Abstract
The Arecaceae family has around 270 species ocurring in Brazil, some of them valued as traditional medicines, food, and as raw materials for handicrafts like dendê (Elaeis guineensis), babaçu (Orbignya speciosa), piaçava (Attalea fungifera) and carnaúba (Copernicia prunifera). Coco-Cravo (one variety of Cocos nucifera) and açaí (Euterpe oleraceae) are two species from this family with interesting pharmacological activities (J. of Ethnopharmacol. 2004, 92, 269; Food and Chem. Toxicol., 2011, 49, 855 and Phytomedicine 2012, 19, 262). In this report we present our results on the phytochemistry of both species. HPLC/DAD and HPLC/ESIMS analysis of C. nucifera husk fiber extracts allowed a preliminary characterization of B-type condensed tannins of oligomeric/polymeric nature (Research in Microbiology 2002, 153, 647). After isolation, we identified catechin, epicatechin, two dimeric B-type proanthocyanidins, caffeoylshikimic acid, gallic and ellagic acids from the EtOAc fraction. E. oleraceae stone extract was analyzed by HPLC/DAD and the UV spectra observed were strongly indicative of the presence of condensed polymers. Positive Electrospray FTMS of the sample displayed peaks indicative of sodium aducts for proanthocyanidin oligomers from 2 to six catechin and gallocatechin units. Further work is now in progress to elucidate the composition of the polyphenolics.
Published Version
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