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A new population of pequi (Caryocar spp.) developed by Brazilian indigenous people has agro-industrial and nutraceutical advantages

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Abstract

Physical and chemical properties of 190 fruit samples from 26 matrices of a new population of Caryocar spp. were investigated. Whole fruit, named giant pequi, was composed of 67% shell (exocarp and external mesocarp) and 33% pyrene, and the edible pulp (internal mesocarp) comprised 46% pyrene and 15% total fruit mass. The pulp presented moderate contents of energy (269 kcal/100 g) and lipid (16/100 g), mainly monounsaturated fatty acids (56/100 g lipids); high carotenoid concentration (47 µg/g) and considerable phenolic content (101 mg GAE/100 g). Gallic and p-coumaric acids were the main phenolic compounds identified in the pulp, and the larger classes of volatile compounds were esters and monoterpenes, mostly ethyl hexanoate (44%) and β-cis-ocimene (21%). The giant pequi features higher pyrene and pulp yields, and its edible pulp has a lighter color and lower energy and lipid contents compared to those of common species of pequi, as well as is rich in carotenoids and is a source of polyphenols and volatile compounds. These attributes are highly promising for agro-industrial use, with great potential for nutritional and nutraceutical applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa (FAPEMAT) and the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia (IFMT) do Estado do Mato Grosso, Brazil, for financial support (scholarship and research funding). They are also grateful to Mr Vilamir José Longo for the authorization and support in the fruit harvest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Mato Grosso, Rodovia MT-235, km 12, Campo Novo do Parecis, MT, 78360-000, Brazil

    Marcelo dos Santos da Silva & Madison Willy Silva Cordeiro

  2. School of Nutrition, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Rua 227, Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, GO, 74605-080, Brazil

    Aline Medeiros Alves-Santos & Maria Margareth Veloso Naves

  3. Department of Technology and Food Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima nº 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97015-900, Brazil

    Ingrid Duarte dos Santos & Roger Wagner

Authors
  1. Marcelo dos Santos da Silva
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  2. Aline Medeiros Alves-Santos
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  3. Ingrid Duarte dos Santos
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  4. Roger Wagner
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  5. Maria Margareth Veloso Naves
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  6. Madison Willy Silva Cordeiro
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Correspondence to Maria Margareth Veloso Naves or Madison Willy Silva Cordeiro.

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dos Santos da Silva, M., Alves-Santos, A.M., dos Santos, I.D. et al. A new population of pequi (Caryocar spp.) developed by Brazilian indigenous people has agro-industrial and nutraceutical advantages. Eur Food Res Technol 246, 1715–1724 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-020-03525-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-020-03525-9

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