In this study, the antioxidant capability, total phenolic content and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts of seven fruits from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest were evaluated. The conditions for the extraction of crude phenolics from the fruits were determined using an experimental factorial design. Total phenolic content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH • ) scavenging activity and b-carotene-linoleic acid couple oxidation assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the extracts. In addition, antimicrobial activity was screened using two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and one Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus). All native fruits assayed in this study have high potential as natural antioxidant sources. Among the seven fruits evaluated, Jabuticaba and Uvaia had the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH • and of b-carotene-linoleic acid coupled oxidation assays. In the biological assay, K. pneumoniae was the most sensitive microorganism to the fruit extracts, and the Jabuticaba extract had a slight inhibitory effect against this Gram-positive bacterium.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity from 44 fruit were evaluated. The data were statistically evaluated by analysis of common components and specific weights (CCSWA). Panã, acerola, açaí, and jabuticaba showed higher values of total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and antioxidant activity. The analysis of CCSWA was able to explain almost 100% of the variance of the data and established the correlation between TPC and antioxidant capacity, being the most influential variables in the classification of samples. This statistical method is ideal for quickly analyzing a large amount of data, as obtained in this research, which facilitates routines of industrial analysis.

Modified pectin is a polysaccharide rich in galacturonic acid altered by pH adjustment and thermal treatment used especially as an anti-cancer agent. The aim of this work was to study the physical and chemical properties of modified pectins extracted from orange pomace with citric and nitric acids. The galacturonic acid content, degree of esterification, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy profile, molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity, rheological properties and antioxidant activity of the pectins were evaluated. The modification process caused the de-esterification of pectins and a decrease of molecular weight due to removal of neutral sugars, maintaining the linear chain of galacturonic acid. Such changes also caused a significant increase in the in vitro antioxidant activity (p≤0.05) and influenced the rheological properties of pectin, reducing its viscosity. This work showed that the modification of pectin from orange pomace with citric and nitric acids altered its structural and physical characteristics as well as its biological activity toward a free-radical.

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