Functional properties of dietary fiber concentrates from Mexican hawthorn fruit ( <i>Crataegus mexicana</i> )

Mexican hawthorn fruit (Crataegus mexicana), also known as Tejocote, is an underexploited native Mexican fruit. This study aimed to determine the composition, antioxidant activity, and moisture isotherms of dietary fiber concentrates (DFC) obtained from Mexican hawthorn fruit fractions (pulp, peel, and seed) to assess their suitability as food ingredients. High molecular weight and low molecular weight soluble, insoluble, and total dietary fiber (SDFP and SDFS, IDF, and TDF, respectively) were also determined. Some techno-functional properties were measured including water and oil retention capacity, solubility, and swelling capacity. The TDF content followed the order seed >peel> pulp (92.84 ± 0.81, 59.44 ± 1.43, and 48.38 ± 0.42 g·100 g−1 db). The highest SDF:IDF ratio was found in pulp DFC (0.08:1), highly correlated with its techno-functionality. Conversely, phenolic content and antioxidant activity were higher in the peel DFC. GAB and Peleg models were more suitable for fitting the experimental data for moisture isotherms, which displayed a BET type III behavior for both adsorption and desorption. This study provides novel and supportive information for revalorizing Mexican hawthorn fruit as a potential ingredient in food and functional products.