Bioactive Evaluation and Antioxidant Potential of Three Native Fruits of the Pampa Biome: Yellow Araçá (Psidium Cattleyanum), Big River Cherry (Eugenia Involucrata ) and Jaboticaba (Plinia Cauliflora ). Perspectives for the Prevention of Damage in Biomolecules, Caused by Oxidative St

Abstract

There is a great variety of Biomes in Brasil with valuable medicinal potential. The typical fruits, tropical, subtropical and of diverse climate, constitute a promising scenario for the control and prevention of numerous pathologies. Recent studies suggest that extracts from certain fruits can signal positive effects through their natural antioxidants, in the defense mechanisms against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in the diseases caused by them. The present study evaluated three fruits of the Pampa Biome, originating in the south of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: yellow Araçá (Psidium cattleyanum), Big River Cherry (Eugenia involucrata) and Jaboticaba (Plinia cauliflora), segregated in pulp and peel. The contents of vitamin C, phenolic compounds, carotenoids and anthocyanins were evaluated. The antioxidant activity was determined by the capture of the 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) -ABTS radical in aqueous and ethanolic extracts. All analyzes were performed in triplicates and submitted to the Tukey test -p <.05 -ANOVA. The moisture content of the fruits was greater than 75%, and o Brix of 11.40 ± 0.08; 9.40 ± 0.36 and 12.90 ± 0.08, respectively for Yellow araçá, Big River cherry and Jaboticaba. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the ethanolic extracts of the peel of Jaboticaba and Yellow araçá; and in the aqueous extracts of the peel of the yellow Araçá, peel and pulp of the Rio Grande cherry and the Jaboticaba. The highest acidity content was observed in the peel and pulp of Jaboticaba, and the highest vitamin C content was observed in the yellow Araçá pulp and in the peel of the Big River cherry. The content of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins were prominent in the peel of Jaboticaba. The highest flavonoid content was observed in the yellow Araçá pulp and in the Jaboticaba peel. Chlorophyll content was prominent in the peel of the Big River cherry and Jaboticaba. The carotenoid content did not stand out in the portions of the fruits studied. It is concluded that the native fruits demonstrate potential in the ability to assist in the protection of the organism by the inhibition of free radicals due to the presence of natural antioxidants, both in the pulp and in the peel.