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‘Araçá of Cerrado’ from the Brazilian Savannah: physicalcharacteristics, chemical composition, and content of carotenoids andvitamins
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 November 2013
Abstract
Introduction. The Brazilian Savannah has one of the richestbiodiversities in the world and contains native fruits presenting high nutritional value.These fruits are the basis for sustaining wildlife and also serve as a food source for thepopulation. Among these, the ‘araçá of Cerrado’ (Psidium firmum O. Berg),a fruit found naturally in the Brazilian Savannah, stands out. Therefore, we evaluated thephysical characteristics, chemical composition, and occurrence and content of vitamin C,carotenoids, vitamin E and folates in ‘araçá of Cerrado’ from the Savannah of MinasGerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. Titratable acidity was determined byvolumetric neutralization, pH by potentiometry, soluble solids by refractometry, moistureusing an oven, ash using a muffle furnace, protein by the micro-Kjeldhal method, totaldietary fiber by the gravimetric non-enzymatic method, and lipids with a Soxhletextractor. Vitamin C (ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids) and carotenoids (α-carotene,β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene) were analyzed by HPLC-DAD. Vitamin E (α, β, γand δ-tocopherols and α, β, γ and δ-tocotrienols) and folates (tetrahydrofolate,5-methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate) were analyzed by HPLC withfluorescence detection. Results and discussion. The araçá presented a highpulp yield (81.43%), soluble solids (11.93 °Brix), moisture (77.46%), dietary fiber(12.32 g·100 g–1) and folates (47.25 mg·100 g–1). It presented a low total energy value of43.19 kcal·100 g–1, and low contents of carotenoids (0.32 mg·100 g–1) and vitamin E(336.43 mg·100 g–1). Vitamin C was not found in the fruit. Conclusion. ‘araçáof Cerrado’ fruit stands out due to its high yield and showed good nutritional value,being classified as an excellent source of dietary fiber and at least a source of folates.Thus, its consumption should be encouraged.
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- © 2013 Cirad/EDP Sciences
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