Abstract
Abstract Erechtites valerianifolia (Wolf) DC is an unconventional vegetable found in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Is consumed in high proportions by the population living in this biome. The objective of this study was to investigate the general chemical composition, occurrence and content of carotenoids, vitamins (C and E) and minerals in this vegetable. By the micro-Kjeldhal method it was determined proteins. It was determined total dietary fiber (TDF) by non-enzymatic gravimetric method. Carotenoids and vitamins were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) it was determined minerals. E. valerianifolia presented concentrations of TDF (3.7 g 100 g-1), ash (0.9 g 100-1), lipids (1.4 g 100-1), carbohydrates (2.9 g 100-1), proteins (1.3 g 100-1), caloric density (29.2 kcal 100-1), Vit. A (373.9 µg 100-1 RAE), K (561.2 mg 100-1), Ca (79.5 mg 100-1) and Fe (21.6 mg 100-1). It is considered that this vegetable is source of Ca, good source of fiber and K, and an excellent source of pro-vitamin A, Mn, Se, Fe, Mo and Cu, which may reduce food and nutritional insecurity in the population, mainly in the region where this species is found.
Highlights
Native species may represent alternatives to human nutrition and insertion of new food sources in markets, since Brazilians eat less than half of the daily nutrient recommendations, and this consumption is lower among low-income families (Pereira et al, 2014)
Considering the above, the present study investigated the centesimal analysis, content of carotenoids, vitamins (C and E) and minerals in samples of E. valerianifolia collected in natural environments of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
It was observed that Wahab et al (2015), in study accomplished on the nutritional composition of E. valerianifolia, found water
Summary
Native species may represent alternatives to human nutrition and insertion of new food sources in markets, since Brazilians eat less than half of the daily nutrient recommendations, and this consumption is lower among low-income families (Pereira et al, 2014). Many native foods are part of the Brazilian diet, there is still limited information on their nutritional composition (Paula Filho et al, 2015a). Is an unconventional vegetable that belongs to the family Asteraceae and is widely distributed all the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. This vegetable is used as a food resource, specially by families inhabiting the rural area of this region, being commercialized in urban fairs as well (Barreira et al, 2015). Its importance and use in the diets of many families is observed, up to the present time the nutritional composition of this vegetable is still little studied
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