WILD PINEAPPLE (ANANAS BRACTEATUS (LINDL.), VAR. ALBUS) HARVESTED IN FOREST PATCHES IN RURAL AREA OF VIÇOSA, MINAS GERIAS, BRAZIL: EXCELLENT SOURCE OF MINERALS AND GOOD SOURCE OF PROTEINS AND VITAMIN C

ABSTRACT In the rural region of the municipality of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, forest patches are encountered and they present a great diversity of wild and edible fruit, where wild pineapple (Ananas bracteatus (Lindl.), var. albus) is one of those of greatest occurrence. Given that, little is known about the nutritional characteristics of this fruit, the present study aimed to investigate the physical and physic-chemical characteristics, chemical composition (titratable acidity, total soluble solids, pH, moisture content, ash, protein, lipids and dietary fiber), carotenoids (a-carotene, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin and lycopene), vitamin C (AA and DHA) by HPLC-DAD, vitamin E (a-, ß-, ?-, d-, tocopherols and tocotrienols) by HPLC-fluorescence, and minerals (P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Na, Cr, Se and Mo) by ICP-AES. Fruits showed a moisture content average of 78.5 g 100g-1, 16.3 ° Brix of soluble solids, titratable acidity equal to 1.71 g 100g-1 of citric acid, 1.66 g 100g-1 of dietary fiber, 1.41 g 100 g-1 of lipids and caloric density of 83.15 kcal 100g-1. We considered it a source of carbohydrates (12.82 g 100g-1), proteins (4.79 g 100g-1) and Zn (0.98 mg 100g-1); a good source of vitamin C (18.70 mg 100g-1); and an excellent source of Cu (0.48 mg 100g-1), Fe (2.05 mg 100g-1), Mn (8.87 mg 100g-1) and Mo (0.15 mg 100g-1)

‘Melão croá’ (

Introduction. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, indigenous fruits are part of the eating habits of the population. Among these, ‘melão croá’ (Sicana sphaerica Vell.) and ‘maracujina’ (S. odorifera Naud) are rich in bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins. The physical characteristics, physicochemical and proximate composition, concentration of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E and minerals were investigated in both fruits found in Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. Titratable acidity was analyzed by volumetric neutralization; soluble solids (SS) by refractometry; pH by potentiometry; moisture and ash by gravimetry after drying in an oven and muffle furnace, respectively; proteins by the micro-Kjeldahl method; lipids by gravimetry using soxhlet; dietary fibers by non-enzymatic gravimetry; carotenoids and vitamin C by HPLC-DAD; vitamin E by HPLC-fluorescence; minerals by ICP-AES. Results and discussion. S. sphaericapresented the highest concentrations of SS (5.80 °Brix), TA (0.51 g of citric acid 100 g-1), pH (6.95), moisture (83.4 g 100 g-1), carbohydrate (13.38 g 100 g-1), vitamin A (123.33 ¯g RAE 100 g-1), vitamin C (4.97 mg 100 g-1), vitamin E (334.66 ¯g 100 g-1), K (28.79 mg 100 g-1), Fe (1.92 mg 100 g-1), and Zn (1.04 mg 100 g-1); while S. odorifera had the highest concentrations of total dietary fibers (1.33 g 100 g-1), lipids (1.00 g 100 g-1), proteins (2.62 g 100 g-1), ash (0.77 g 100 g-1), P (1.26 mg 100 g-1), and Ca (1.74 mg 100 g-1). Conclusion. The analyzed fruit showed a potential source of nutrients that can contribute to reducing food and nutrition insecurity of rural people, especially in the American continent, occurrence region of these fruits

Study of the physical and physicochemical characteristics of fruits of the licuri palm (Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Becc.) found in the Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais, Brazil

AbstractThe Atlantic Forest has species of native fruits, consumed fresh and processed, which have an important contribution to food sovereignty of families that consume it. This study examined the physical and physicochemical characteristics, proximate composition, concentration of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E and minerals in the pulp and kernels of fruits of licuri (Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Becc.). Titratable acidity was analyzed by volumetric neutralization, soluble solids by refractometry, proteins by the micro-Kjeldahl method, lipids by gravimetry using soxhlet, dietary fiber by non-enzymatic gravimetry, carotenoids and vitamin C by HPLC-DAD, vitamin E by HPLC-fluorescence, and minerals by ICP-AES. Pulp were a source of Zn (0.95 mg 100–1), a good source of fiber (6.15 g 100–1), excellent source of provitamin A (758.75 RAE 100–1), Cu (0.69 mg 100–1), Fe (3.81 mg 100–1), Mn (3.40 mg 100–1) and Mo (0.06 mg 100–1). The kernel were a source of Fe (3.36 mg 100–1) and excellent source of Mn (6.14 mg 100–1), Cu (0.97 mg 100–1) and Mo (0.07 mg 100–1). The nutritional value and wide availability of licuri fruit make it an important resource for reducing food insecurity and improving nutrition of the rural population and other individuals who have access to it