Abstract:The headspace volatile components of the juice of cashew apples from a commercial Brazilian dwarf genotype were separated by high-resolution gas chromatography and identified by GC/MS. Five judges evaluated the GC effluents using the Osme technique in order to determine the importance of each compound to the characteristic cashew aroma. Esters methyl 3-methyl butanoate, ethyl 3-methyl butanoate, methyl butanoate, ethyl butanoate, ethyl trans-2-butenoate and methyl 3-methyl pentanoate were important to the sweet, fruity and cashew-like aroma. Cis-3-hexenol, hexanal and 2-methyl-2-pentenal presented different green notes. In spite of the flame ionisation detector being unable to detect sulphur compounds, the olfactometric analysis revealed chromatographic regions where sulphur-like odours were perceived by the Osme sensory panel. The most intense unpleasant odour was due to 2-methyl butanoic acid, which was described as very stinky. The sensory panel showed good olfactory sensitivity and reproducibility. Sensory and instrumental data correlation allowed a greater understanding of the role of several volatile compounds in the sensory quality of the juice.

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Overall, the results of the present study strongly indicated that further concentration of the esters recovered in the water phase, either by partial distillation or by alternative technologies such as pervaporation, could generate a higher-quality natural cashew apple essence.

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Publications on the volatile composition of some minor tropical fruits, i.e. acerola, cupuaçu, soursop, bacuri, genipap, umbu-cajá, araçá-boi, camu-camu, umbu, murici and cashew apple, are reviewed. Differences observed in the volatile composition of a same fruit could be due to the methodology and/or to different cultivars or geographical regions. Bound volatiles can also be liberated during the extraction procedures under drastic conditions.

TPC values increased during ripening for both organic and conventional passion fruit. The same was true for TAA values for conventional passion fruit. For organic passion fruit, however, TAA values were highest at the initial ripening stages. These results suggest that antioxidant compounds exert strong influence on the initial ripening stages for organic passion fruit, when TPC still did not reach its maximum level.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the physicochemical composition, the bioactive compounds, and the total antioxidant activity of the fruit pulps of abiu (Pouteria caimito), achachairu (Garcinia humilis), araza (Eugenia stipitata), bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi), and yellow mangosteen (Garcinia xanthochymus) from the Brazilian Amazon biome. Total soluble solid content, total and reducing sugar contents, titratable acidity contents, pH, ascorbic acid content, moisture, protein, lipid, ash, and caloric value were determined. The contents of total anthocyanins, yellow flavonoids, and total carotenoids, besides total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, were also evaluated. The abiu pulp showed the highest contents of ash, total sugars, reducing sugars, total soluble solids, calorie value, and pH, among the analyzed fruits. The achachairu pulp showed the highest content of total phenolic compounds, with significant antioxidant activity, while the araza pulp had the highest total carotenoid content, and the yellow mangosteen, the highest yellow flavonoid content. The positive correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds suggests that these compounds are the most important for determining antioxidant activity in the evaluated fruit pulps.

The grape is an important fruit regarding economic and health benefit parameters, because of its large consumption around the world and their bioactive phenolic compounds. The drying process of BRS Morena grapes, whether pre-treated or not with olive oil for producing raisins, resulted in qualitative and quantitative changes in their phenolic composition (anthocyanins, flavonols, stilbenes, hydroxycinammic acid derivatives, flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins). The raisins with the pre-treatment preserved more anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins than the raisins not pre-treated. Moreover, the total dehydration time accelerated by approximately 40% in the raisins pre-treated. Therefore, the production of raisins of BRS Morena grapes pre-treated with olive oil as a natural surfactant constitutes an interesting process from both the industrial and health points of view, because of the remarkable reduction in the processing time and the preservation of high concentrations of flavonoids, which have important claims to health benefits from biological activities.