JATOBÁ-DO-CERRADO: BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN THE FARINACEOUS PULP

Fruits from Brazilian Cerrado have shown great scientific interest due to its underutilization and bioactive composition. Hymenaea stigonocarpa is a species with dark-colored and rounded pod fruits and seeds wrapped in a pale-yellow, farinaceous, sweet and edible pulp. The scientific literature identifies anti-inflammatory, antiobesogenic, antidiabetogenic, antitumoral and antioxidant effects due to the presence of phenolic compounds and carotenoids in the jatobá-do-cerrado fruit. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the proximate composition, the phenolic content and the antioxidant capacity of jatobá’s pulp. Jatobá’s pulp samples were extracted using either 60% ethanol or 50% methanol and 70% acetone. The extracts were submitted to total phenolic analysis (Folin Ciocalteau), flavonoids (colorimetric method), antioxidant activity (FRAP, hydrophilic ORAC, DPPH and ABTS). In addition, the tentative identification and quantification of some phenolic compounds were performed using HPLC-DAD in 80% methanol extract of jatobá pulp. Jatobá’s pulp samples presented sizable protein content, a great amount of total dietary fibers (47.2%), soluble dietary fibers, polyphenols and antioxidant capacity in the hydrophilic extracts of the fruit’s pulp. There were no significant differences between extraction with different solvents. This study showed for the first time the identification of two phenolic compounds in the pulp of jatobá: catechin and epicatechin. H. stigonocarpa’s pulp showed phytochemical characteristics that can be related to bioactive functions after human consumption, which makes the fruit attractive for technological and therapeutic application.