‘Araçá of Cerrado’ from the Brazilian Savannah: physical characteristics, chemical composition, and content of carotenoids and vitamins

Abstract

-Introduction. The Brazilian Savannah has one of the richest biodiversities 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 the population. Among these, the 'araçá of Cerrado' (Psidium firmum O. Berg), a fruit found naturally in the Brazilian Savannah, stands out. Therefore, we evaluated the physical characteristics, chemical composition, and occurrence and content of vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin E and folates in 'araçá of Cerrado' from the Savannah of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. Titratable acidity was determined by volumetric neutralization, pH by potentiometry, soluble solids by refractometry, moisture using an oven, ash using a muffle furnace, protein by the micro-Kjeldhal method, total dietary fiber by the gravimetric non-enzymatic method, and lipids with a Soxhlet extractor. 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, γ and δ-tocopherols and α, β, γ and δ-tocotrienols) and folates (tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate) were analyzed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Results and discussion. The araçá presented a high pulp 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 ). Vitamin C was not found in the fruit. Conclusion. 'araçá of 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.Brazil / Minas Gerais / Psidium firmum / fruits / physicochemical properties / carotenoids / vitamin content / energy value « Araçá du Cerrado », fruit de la savane brésilienne : caractéristiques physiques, composition chimique et teneur en caroténoïdes et vitamines.Résumé -Introduction. La savane brésilienne est l'une des biodiversités les plus riches au monde ; elle contient des fruits indigènes présentant une haute valeur nutritionnelle. Ces fruits permettent à la faune de se nourrir et ils servent également de source de nourriture pour les populations. Parmi ceux-ci, la présence d' « araçá du Cerrado » (Psidium firmum O. Berg), un fruit naturellement présent dans la savane brésilienne, est à souligner. De ce fait, nous avons évalué les caractéristiques physiques, la composition chimique, la fréquence et la teneur en vitamine C, caroténoïdes, vitamine E et folates dans le fruit d' « araçá du Cerrado » de la savane de Minas Gerais, au Brésil. Matériel et méthodes. L'acidité titrable été déterminée par neutralisation volumétrique ; le pH par potentiométrie ; les solides solubles par réfractométrie ; l'humidité à l'aide d'un four ; les cendres à l'aide d'un four à moufle ; les protéines par le procédé microKjeldhal ; les fibres alimentaires totales par un procédé de gravimétrie non enzymatique ; les...

Application of the Box–Behnken experimental design for the extraction of phenolic compounds from araçá‐roxo ( Psidium myrtoides )

“…Therefore, it is important to consume fruit or perform their technological processing (jams, juices, and desserts, among others) immediately after ripening due to high Aw(Damiani et al, 2011). The results for the moisture content of araçároxo (Psidium myrtoides) were similar to those reported byHamacek et al (2013) andDamiani et al (2011), who characterized two varieties of araçá: Psidium firmum and Psidium guineense, respectively. The ash value (0.74%) is within the range reported (0.43 to 1.50%) byPereira et al (2018),Caldeira et al (2004),Schiassi et al (2018), andDamiani et al (2011) for araçá.…”

“…The physical and chemical composition of fruits varies according to species, edaphoclimatic conditions, time of production, and maturity stage (Hamacek et al, 2013). The values for the characterization of araçá-roxo are visualized in Table 2.…”

Bioactive Compounds Found in Brazilian Cerrado Fruits

“…Psidium cattleianum Sabine, P. firmum O. Berg, and P. guineensis Sw., known as araçazeiro, present yellow or red berries with potential commercial interest [ 17 , 92 ]. The fruit, araçá, presents a high content of dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin C, around three or four times higher than other citric fruits, and a low lipid content, indicating that this fruit is nutritionally valuable [ 93 , 94 ]. Araçá has a total phenolic content higher than strawberry ( Fragaria ananassa Duch.)…”

Murici, fruit from the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, Brazil: physical and physicochemical characteristics, and occurrence and concentration of carotenoids and vitamins

“…Repeatability, limits of detection and quantification, linearity range, and recovery of carotenoids and vitamins in the pulp of murici (Byrsonima verbascifolia) from the Cerrado (Januária, Minas Gerais, Brazil). Gerais [34]. The concentration of vitamin E observed in the murici pulp was represented by the compounds α-tocopherol and β-tocotrienol, corresponding to 52.3% and 47.7% of the total content, respectively (table IV).…”