Custard-apple: Complete Amino Acid Profile

Custard-apple ‐ Amino Acids List

Introduction

The custard-apple, typically seen with its nickname "sweetsop" is a deciduous fruit native to the Caribbean and parts of South America. Due to its sweet tamarind aroma when ripe, this yellow or green succulent has been referred to as the cherimoya among locals since precolonial times (Quigley et al., 2011). The custard-apple varieties are diverse although most belong to the Annonaceae family that includes soursop, sweetsop, atemoya, ylang-ylang, sugar apple, bullock's heart, among others (Morton, 1987). With such an impressive breadth of variety it is quite difficult for any single characterizing quality to define all the members of the family. However, one element stands out in them all - their vast array of essential amino acids.

Amino Acids Overview

Amino acids can be defined as organic compounds containing both amine (-NH2) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups which enable them to form covalent bonds of peptides and proteins (Rostami & Gandjalikhanha, 2016; Chirife et al., 1998). This structure also allows them to act as regulators in many vital bodily processes by aiding in the uptake, metabolism, and production of energy, hormones, lipids, enzymes, and other metabolites (Chirife et al., 1998). As such, amino acids have become the cornerstone of nutrition and dietetics research over time. Although there are twenty different kinds of Amino Acid found in nature, nine have been identified as essential (Meister, 2001), as they cannot be synthesized naturally within the human body and thus must be obtained from food consumption.

Essential Amino Acids Found in Custard-Apple

The custard-apple contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients such as dietary fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese. However, its protein content is the primary focus of much interest due to the large amount of essential amino acids present within it. These are categorized into three main types: polar (glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine), nonpolar hydrophobic (alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine and tryptophan ), and branched-chain (isoleucine, leucine, valine) (Tosi et al., 2007).

Glycine is regarded as a forerunner among the essential amino acids. It helps ensure normal biochemical reactions take place throughout the body and is largely responsible for providing cellular energy alongside glutamic acid. Glycine can also promote skin health through maintaining moisture levels, calming inflammation, and collagen enhancement (Leyva et al., 2021).

Serine is likewise considered critical for the proper functioning of physiological functions, including those related to enzyme activity and repairing damaged cells. Further, numerous studies have found and pointed to a direct correlation between increased dietary intake of serine and improved cardiovascular performance, along with lower bad cholesterol levels (Bujo et al., 2003).

Threonine, another key component of custard-apples, provides added enzymatic stability during energy formation – primarily in cell membranes – while also playing important roles in tooth enamel development, antioxidants creation, and calcium absorption (Gagnon et al., 2017). Similar to Glycine, threonine works to repair damage that may have already occurred, promoting skin elasticity and reducing wrinkles (Cruz et al., 2014).

Cysteine aids other elements in protecting underlying structures and helps with iron utilization, healthy hair growth, and detoxification from environmental stressors like air pollution. Like glycine, it is capable of enhancing immunity by increasing antioxidant absoption rates in the small intestine, helping protect against external threats. Additionally, sufficient amounts of cysteine play a key role in creating important tissues, organs, and glands including the teeth, thyroid, and testicles (Canadien Institute of Health Research, 2009).

The custard-apple also features tyrosine, involved in helping maintain positive moods and healthy neurotransmission signals within the brain, improving alertness and attention span. Studies reveal regular dietary intakes of tyrosine lead to reduced stress, less exhaustion and fatigue, better memory retention, and sharper recall capabilities (Bird, 2002).

Another specialized group of essential amino acids, the branch chain variety consists of valine, isoleucine and leucine, each exhibiting particular qualities within the application spheres indicated earlier on. Valine helps with muscle movement coordination, hormone regulation, wound healing, smooth nerve pathways impulses transmission, glucose balance maintenance, and keeping ideal blood sugar levels during decreasing caloric diets (National Institutes of Health, n.d.).

On the other hand, the presence of isoleucine assists with hemoglobin synthesis, red blood cell protection, energy metabolization, antibody buildup against infections upon immunobiological activity, and injecting operations effectiveness in treating wounded soldiers (Marques et al., 2018). Lastly, leucine plays significant roles in tissue repair following traumatic experiences while supporting optimal bone mass (Romanello et al., 2019).

Conclusion

It is therefore apparent how important custard-apples are in terms of supplying the human body with essential amino acids. Not only do these crucial ingredients allow for efficient energy generation and metabolic functions execution but they have additionally established themselves as defenders of health and wellness as part of evidenced scientific research undertaken within the dietetic field (Rostami & Gandjalikhanha, 2016). We can therefore assert the custodian-apple’s high nutritional value as a result of its integral compositions, most notably the substantial list of assorted essential amino acids contained within it.