Characterization of Bioactive Compounds in Amazonian Fruits Murici (Byrsonima crassifolia) and Taperebá (Spondias mombin)

The Amazon is renowned for its biodiversity and the edible and medicinal plants it harbors. Murici and taperebá fruits exhibit significant bioactive potential due to their phytochemicals. This study aimed to evaluate the carotenoid and phenolic content in the pulps of these fruits. Phenolic compounds were identified using UHPLC-HRMS with aqueous and 70% ethanolic extractions of each fresh pulp, assisted by probe sonication. Carotenoids were analyzed by HPLC, using extracts obtained through successive acetone extractions from freeze-dried pulps. The total carotenoid content was 286.02 ± 10.17 µg/g for taperebá and 123.37 ± 1.62 µg/g for murici. For taperebá, β-cryptoxanthin (99.59 ± 4.67 µg/g) was the most prominent carotenoid, followed by lutein (64.02 ± 4.50 µg/g), zeinoxanthin (34.35 ± 1.15 µg/g), α-carotene (27.8 ± 0.63 µg/g), and β-carotene (21.96 ± 1.24 µg/g). Zeaxanthin and lycopene were not detected. In murici, lutein (70.61 ± 5.18 µg/g) was the predominant carotenoid, followed by zeaxanthin (15.62 ± 1.38 µg/g), β-carotene (3.36 ± 0.25 µg/g), β-cryptoxanthin (3.17 ± 0.33 µg/g), and α-carotene (1.52 ± 0.18 µg/g), with zeinoxanthin and lycopene absent. A total of 23 phenolic compounds were identified, with 16 found in murici aqueous extract (MAE), 18 in murici ethanolic extract (MEE), and 15 in each of the taperebá extracts. MAE had catechin as the most abundant compound (23%), followed by vanillic acid and isoquercitrin (12% each). MEE showed quercetin as the most abundant compound (19%), followed by isoquercitrin and catechin (15% and 14%, respectively). Taperebá presented minimal differences in compound abundance between extracts, with isoquercitrin (31%) as the most abundant, followed by quercetin-O-hexoside (12% in TAE and 15% in TEE) and galloylglucose isomer I (13% in both extracts). This highlights the bioactive potential of these Amazonian fruits, which could have therapeutic potential against diseases in the future.