Physico-chemical variability in the fruits of Theichhungsen (Haematocarpus validus (Miers.) Bakh. F. ex. Forman)- A potential source of natural food colour

Abstract: Haematocarpus validus is a promising fruit plant with an intense red fruit pulp that can be used as a natural food color source. The species can grow in the wild in its natural state, and it has not yet been successfully domesticated on a large scale. Fruit samples of H. validus were collected from various locations for this study, and the morphology and biochemical properties of the fruit were investigated. Observations revealed that the morphological characteristics and biochemical content of fruits collected from different geographical locations differ substantially. Furthermore, the findings of this study will serve as a starting point for future scientific research into the fruit’s potential, which includes serving as a natural source of food colour.