Affiliation:
1. Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
2. Embrapa Agroindústria de Alimentos, Brasil
3. Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Abstract
Abstract This work aimed to characterize some of the bioactive compounds of Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC. fruit to enhance the knowledge of its functional potential. Ripe fruits were collected from the restinga of Maricá, in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil. Bioactive compounds were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Ascorbic acid (74.14 mg 100-1 g-1), lycopene (504 µg g-1) and total carotenoids (632 µg g-1) contents were superior to other fruits rich in these compounds. In fact, E. punicifolia fruits are an excellent source of carotenoids and can be considered a good source of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Furthermore, its chemical composition has presented phenolic compounds like gallic acid and anthocyanins. Thus, this underutilized Brazilian fruit stands out as a source of bioactive compounds, presenting a good potential as a functional food, especially due to the high content of lycopene.
Reference36 articles.
1. Bound phenolics in foods, a review;Acosta-Estrada B. A.;Food Chemistry,2014
2. Aprova o regulamento técnico - Ingestão Diária Recomendada (IDR) de proteína, vitaminas e minerais constante do Anexo desta Resolução (Resolução - RDC nº 269 de 22 de setembro de 2005);Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil,2005
3. Biodiversidade brasileira,2015
4. Anthocyanins present in selected tropical fruits: Acerola, jambolão, jussara, and guajiru;Brito E. S.;Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,2007
5. Lycopene/tomato consumption and the risk of prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies;Chen J.;Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology,2013