Biochemical characterization and bioactive compounds in macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.)
sexta-feira, março 22, 2019
Authors: Siqueira, Priscila Becker
Abstract: The macauba palm tree (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.) is a native specie in tropical forests and can be found in some Brazilian regions, mainly in Mid-West and Minas Gerais State. It has great potential to be applied in food and cosmetic industries, moreover, it can be used in biodiesel. Nowadays, there is a great tendency in the consume of functional food, and it has called much attention of the scientific community to study the bioactive properties in Brazilian plants, specially the ones from great national biomas,such as Cerrado and Amazonia.
The study of research areas, such as biotechnology and enzymology can also make feasible the rational use of agricultural resources. Pulp and kernel of macauba were investigated in order to find the main enzyme present in this fruit as well analyze some of its bioactive properties. It was found oxidative enzymes, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, cellulase, pectinase and lipase in macauba's kernel and pulp. The presence of lipase in the pulp was considered of relevant interest, thus its biochemical characterization was performed. Macauba pulp crude extract showed optimum activity at pH 5.5 and temperature of 40C. Its specific activity was 36 U/mg of protein under the optimal conditions.
This enzyme is not thermostable,but remains stable under organic solvent treatment and shows greater affinity to long chain fatty acid esters. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoids content were determined in pulp and kernel of macauba using diferent solvent solutions, water, ethanol, methanol, acetone and ethyl acetate. The methanolic extraction showed the best results. Total phenolics scored 78 mg GAE/ 100 g of fresh pulp and flavonoids content was 68 mg CE/100 g of fresh pulp.
Macauba's pulp has intermediate antioxidant capacity, as showed through TEAC (9,6 umol TE/g) and ORAC (36 umol TE/g) methodologies.Important properties of macauba, a very common but under explored fruit in Brazil, could be obtained from this study
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Page: Repositório UNICAMP
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