Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus): An overview of nutritional and functional food properties

Abstract

The jackfruit is a considered miracle crop in some Asian countries. Its fruit has a unique fruit structure, strong aroma and flavor. It is considered one of the heaviest tree-borne fruit in the world. It is considered a largely underutilized fruit. Besides raw fruit eating, agroforestry, and furniture; it has found uses in ayurvedic medicine. Scientific evidence has found potential health benefits of its fruit, peel, and seeds, as well as various plant parts including leaves, bark, and roots. It has shown potential in alleviating some chronic conditions such as digestive problems, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Being a climacteric fruit, it is highly perishable, so appropriate postharvest management may improve its shelf stability. For this purpose, the effect of maturity on fruit quality, maturity indices, need for ripening delay, as well as storage and packing methods have been discussed in this chapter. The fruit can be eaten fresh, as well as could be used to develop various products. Particularly, it has been a popular ingredient in the countries where it is produced, as locals develop jackfruit-based curry, biryani, smoothies, salads, and chapatis. In addition, there is high potential for development of value-added commercial food products such as beverages, jams, ice creams, chips, and extruded products. Moreover, the use of jackfruit as a vegan meat substitute has gained popularity in Western countries due to its meat-like texture and ability to absorb flavors. Furthermore, its waste including seeds are also edible, and not only directly processed and sold as a separate product, but also its seed powder is used in various recipes. The development of value-added products from jackfruit and its waste can contribute to rural development and poverty alleviation. The chapter has not only also discussed the challenges that are hindering the development of jackfruit processing sector, but also highlighted its potential for sustainable agriculture and economic development.