POTENCIAL ALIMENTICIO DE LOS TOMATES DE CÁSCARA (Physalis spp.) DE MÉXICO

Abstract

Physalis L. (Solanaceae) is an American genus that produces edible fruits recognized commonly as green tomato, husk tomato and tomatillo among other names; they have a dietary use rooted in the daily diet of many geographical areas in México, where the species P. philadelphica and P. angulate are cultivated, in addition to the collection of fruits of at least a dozen wild species. Evidences of the nutritional and functional value of the fruits are reviewed, citing the comparative contents of four principal species in terms of fiber, minerals, proteins, lipids and soluble sugars, as well as vitamins A and C, and some bioactive phytochemical principles with antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties, among others. These properties make husk tomatoes biological models of great interest for the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries.