7681.
  32. Kumar SB, Issac R, Prabha ML. Functional and health-promoting bioactivities of dragon fruit. Drug Invent Today. 2018;10.
  33. S. Ibrahim, G. Mohamed, A. Khedr, M. Zayed, A. El-Kholy, Genus Hylocereus: beneficial phytochemicals, nutritional importance, and biological relevance-A review, J. Food Biochem. 42 (2) (2018) 12491.https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.12491.
  34. N. Hernawati Setiawan, R. Shintawati, D. Priyandoko, The role of red dragon fruit peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus) to improvement blood lipid levels of hyperlipidaemia male mice, J. Phys. Conf. 1013 (2018) 012167, https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1013/1/012167.
  35. A. Widyaningsih, O. Setiyani, U. Umaroh, M. Sofro, F. Amri, Effect of consuming red dragon fruit (HylocereusCostaricensis) juice on the levels of hemoglobin and erythrocyte among pregnant women, Belitung Nursing Journa 3 (3) (2017) 255–264, https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.97.
  36. A. Omidizadeh, R. Yusof, S. Roohinejad, A. Ismail, M. Abu Bakar, A. El-Din, A. Bekhit, Anti-diabetic activity of red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) fruit, RSC Adv. 4 (108) (2014) 62978–62986, https://doi.org/10.5530/pj.2021.13.140.
  37. Sushmitha HS, Roy CL, Gogoi D, Velagala RD, Nagarathna A, Balasubramanian S, et al. Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies on Hylocereus undatus Seeds: An In Vitro Approach. World J Pharmacol Res. 2018; 7(14):986-1006
  38. T. Tahir, N. Febrianti, S. Wahyuni, Rabia, Y. Syam, Evaluation of acute wound healing potential of red dragon fruit (HylocereusPolyrhizus) extract cream on type IiiCollagen and epidermal growth factor (egf) levels: an animal study, Medicina Clínica Practica ´ 3 (2020) 100091, 10.1126%2Fsciadv.abl8379.
  39. Cauilan LP. Hepatoprotective potential of Hylocereus polyrhizus(dragon fruit) on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damages in albino wistar rats. Int J Sci Basic Appl Res. 2019; 46(2):49-61.
  40. Liaotrakoon W. Characterization of dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) components with valorization potential. Doctoral dissertation, Ghent University; 2013.
  41. Y. Chang, L. Pong, S. Hassan, W. Choo, Antiviral activity of betacyanins from red pitahaya (HylocereusPolyrhizus) and red spinach (Amaranthus dubius) against dengue virus type 2 (genbank accession No. Mh488959), Access Microbiology 2 (1) (2020), https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000073.
  42. P. Khuituan, S. K Da, K. Bannob, F. Hayeeawaema, S. Peerakietkhajorn, C. Tipbunjong, S. Wichienchot, N. Charoenphandhu, Prebiotic oligosaccharides from dragon fruits alter gut motility in mice, Biomed. Pharmacother. 114 (2019) 108821, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108821.
  43. Jalgaonkar, K.; Mahawar, M. K.; Kale, S.; Nath, P.; Bibwe, B.; Dukare, A.; Kannaujia, P.;Meena, V. S. Response Surface Optimization for Development of Dragon Fruit Based Readyto Serve Drink. J. Appl. Nat. Sci. 2018, 10(1), 272–278. DOI: 10.31018/jans.v10i1.1617.
  44. Kha, T. C.; Nguyen, M. H.; Roach, P. D. Effects of Spray Drying Conditions on thePhysicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of the Gac (Momordica cochinchinensis) Fruit Aril Powder. J. Food Eng. 2010, 98(3), 385–392. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2010.01.016.
  45. Foong, J. H.; Hon, W. M.; Ho, C. W. Bioactive Compounds Determination in FermentedLiquid Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus). Borneo Sci. 2012, 31, 38–56.
  46. Lyu, J., Jian, yong Y., Feng Bi, J., Yan Zhou, L., Zhou, M. (2017). Hotair drying and freeze drying pre‐treatments coupled to explosionpu ffi ng drying in terms of quality attributes of mango, pitaya,and papaya fruit chips. Journal of Food Processing andPreservation, 41(6), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpp.13300.
  47. Mahattanatawee, K., Manthey, J. A., Luzio, G., Talcott, S. T.,Goodner, K., & Baldwin, E. A. (2006). Total antioxidant activity and fiber content of select Florida‐grown tropical fruits. Journal ofAgricultural and Food Chemistry, 54, 7355–7363.
  48. Y. Kee, A. Hafifi, A. Huda-Shakirah, K. Wong, X. Jin, M. Siti Nordahliawate, L. Zakaria, M. Mohd, First report of reddish Brown spot disease of red-fleshed dragon fruit (HylocereusPolyrhizus) caused by nigrospora lacticolonia and nigrospora sphaerica in Malaysia, Crop Protect. 122 (2019) 165–170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2019.05.006.
  49. S. Freitas, E. Mitcham, Quality of pitaya fruit (Hylocereusundatus) as influenced by storage temperature and packaging, Sci. Agric. 70 (4) (2013) 257–262, https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162013000400006.
  50. N. Moshfeghi, O. Mahdavi, F. Shahhosseini, S. Malekifar, S.K. Taghizadeh, Introducing a new natural product from dragon fruit into the market, Int. J. Res. Rev. Appl. Sci. 15 (2) (2013) 269–272.
Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 12
Issue 01
Received 23/01/2025
Accepted 21/02/2025
Published 29/03/2025
Publication Time 65 Days
491

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics