introduction
What is Mamey Sapote?
Nutritional ingredients
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
Potential health benefits of metabolism
Impact on digestive health
Traditional uses and cultural background
New research from plant science
Considerations for future research
References
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From a traditional Mesoamerican staple to an emerging functional food, mamey sapote offers compelling nutritional promise, and science is working to define the limits of its proven health benefits.
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introduction
The global search for functional foods is increasingly focusing on Neotropical regions, which are characterized by vast plant diversity.1 Of these, Pouteria sapotaCommonly known as mamey zapote, it has historically been consumed throughout Mexico and Central America.1
Recent phytochemical and nutraceutical evidence indicates that mame sapote pulp and its byproducts contain carotenoids, phenolic compounds, dietary fiber These are mainly associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects based on compositional analysis and preclinical models.1,7
What is Mamey Sapote?
P. Sapota It is a large evergreen tree that grows in the lowlands of southern Mexico and Central America. These climacteric plants grow in warm, humid climates and rapidly increase respiration and ethylene production during maturation.1-3
Mamay sapote is an 8 to 20 centimeter (cm) long, oval fruit enclosed within a rough brown pericarp. When ripe, the fruit has salmon-red flesh with a creamy, fine-grained texture and a flavor reminiscent of almond or sweet potato.1
Mamey sapote pulp has remained a staple food in the Neotropics for centuries, as it is widely used as an accompaniment to local meals, as well as in beverages and desserts. Although some traditional formulations incorporate seeds, controlled processing and safety evaluation are required for seed-based products as cyanogenic potential has been reported for certain Acetaceae seeds and formulations.1,3
Nutritional ingredients
biochemical study of P. Sapota They demonstrated that this fruit is an excellent source of dietary fiber, with quantitative analysis showing that the content ranged from 5.4 to 6 g per 100 g of edible portion.1,3 This fibrous matrix contains both soluble and insoluble fractions, such as pectin and cellulose, which have been established to significantly contribute to satiety and digestive health.1
P. Sapota In addition to vitamin C and vitamin E, it is rich in potassium, magnesium, and iron.1 Compared to carrots, which are dominated by β-carotene, mamy sapote also accumulates rare ketocarotenoids with a κ-ring structure, mainly sapotexanthin and cryptocapsin.4,5 Despite reduced bioavailability from intact fruit matrices, human intervention data support the dietary relevance of these carotenoids as contributors to vitamin A status.5
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
Hydrophilic extract of mamey sapote, containing concentrated phenolic acids and flavonoids, exhibits excellent efficacy. in vitro Radical scavenging activity compared to lipophilic fraction.1,4 Targeted LC-MS profiling identified multiple polyphenolic antioxidants. pouteria Fruits containing gallic acid and catechin derivatives are consistent with the measured antioxidant capacity.6
Evidence summarized in a recent review suggests that carotenoids and phenolic compounds found in less-consumed tropical fruits, such as mamey sapote, may influence inflammatory pathways. However, especially for mamey, most mechanistic insights are preclinical or in vitro Research, not human clinical trials.7
Mamey sapote, pouteria sapote. An impressive tropical fruit tree that produces sweet and delicious fruit.
Nutriomics and metabolomics research suggests that: P. Sapota may present a convincing biochemical profile for dietary intervention against these conditions.1-3,5 Postprandial studies in humans have demonstrated absorption of sapotexanthin and formation of retinyl esters after ingestion of Meimei sapote, supporting its relevance as a dietary source of provitamin A rather than as a proven modulator of long-term metabolic disease risk.5 Experimental evidence from model organisms indicates increased resistance to oxidative stress following exposure to bean carotenoid extracts, but these findings cannot be directly extrapolated to chronic human health outcomes.4
Impact on digestive health
The high concentration of insoluble fiber in mame sapote increases stool bulk, thereby stimulating intestinal peristalsis.1 At the same time, soluble fiber and polyphenols serve as substrates for colonic bacteria, which subsequently ferment these substrates to produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, which are important for maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier.1,2
These digestive effects generally reflect the established physiological roles of dietary fiber and polyphenols. However, direct clinical tests that evaluate the intestine microbiome Composition, SCFA production, or gastrointestinal outcomes following mamey sapote consumption are currently lacking.1,7
Traditional uses and cultural background
In Mesoamerica, P. Sapota The pulp is consumed fresh or processed into sorbets and smoothies.1 Culturally, P. Sapota different from Manilkala Sapota (chicozapote) was historically used to make chewing gum.
