Chemical constituent analysis of the Babassu (Orbignya phalerata Mart.) mesocarp

Abstract

The Babassu nut (Orbignya phalerata Mart.) mesocarp is traditionally transformed to flour and consumed in some Brazilian areas for its attributed medicinal activity; however, its chemical properties remain to be elucidated. The present work aimed at analyzing the babassu mesocarp phytochemical constituents. Babassu nut samples were collected in the Brazilian Amazon, and their mesocarps were prepared and macerated in different solvents. The chromatographic fractionation of selected methanol extracts yielded three fractions, A-5, A-6, and B-1 that were characterized with high resolution methods. Fraction A-5 was characterized through GC/MS as a fatty acid mixture with predominance of eicosanoic (38.67 %) and 11-octadecanoic (21.71 %) acids. Fraction A-6 was characterized by the presence of three phytosteroids (32.02 %), sesquiterpene (nerolidol; 24.89 %), and diterpene (17-acetoxy-19-kauranal; 15.17 %). The 1H and 13C NMR spectra on fraction A-6 showed characteristic chemical shifts for its compounds. Compound B-1 was identified as ergostanol-3-benzoate based on NMR experiments in one and two dimensions. These results constitute the first identification of babassu mesocarp chemical constituents in 1 and 2-dimensions, paving the way to understanding its role in popular medicine.

Bioactive compounds and benefits of by-products of Amazon babassu oil production: potential for dietary supplement, biomedical and food applications

“…Oil seed covers significant quantities of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) 46,47 but also minor amounts of (poly)phenols, tri-, diglycerides, terpenes, and phytosterols. 48 Table 1 shows some babassu derivatives rich in phytochemicals reviewed in this work based on the preparation method and there is an overview of the primary class of phytochemicals screened in studies. This table is quite revealing in several ways.…”

Nanocomposite Films of Babassu Coconut Mesocarp and Green ZnO Nanoparticles for Application in Antimicrobial Food Packaging

“…Babassu mesocarp is a low-cost material obtained as a by-product of the babassu coconut, a native species in Brazil widely distributed in the northern and northeastern regions of the country, especially in the state of Maranhão [ 11 ]. It is mainly composed of starch (68.3%), but also contains fibers and amino acids (2.51%), proteins (1.54%), soluble carbohydrates (1.25%), and lipids (0.27%) [ 12 ]. Studies have shown that babassu mesocarp has antimicrobial action due to its phytochemical composition of polyphenols and phenolic compounds [ 13 ].…”