PHYSICOCHEMICAL, BIOACTIVE COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF CAFERANA HONEY

Caferana (Bunchosia glandulifera) is a species native from South America, found in humid tropical forests such as the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon Rainforest. Caferana pulp is rich in alkaloids, lycopene, minerals, amino acids and soluble solids. The pulp in natura or used in food preparations is consumed by people living on the North Coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, who describe improvements and preservation of physical vigor and memory in elderly people, and the rehabilitation of physical vigor in young people under fatigue. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical, bioactive analyses, and antioxidant activity of a “honey” obtained from the maceration of caferana pulp with ultrafiltered water at a temperature of 13 ºC. The caferana honey was analyzed in terms of moisture, ashes, proteins, fibers, total carbohydrates, soluble solids, total volatiles contents, and pH value. The bioactive composition was analyzed through the total of alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity by three DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS methods. The honey analysis revealed about 15.7% total volatile (including 12.3% moisture), 8.2% ashes, 7.6% proteins, 1.9% fibers, 67% total carbohydrates, 60 °Brix, pH 3.9, 7.6% alkaloids, 1.7% phenolic compounds, and exhibited antioxidant activities of 7.31 FRAP, 22.98 DPPH, and 88.22 ABTS (μmolTE/g). Caferana honey has the potential to produce fermented beverages, including meads, as it has a high soluble solids content, mainly sugars. The bioactive composition in terms of phenolics, alkaloids, minerals, proteins, and carbohydrates can aid improvements and maintenance of physical disposition and good memory, both in elderly and young consumers. Therefore, caferana honey can be considered a relevant source of bioactive compounds, showing technological potential for obtaining nutraceuticals products for human consumption.