The large seeds (pixtle) are also utilized in ethnobotanical practices, and ancient Mesoamerican texts reveal that they are roasted and ground for traditional drinks such as tejate. Mamey sapote seed oil, locally known as sapuyul, also promotes hair health.3, 5, 6 Analytical studies have shown that the seeds contain high lipid levels and a fatty acid profile dominated by oleic, stearic, palmitic, and linoleic acids, supporting their traditional and contemporary use in cosmetic and fat blending applications rather than direct nutritional supplementation.3
Image credit: Guajillo Studio/Shutterstock.com
New research from plant science
Recent scientific research has mainly focused on increasing the bioavailability of the unique compounds contained in mamey sapote through optimization of its acquisition and processing.7 In this context, studies on drying, sensing, and postharvest monitoring of tropical fruits contribute methodological insights related to mamey sapote processing, even if they do not directly assess nutritional effects.2,7
Considerations for future research
Although the bioavailability of mame sapote ingredients has been established, clinical data regarding long-term metabolic effects using markers such as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and lipid profile are still lacking.1 Current human evidence is strongest for the contribution of postprandial carotenoid absorption and vitamin A rather than sustained cardiometabolic or anti-inflammatory outcomes.5 An important toxicological concern is due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in mame sapote seeds that release hydrogen cyanide upon hydrolysis, and additional studies are needed to establish standardized safety limits for seed-based products.1, 3, 6
References
- Ibarra-Manzanares, ZG, Ibarra-Manzanares, AG, Soriano-Melgar, LA; Others. (2025). Acaciaceae fruits from Central America: Botanical, phytochemical, and nutraceutical insights – a review. plant 14(21); 3297. Toi:10.3390/plant14213297. https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/21/3297.
- G. López-Morales, YM Espinosa-Sánchez, A. Flores-Rosas, H. Vilquis (2025). Detection of moisture content in mango (Mangifera indica L., cv. Ataulfo) and papaya (Carica papaya) slices during drying using MMI-based sensors. sensor twenty five(22), 6902. Doi: 10.3390/s25226902. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/22/6902
- Solis-Fuentes, J.A., Ayala-Tirado, RC, Fernández-Suárez, A.D., and Duran de Bazua, MC (2015). Pouteria sapota seed oil. Potential, composition, fractionation, and thermal behavior. Grassus y Ates 66(1); e056. Doi: 10.3989/gya.0691141. https://grasasyaceites.revistas.csic.es/index.php/grasasyaceites/article/view/1521
- González Peña, Massachusetts, Pope Losada Ramírez, Ortega Regres, Commonwealth of Australia (2021). Carotenoids from bean (Pouteria sapota) and carrot (Daucus carota) enhance oxidative stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biochemistry and Biophysics Report 26;100989. Doi: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.100989. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405580821000832
- Chacon-Ordóñez, T., Esquivel, P., Quesada, S., others. (2019). Mamay sapote fruit and its carotenoid compounds are a dietary source of vitamin A – a randomized crossover controlled study. Food Research International 122; 340-347. Doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2019.04.009. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963996919302327
- Ma, J., Yang, H., Basile, M. J., and Kennelly, E. J. (2004). Analysis of polyphenolic antioxidants from fruits of three Pouteria species by selected ion monitoring liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52(19); 5873-5878. Doi: 10.1021/jf049950k. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf049950k
- Belmonte-Herrera, B.H., Dominguez-Avila, J.A., Wall-Medrano, A.; others. (2022). Less-consumed tropical fruits and their by-products: phytochemical content and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. nutrients 14(17); 3663. Doi: 10.3390/nu14173663. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/17/3663
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Last updated: January 25, 2026