Determinação do potencial antioxidante in vitro da polpa de Attalea phalerata Mart. ex Spreng

Abstract

There is a wide diversity of plant species in Brazil, which are used both as a food source and in industrial sectors. In the Midwest region, for example, there are several species of native fruits considered good nutritional sources as well as potential source of antioxidants, which has aroused the interest of the scientific community and the population in general, since studies on of the use of plant species for the treatment of numerous pathologies. The antioxidant compounds present in these foods and their association with the prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases make these fruits attractive because they are a natural and low-cost option, in addition to being a possible source of income for the local population. Aiming at valuing species found in the Midwest region and considering the scarcity of studies related to the antioxidant potential of the mesocarp of Attalea phalerata Mart. ex Spreng (Arecaceae), this study aimed to determine the proximal composition, antioxidant potential and total phenolic compounds of the mesocarp of this species. For the development of this work, samples of the mesocarp of A. phalerata, collected in the city of Cuiabá/MT, were analyzed. Popularly known as acuri, Attalea phalerata is a palm tree found mainly in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, the fruit is composed of skin (epicarp), pulp (mesocarp) and almond (endocarp) and when ripe it has an orange color and a sweet taste. The components found in greater quantity were moisture content (45.56%), carbohydrates (27.18%) and lipids (19.39%), respectively. The antioxidant potential showed a higher value when compared to studies using other fruits, but from the same family (Arecaceae), despite having presented an intermediate value of the concentration of phenolic compounds. These results suggest that the fruit is, therefore, a promising food, and can be used for various purposes, such as human consumption, industrial sectors, being also an important ally in the prevention of degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant property.