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.

Abstract – Introduction. The Cerrado is a Brazilian biome that has a largeplant heterogeneity. Among the fruit species of the Cerrado, the tamarind stands out dueto its economic potential and use in human feeding. Our study evaluated the physical andphysicochemical characteristics, and occurrence and content of vitamin C, carotenoids,vitamin E and folates in tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) from the Cerradoof Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. The length, diameter, massand fruit yield of tamarind were evaluated. 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 and carotenoids were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, and vitamin E and folatesby HPLC with fluorescence detection. Results and discussion. Tamarind pulp iscomposed mainly of carbohydrates (50.07 g·100 g–1) and moisture (35.29 g·100 g–1); it canbe considered a good source of dietary fiber (4.13 g·100 g–1). The pH, titratable acidityand soluble solids are 2.95, 18.52 g tartaric acid·100 g–1 and 44.00 °Brix, respectively.Contents of vitamin C (4.79 mg·100 g–1) and folates (59.35 µg·100 g–1) in the tamarind arehigher than those observed in traditional fruits. However, the fruit presents low vitaminE content (108.78 µg·100 g–1). Conclusion. The tamarind stands out due to itsnutritional value, being a good source of vitamin C and dietary fiber, and an excellentsource of folates.

Introduction. The BrazilianCerrado presents a wide vegetable diversity, which is used for differentpurposes, especially in human feeding. Among the various fruitsof the Cerrado, the araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.)stands out, due to its high nutritional value and technologicalpotential. The physical characteristics, chemical composition (titratableacidity, pH, moisture, ash, total dietary fiber, lipids and proteins),occurrence and content of vitamin C (ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids),carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene),vitamin E (α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols and tocotrienols) and folates(tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate)were evaluated in araticum from the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. Vitamin C and carotenoids wereanalyzed by HPLC-DAD, and vitamin E and folates by HPLC with fluorescencedetection. Results and discussion. Araticum pulp presenteda high energy value (95.12 kcal·100 g–1), as well aselevated contents of dietary fiber (6.80 g·100 g–1), carotenoids (4.98 mg·100 g–1) and vitamin A value (288.79 RAE·100 g–1).The contents of vitamin C, folates and vitamin E were 5.23 mg·100 g–1, 27.36 μg·100 g–1 and 494.04 μg·100 g–1, respectively. Conclusion. Araticum presented high energy value andhigh dietary fiber content. It is a source of vitamin C and folates, andan excellent source of vitamin A.

Introduction. The fruits ofthe Brazilian Savannah have potential to improve the human diet,income generation and, consequently, the quality of life for sociallyvulnerable families. Among the native fruits of the Savannah, onethat stands out is the ‘jatobá do cerrado’ (Hymenaea stigonocarpa).Therefore, the physical characteristics, chemical composition (titratableacidity, soluble solids, pH, moisture, ash, proteins, lipids andtotal dietary fiber), occurrence and content of vitamin C (ascorbicand dehydroascorbic acids), carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthinand lycopene), vitamin E (α, β, γ and δ-tocopherols and tocotrienols)and folates (tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate)were evaluated in pulp of ‘jatobá do cerrado’ from the BrazilianSavannah. Materials and methods. The length, diameter,mass and fruit yield were evaluated. The titratable acidity wasdetermined by volumetric neutralization; pH by potentiometry; solublesolids by refractometry; moisture using an oven; ash using a muffle furnace;proteins by the micro-Kjeldhal method; total dietary fiber by thegravimetric non-enzymatic method; and lipids with a Soxhlet extractor.Vitamin C and carotenoids were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, and vitamin Eand folates by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Results anddiscussion. The jatobá do cerrado’ presented low pulp yield (17.1%)and moisture (8.8 g×100 g–1), and high contents of total dietaryfiber (44.3 g×100 g–1), protein (5.6 mg×100 g–1) and energy (193.0 kcal×100 g–1).The fruit presented reduced contents of carotenoids and vitamin C [(0.4and 8.9) mg×100 g–1, respectively]. The contents of vitamin E andfolates [(53.5 and 495.5) μg×100 g–1, respectively] were higherthan in other widely consumed fruits. Conclusion. The‘jatobá do cerrado’ is a source of vitamin C, good source of folates, andexcellent source of dietary fiber. Due to its nutritional value,‘jatobá do cerrado’ is an important dietary alternative; thus, its consumptionshould be encouraged.

Introduction. The Brazilian Savannah presents a wide vegetable diversitythat produces fruit that have unique characteristics and should be better characterizedand exploited. The agricultural-economic exploration of the fruits from the Savannahcontributes to income generation and may play an important role in improving humannutrition. The aim of our research was to evaluate the physical characteristics (diameter,height and mass), chemical composition (moisture, ash, proteins, lipids, dietary fiber,titratable acidity, soluble solids and pH), occurrence and content of vitamin C (ascorbicacid and dehydroascorbic acid), carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin andlycopene), vitamin E (α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols and tocotrienols) and folates(tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate) in pequi fromthe Savannah of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. Analyses ofcarotenoids and vitamin C were carried out by HPLC-DAD, and vitamin E and folates by HPLCwith fluorescence detection. Results. The pulp of cooked pequi presented highcontents of dietary fiber (9.9 g·100 g–1), lipids (33 g·100 g–1), carotenoids (8.11 mg·100g–1), vitamin C (14.33 mg·100 g–1), vitamin A (514.38 RAE·100 g–1) and total energy(317.19 kcal·100 g–1). Contents of folates and vitamin E were 5.1 μg·100 g–1 and 110.52μg·100 g–1, respectively. Conclusion. The pulp of cooked pequi presents ahigh energy value, as well as elevated contents of dietary fiber and lipids. It is a goodsource of vitamin C and an excellent source of vitamin A. The nutritional value and thewide availability of pequi make it an important tool for the reduction of food andnutritional insecurity.

Introduction. Celtis australis L., Crataegus azarolus L., Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Elaeagnus angustifolia L. et Zizyphus lotus L. sont des arbres et arbustes fruitiers non conventionnels, très communs en Afrique et surtout en Algérie. Leurs fruits traditionnellement exploités sont sources de minéraux et vitamines qui pourraient constituer une matière première non négligeable pour l’alimentation. Ils sont consommés frais ou secs. L'objectif de notre travail a été de déterminer la composition minérale et vitaminique de ces fruits. Matériel et méthodes. Notre étude a porté sur une comparaison de ces fruits quant à leurs caractéristiques biométriques et à la teneur de leur portion comestible en composés vitaminiques et éléments minéraux. Résultats et discussion. La pulpe des cinq fruits étudiés s’est révélée plus riche en vitamines (tocophérol, carotène, vitamine C, thiamine B1) et en minéraux (calcium, magnésium, potassium, fer, manganèse ) que certains fruits plus largement consommés. La teneur de quelques oligo-éléments (zinc, cuivre) n’a pas dépassé le seuil de toxicité, indiquant que la consommation de ces fruits n’était pas préjudiciable à la santé publique. Conclusion. Les fruits analysés pourraient être source d’un apport nutritionnel important et être utilisés dans différents domaines : agroalimentaire, cosmétique, pharmaceutique et autres.