LAUSR

Fruits are considered excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, carotenoids, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds; therefore, they are considered to have potential chemopreventive properties (Mahattanatawee et al., 2006). Vitamin C is an antioxidant naturally present in a daily diet; it has an anticancer effect and restores tocopherol to its active form in cell membranes by reducing the free radical form (Klimczak et al., 2007). Carotenoids present in the diet are bioactive and may confer beneficial effects on human health, such as decreased risk of degenerative diseases, prevention of cataract formation, reduction of age-related macular degeneration, and reduced risk of coronary heart disease (Krinsky, 1994). Phenolic compounds have antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antithrombotic cardioprotective, and vasodilatory properties (Giada & Mancini-Filho, 2006). Therefore, consumption of fruits and vegetables is considered essential to human nutrition, not only because of the range of their benefits to the human body, but also because of their attractive flavor and texture.