Juçara fruit ( Euterpe edulis Mart.): Sustainable exploitation of a source of bioactive compounds

Journal of Functional Foods, 2019

The pulp of the fruits of Juçara (Euterpes edulis Martius), a native tree of the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil, is widely consumed thanks to its flavour and nutritional value. The industrial production of Juçara fruit pulp generates solid residues (peel) which are usually discarded. In this work, a hydroalcoholic extract from Juçara peel flour was evaluated for its phenolic profile as well as for its bioactivities. A total of nineteen phenolic compounds were identified in the Juçara peel flour. Among these, seventeen were non-anthocyanin phenolic compounds, namely two phenolic acids, four flavanonols, six flavones, and five flavonols; whereas the two anthocyanin molecules were cyanidin glycoside derivatives. The Euterpe edulis peel flour presented antioxidant activity and antibacterial potential but was not hepatotoxic. These observations corroborate the idea that this byproduct could fit well into the circular bioeconomy concept, thus promoting the Juçara fruit production chain.

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 2014

Juçara (Euterpe edulis M.) fruits are an interesting source of phenolic compounds, mainly anthocyanins, making them valuable to the food and pharmaceutical industries. Juçara fruits were harvested along the on-tree ripening process between March and June as practiced in Paraná state, Brazil and examined for their total anthocyanin content (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC), total phenolic acid (TPA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAA). Overall, TAC increased (91.52-236.19 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent/100 g dm) whereas TPC (81.69-49.09 mg GAE/g dm) and TPA (44.27-30.95 mg/100 g dm) decreased during ripening of juçara fruits. Use of tandem mass spectrometry allowed the identification of cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-rutinoside for the first time in juçara fruits. The analysis of the phenolic acids by HPLC-MS/MS indicated the presence of gallic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, chlorogenic, caffeic, syringic, p-coumaric, sinapinic and ferulic acids. The high antioxidant capacity using DPPH radical scavenging capacity (655.89-745.32 μmol TE/g dm) and ORAC assays (1088.10-2071.55 μmol TE/g dm) showed that juçara fruits have potential as a source of novel natural antioxidants for disease prevention and health promotion, and also as natural food additives for developing new functional food products.

Food Research International, 2011

Samples of fruit from the jussara palm plant (Euterpe edulis), collected in different regions of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, were analyzed for chemical composition, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, flavonoids and fatty acids profile. Results indicated that the jussara fruit has a high lipid content (18.45-44.08%), oleic acid (44.17-55.61%) and linoleic acid (18.19-25.36%) are the fatty acids found in the highest proportion, and other components were proteins (5.13-8.21%), ash (1.55-3.32%) and moisture (34.95-42.47%). Significant differences were found in the total phenolic, total monomeric anthocyanins and other flavonoids for the samples from the five cultivation regions. The fruit from region E harvested in summer, with high temperatures and medium altitudes, had the highest contents of total phenolics (2610.86± 3.89 mg 100 g −1 GAE) and monomeric anthocyanins (1080.54± 2.33 mg 100 g − 1 cy-3-glu). The phenolic compound included ferulic, gallic, hydroxybenzoic and p-coumaric acids, as well as catechin, epicatechin and quercetin. The results show promising perspectives for the exploitation of this tropical fruit with a chemical composition comprising considerable phenolic acids and flavonoids compounds and showing activity antioxidant.

Food Research International, 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ripening on the individual phenolic compounds, total anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity of juçara fruit. The color, moisture, total protein, total lipids, fatty acids and mineral contents were also evaluated. A total of eleven phenolic compounds were identified during the ripening of juçara fruit by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Rutin and quercetin showed highest levels at stages 6 and 7, with 0.27 to 0.28 mg 100 g −1 and 1.25 to 1.48 mg 100 g −1 , respectively. The skin color of the fruit during ripening changed from red to black, favored by the accumulation of anthocyanins (507.57-634.26 mg cyanidin 3glucoside 100 g −1 fresh matter). In addition, these compounds (quercetin, rutin and anthocyanins) showed positive correlation with the antioxidant capacity, which explains the high antioxidant potential of juçara fruit observed in DPPH and FRAP assays. The results revealed that the pulp of the juçara fruit collected at the end of ripening (stages 5 to 7) also presents adequate nutritional potential for consumption, providing higher levels of protein, lipids, oleic and linoleic acids, potassium, calcium, iron and manganese.

Anais do V Simpósio de Bioquímica e Biotecnologia, 2015

Juçara (Euterpe edulis M.) fruits are an interesting source of phenolic compounds, mainly anthocyanins, making them valuable to the food and pharmaceutical industries. Juçara fruits were harvested along the on-tree ripening process between March and June as practiced in Paraná state, Brazil and examined for their total anthocyanin content (TAC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAA). The results showed that TAC increased (91.52-236.19 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent/100 g dm) during ripening of juçara fruits. Use of tandem mass spectrometry allowed the identification of cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-rutinoside for the first time in juçara fruits. The high antioxidant capacity using DPPH radical scavenging capacity (655.89-745.32 µmol TE/g dm) and ORAC assays (1088.10-2071.55 µmol TE/g dm) showed that juçara fruits have potential as a source of novel natural antioxidants for disease prevention and health promotion, and also as natural food additives for developing new functional food products.

