In vitro and in vivo studies of the health and nutritional properties of durian (
Durio zibethinus Murr.)were compared with snake fruit (
Salacca edulis Reinw.) and mangosteen (
Garcinia mangostana).Dietary fibers, minerals, and trace metals were comparable. Total polyphenols (mg of GAE/100 g ofFW) and flavonoids (85.1 ± 6.1) were significantly higher (
p < 0.05) than in snake fruit (217.1 ± 13.2(mg of CE/100 g of FW)), durian (309.7 ± 19.3 and 61.2 ± 4.9), and mangosteen (190.3 ± 12.1 and54.1 ± 3.8). Antioxidant activity (
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M TE/100 g of FW) of durian measured by DPPH and ABTS assays(228.2 ± 13.4 and 2016.3 ± 81.1) was significantly higher (
p < 0.05) than in snake fruit (110.4 ± 7.9and 1507.5 ± 70.1) and mangosteen (79.1 ± 5.9 and 1268.6 ± 62.3). HPLC/DAD analysis of durian(
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g/100 g of FW) showed that quercetin (1214.23 ± 116.7) was present at levels three times that ofcaffeic acid, and twice as high as
p-coumaric and cinnamic acids. The correlation coefficients betweenthe bioactive compounds of fruits and their antioxidant activities were high (
R2 = 0.99). Male Wistarrats (25) were divided into five dietary groups: the control group was fed the basal diet (BD); inaddition to BD, the cholesterol (Chol) group was supplemented with 1% of Chol; the diets of theChol/Durian, Chol/Snake, and Chol/Mangosteen groups were supplemanted with 5% of these fruits,respectively. It was found that diets supplemented with durian, and to a lesser degree with snakefruit and mangosteen, significantly hindered the rise in plasma lipids and the decrease in antioxidantactivity. The nutritional values were comparably high. In conclusion, it could be suggested that inclusionof studied
tropical fruits, especially durian, in known disease-preventing diets could be beneficial.