‘Melão croá’ (Sicana sphaericaVell.) and ‘maracujina’ (Sicana odoriferaNaud.): chemical composition, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals in native fruits from the Brazilian Atlantic forest

Abstract

Introduction. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, indigenous fruits are part of the eating habits of the population. Among these, ‘melao croa’ (Sicana sphaerica Vell.) and ‘maracujina’ (S. odorifera Naud) are rich in bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins. The physical characteristics, physicochemical and proximate composition, concentration of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E and minerals were investigated in both fruits found in Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. Titratable acidity was analyzed by volumetric neutralization; soluble solids (SS) by refractometry; pH by potentiometry; moisture and ash by gravimetry after drying in an oven and muffle furnace, respectively; proteins by the micro-Kjeldahl method; lipids by gravimetry using soxhlet; dietary fibers by non-enzymatic gravimetry; carotenoids and vitamin C by HPLC-DAD; vitamin E by HPLC-fluorescence; minerals by ICP-AES. Results and discussion. S. sphaericapresented the highest concentrations of SS (5.80 °Brix), TA (0.51 g of citric acid 100 g-1 ), pH (6.95), moisture (83.4 g 100 g-1 ), carbohydrate (13.38 g 100 g-1 ), vitamin A (123.33 ¯g RAE 100 g-1 ), vitamin C (4.97 mg 100 g-1 ), vitamin E (334.66 ¯g 100 g-1 ), K (28.79 mg 100 g-1 ), Fe (1.92 mg 100 g-1 ), and Zn (1.04 mg 100 g-1 ); while S. odorifera had the highest concentrations of total dietary fibers (1.33 g 100 g-1 ), lipids (1.00 g 100 g-1 ), proteins (2.62 g 100 g-1 ), ash (0.77 g 100 g-1 ), P (1.26 mg 100 g-1 ), and Ca (1.74 mg 100 g-1 ). Conclusion. The analyzed fruit showed a potential source of nutrients that can contribute to reducing food and nutrition insecurity of rural people, especially in the American continent, occurrence region of these fruits.