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In the processing for obtaining acerola juice, a large amount of residues, which is usually discharged, is generated (seeds and bagasse). Adding value to these by-products is of great interest, since their use can enrich human food as a good source of nutrients and dietary fiber. In this study, acerola seed flours (ASF) and acerola bagasse flours (ABF) were used to develop cereal bars (CB) in different combinations with brown oats: CB 1: control -with the addition of 25% brown oats, CB 2: with the addition of 12.5% ASF and 12.5% ABF, CB 3: with the addition of 6.25% ASF and 18.75% ABF, CB 4: with the addition of 12.5% ASF and 12.5% brown oats and CB 5: with the addition of 12.5% ABF and 12.5% brown oats. These bars were sensorially evaluated and CB 1, CB 4 and CB 5 received the highest scores. We conclude that CB 4 and CB 5 can be considered as products with enhanced nutritional value, containing iron with a low energetic value and high levels of dietary fibre, besides being enriched with antioxidants.

-Fruit of the lychee cv. Bengal are approximately 50% peel and seeds, which are discarded. These byproducts have antioxidant compounds which are capable of blocking the harmful effects of free radicals in the body. Bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, lycopene and phenols) and antioxidant activity were evaluated in different extracts, both fresh and dried at 45 °C, of the skin, pulp and seeds of the lychee, which were subjected to principal component analysis to clarify which of the compounds are responsible for this activity. Principal component analysis explained 82.90% of the variance of the antioxidant profile of the lychee. The peel displayed higher levels of phenols, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and antioxidant activity, while the seeds stood out due to their levels of lycopene. With drying, there was a decrease in the levels of ascorbic acid and beta-carotene and in antioxidant activity, with an increase in the levels of phenols and lycopene. The antioxidant activity found in the peel and seeds of the lychee is high, and is mainly due to ascorbic acid and beta-carotene, as demonstrated by principal component analysis, allowing the use of these fractions as sources of natural antioxidants.Key words: Lychee. Antioxidants. Principal component analysis. RESUMO -Os frutos da lichieira cv. Bengal possuem aproximadamente 50% de casca e semente, que são descartadas. Estes subprodutos apresentam compostos antioxidantes capazes de bloquear os efeitos danosos dos radicais livres, no organismo. Foram avaliados os compostos bioativos (ácido ascórbico, betacaroteno, licopeno e fenóis) e a atividade antioxidante, em diferentes extratos da casca, polpa e semente de lichia, in natura e secas a 45 ºC, os quais foram submetidos à análise de componentes principais, para elucidar quais compostos são responsáveis por esta atividade. A análise de componentes principais explicou 82,90% da variância do perfil antioxidante da lichia. A casca apresentou maiores teores de fenólicos, ácido ascórbico, betacaroteno e atividade antioxidante, enquanto a semente destacou-se pelos teores de licopeno. Com a secagem, houve decréscimo nos teores de ácido ascórbico e betacaroteno e na atividade antioxidante e aumento nos teores de fenólicos e licopeno. A atividade antioxidante encontrada na casca e semente de lichia é elevada e se deve, sobretudo, ao ácido ascórbico e ao betacaroteno, conforme demonstrado pela análise de componentes principais, o que possibilita o uso destas frações como fontes de antioxidantes naturais.Palavras-chave: Lichia. Antioxidantes. Análise de componentes principais.

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The search for alternative methods aiming to the control of agricultural pests that cause less environmental impact has been a recurring theme in several studies. For this purpose, the factors influencing the extraction and isolation of the trypsin inhibitor found in castor-bean (Ricinus communis L.) cake and seeds were studied, and its effect on the development of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797) was evaluated. Therefore, the type and proportion of the solvent (w/v), extraction period and oil content were evaluated. The castor-bean cake extract with oil content of 20% in water at a ratio 1:40 (w/v) for 30 min showed the greatest trypsin inhibition, with 21.23 mUTI g -1 seed. The isolation of the trypsin inhibitor contained in the extract was performed by flash chromatography, with inhibition peaks of up to 8906.12 mUTI g -1 fraction, as well as inferring that the best eluent was ethyl acetate with a small percentage of ethanol (< 30%). In order to evaluate the effect of the inhibitor on the development of this insect, the aqueous extract of castor bean cake with oil content of 20% was incorporated into the diet that was provided to the caterpillars at a concentration of 4000 ppm. There was reduction in the oviposition period and an increase in the concentration of proteins in the feces, with 20.55 ± 3.73 d and 177.70 ± 16.90 µmol g -1 , respectively. The increase in protein excretion indicates that the trypsin inhibitor was able to reduce the absorption of essential amino acid residues by the insect without, however, impairing the development of S. frugiperda.

ABSTRACT

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The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of plant growth regulators (PGR) on the induction of calli from cotyledons of Enterolobium contortisiliquum grown in vitro, as well as to evaluate the inhibitory activity of trypsin in these calli. Cotyledons of E. contortisiliquum were cultivated in culture medium supplemented with dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), picloram (PIC), kinetin (KIN), and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Callus mass, inhibitory activity of trypsin, morphogenetic and cytochemical observations, and biological activity were measured after 60 days. The Pareto diagram showed that only 0.5 mg L-1 PIC influenced the increase of fresh mass, whereas 0.5 mg L-1 BAP influenced dry mass. The principal component analysis plot showed the formation of two clear clusters. The inhibitory activity of trypsin is achieved at a higher intensity in the treatment with 0.5 mg L-1 2,4-D + 2.0 mg L-1 PIC + 0.5 mg L-1 KIN + 2.0 mg L-1 BAP. The combination of PGR at different rates causes an intense callus formation. Low concentrations of PGR result in a higher fresh mass, dry mass, and biological activity. The use of PGR is efficient in obtaining E. contortisiliquum calli with a satisfactory inhibitory activity of trypsin.