Mangaba (Hancornia speciosaGomes) from the Brazilian Cerrado: nutritional value, carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins

Abstract

Introduction. The mangaba is an exotic fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado that presents high antioxidant activity and may benefit human health. Its antioxidant activity may be associated with the presence of bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins. The physical and chemical characteristics, nutritional value, carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins were evaluated in mangaba from the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. Titratable acidity was determined by volumetric neutralization, pH by potentiometry, soluble solids by refractometry, moisture by gravimetry after oven drying, ash by calcination in a muffle furnace, proteins by the micro-Kjeldhal method, dietary fibers by the gravimetric non-enzymatic method and lipids by gravimetry after extraction in ethyl ether. Vitamin C (ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids) and carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene) were analyzed by HPLC-DAD. Vitamin E (α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols and tocotrienols) and folates (tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate) were analyzed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Results and discussion. Mangaba showed a high pulp yield (80.08%), moisture (83.0 mg×100 g–1) and dietary fiber content (2.3 g×100 g–1). Mangaba presented β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol; α-, β- and γ-tocotrienols; tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate, and it can be considered an excellent source of vitamin C (165.8 mg×100 g–1) and folates (98.3 μg×100 g–1). Carotenoid and vitamin E contents were 0.12 mg×100 g–1 and 2,732.5 μg×100 g–1, respectively. Conclusion. Mangaba presented a high pulp yield, and several carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins, and can be considered an excellent source of vitamin C and folates.