BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN AMAZONIAN OIL AND FATS WITH DIFFERENT FATTY COMPOSITIONS: MURUMURU FAT (Astrocaryum murumuru), CUPUASSU FAT (Theobroma grandiflorum) and PRACAXI OIL (Pentaclethera macroloba)

The Amazon biome is home to a diversity of oleaginous species, which play a fundamental role in the diet of the local population as a source of lipids, adding economic and cultural value. This work highlighted three of its natural riches, murumuru fat, cupuassu fat and pracaxi oil, obtained by cold pressing the seeds of these fruits, with the aim of evaluating their nutraceutical characteristics. Analytical methodologies included determination of lipid content using automatic extraction, acidity index using potentiometric titration, and fatty acid profile using gas chromatography with flame ionization detector, according to the AOCS methodologies. Tocopherols and tocotrienols were determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometer detector, and the total polyphenols content was determined by the folin-ciocalteu method using spectrophotometry. The Amazonian products presented high lipid content (greater than 96%) and low acid value (less than 0.4 mg KOH g^-1). Pracaxi oil presented 48.11±0.02% of oleic acid and 12.55±0.04% of linoleic acid, cupuassu fat presented 37.28±0.01% of oleic acid and 3.75±0.02% of linoleic acid, and murumuru fat presented 6.89±0.01% of oleic acid and 0.46±0.01% of linoleic acid. Murumuru fat and pracaxi oil showed high levels of β/γ-tocopherols (444±10 and 754±23 mg kg^-1, respectively), while cupuassu fat showed a higher level of polyphenols (412.62±0.73 µg of caffeic acid equivalent per g). The results demonstrate the quality and nutritional value of the Amazonian products analyzed, giving them a greater chance of being considered good alternatives to other lipid sources. The use of oils and fats from Brazilian biodiversity as new alternatives can promote the bioeconomy, the valorization and preservation of biodiversity and the work of the local population. In addition, it can reduce monoculture and the associated environmental impacts.