Journal of Functional Foods, 2015

We aimed at determining the bioactive compounds and chemical composition of jabuticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) O. Berg) and jussara (Euterpe edulis Mart.) fruits and their fractions. With the exception of jabuticaba pulp, both fruits and their fractions might be exploited as dietary fibre sources. Jabuticaba fruit may be considered as source of vitamin A and its pulp source of Fe, Mn and Cu, while jussara pulp may be considered a source of Mn, Cu and vitamins A and E. The phenolic profile of jabuticaba fractions (pulp, peel, seeds and depulping residue) and jussara whole fruit and seed was investigated for the first time. Eleven phenolic compounds were determined in each fruit, of which soluble forms were predominant, anthocyanins being the most abundant phenolics. Jabuticaba and jussara presented higher antioxidant activity compared with berries. Our results indicate that jabuticaba and jussara have high commercial potential due to their nutritional and functional properties.

Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi - Ciências Naturais, 2020

The bromatological composition, mineral content, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity of three native Amazon Arecaceae fruits (buriti, açaí, and inajá) were chemically evaluated. These fruits showed high moisture contents (> 55%), and levels of ash values, total crude protein, and total carbohydrates in the range of 0.68-1.28%, 0.49-2.14%, and 6.10-26.51%, respectively. High levels of total lipids were found in buriti (21.0%). A wide range of mineral content was detected and the highest levels were found in the pulps of buriti (Ca, Cu, Fe, and Mg), inajá (Na and Zn) and açaí (Mn). All three fruits showed antioxidant activity with important levels of phenolic compounds and good or rich content of vitamin C. This study provides new data on the antioxidant activity and the nutritional composition of native Amazonian fruits. Based on this study, these fruits are suitable for use in the food and cosmetics industries, as well as in pharmaceutical compositions.

Food chemistry, 2017

An in vitro method involving simulated gastrointestinal digestion was used to assess the bioaccessibility of fifteen minerals, twenty-two phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity in juçara fruit during seven ripening stages. For minerals and phenolics, respectively, initial contents were up to 1325.9 and 22.9mg100g(-1), whereas after in vitro digestion, the maximum values were 556.7 and 14.43mg100g(-1) (dry matter). Antioxidant capacity, determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), after in vitro digestion decreased 51-78% when compared to the crude extract. Bioaccessible fractions of quercetin, protocatechuic and p-coumaric acids presented positive and significant correlation with results of DPPH and FRAP. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that the ripening stages of juçara fruit influenced the bioaccessibility of compounds and antioxidant capacity, which presented higher levels in purple fruit...

Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 2018

In the present research effort, production of a crude anthocyanin extract from the fruits of jussara (Euterpe edulis Martius) was pursued. The physico-chemical characteristics of the crude anthocyanin extracts were evaluated via Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, computed tomography via X-ray transmission, UV-Vis spectrophotometric scannings, differential scanning calorimetry, antimicrobial activity, anthocyanin quantification, total phenolic content, thin layer chromatography for sugars and pigments, free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) scavenging activity and antioxidant activity via the molybdenum phosphate complex. The results gathered suggest that the crude anthocyanin extracts had both obvious antioxidant activity and radical scavenging effects with the DPPH assay, and light antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, further suggesting that this crude pigment extract might be a valuable addition for either food or pharmaceutical applications.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2006

Euterpe oleraceae is a large palm tree indigenous to the Amazon River and its tributaries and estuaries in South America. Its fruit, known as acai, is of great economic value to native people. In this study, a standardized freeze-dried acai fruit pulp/skin powder was used for all analyses and tests. Among many findings, anthocyanins (ACNs), proanthocyanidins (PACs), and other flavonoids were found to be the major phytochemicals. Two ACNs, cyandin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside were found to be predominant ACNs; three others were also found as minor ACNs. The total content of ACNs was measured as 3.1919 mg/g dry weight (DW). Polymers were found to be the major PACs. The concentration of total PACs was calculated as 12.89 mg/g DW. Other flavonoids, namely, homoorientin, orientin, isovitexin, scoparin, and taxifolin deoxyhexose, along with several unknown flavonoids, were also detected. Resveratrol was found but at a very low concentration. In addition, components including fatty acids, amino acids, sterols, minerals, and other nutrients were analyzed and quantified. Total polyunsaturated fatty acid, total monounsaturated fatty acid, and total saturated fatty acids contributed to 11.1%, 60.2%, and 28.7% of total fatty acid. Oleic acid (53.9%) and palmitic acid (26.7%) were found to be the two dominant fatty acids. Nineteen amino acids were found; the total amino acid content was determined to be 7.59% of total weight. The total sterols accounted for 0.048% by weight of powder. The three sterols B-sitosterol, campesterol, and sigmasterol were identified. A complete nutrient analysis is also presented. Microbiological analysis was also performed.