RESUMO -O bioma Cerrado apresenta uma variedade de espécies frutíferas detentoras de características sensoriais peculiares pouco exploradas científica e comercialmente. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a caracterização química, física e nutricional dos frutos de curriola (Pouteria ramiflora), gabiroba (Campomanesia cambessedeana) e murici (Byrsonima verbascifolia), nativos do Cerrado brasileiro. A gabiroba apresentou elevada quantidade de vitamina C (383,33 mg/100g), bem como uma proporção significativa de polpa (81,52%). Por sua vez, a curriola apresentou teores consideráveis de fibra bruta (8,18%), enquanto o murici apresentou uma quantidade considerável de pectina (746,81 mg/100g), lipídeos (2,31%) e um expressivo potencial antioxidante (56 mg DPPH/g fruto). Desta forma, os resultados obtidos servem como base para pesquisas futuras no sentido da comprovação da presença de compostos bioativos e elaboração de produtos visando à agregação de valor aos frutos. Termos para Indexação: Byrsonima verbascifolia, Campomanesia cambessedeana, Pouteria ramiflora, Antioxidantes. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL CHARECTERIZTION OF FRUITS FROM CERRADO: CURRIOLA, GABIROBA AND MURICIABSTRACT -The Cerrado biome features a variety of fruit species with peculiar sensory characteristics, but little explored scientifically and commercially. This study aimed the chemical, physical and nutritional characterization of curriola (Pouteria ramiflora), gabiroba (Campomanesia cambessedeana) and murici (Byrsonima verbascifolia), native fruits of the Brazilian Cerrado. Gabiroba had a high amount of Vitamin C (383.33 mg/100g) and showed a significant proportion of pulp (81.52%). Curriola showed considerable crude fiber (8.18%), while murici had a considerable amount of pectin (746.81 mg/100 g), lipids (2.31 %) and expressive antioxidant potential (56 mg DPPH / g fruit). These results can be used as a basis for future researches in order to improve bioactive compounds and manufacturing processes of those fruits.

In this work, three different broccoli maturity stages subjected to biofortification with selenium were evaluated for antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. Antioxidant trials have shown that the maturation stages biofortified with selenium had significantly higher amounts of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, especially seedlings. Although non-polar extracts of all samples show antiproliferative activity, the extract of broccoli seedlings biofortified with selenium stood out, presenting cytocidal activity for a glioma line (U251, GI50 28.5 mg L(-1)).

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic and degenerative condition that had no treatment until recently. The current therapeutic strategies reduce progression of the disease but are expensive and commonly cause side effects that are uncomfortable for treated patients. Functional foods to prevent and/or treat many conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, represent a promising field of study currently gaining attention. To this end, here we demonstrate the effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract (PPE) regarding spatial memory, biomarkers of neuroplasticity, oxidative stress and inflammation in a mouse model of neurodegeneration. Male C57Bl/6 mice were chronically infused for 35 days with amyloid-β peptide 1–42 (Aβ) or vehicle (control) using mini-osmotic pumps. Another group, also infused with Aβ, was treated with PPE (p.o.– βA+PPE, 800 mg/kg/day). Spatial memory was evaluated in the Barnes maze. Animals treated with PPE and in the control group exhibited a reduction in failure to find the escape box, a finding that was not observed in the Aβ group. The consumption of PPE reduced amyloid plaque density, increased the expression of neurotrophin BDNF and reduced the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme. A reduction in lipid peroxidation and in the concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was also observed in the PPE group. No hepatic lesions were observed in animals treated with PPE. In conclusion, administration of pomegranate peel extract has neuroprotective effects involving multiple mechanisms to prevent establishment and progression of the neurodegenerative process induced by infusion with amyloid-β peptide in mice.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in Alzheimer’s disease. To arrest oxidative stress, this contribution first identified and quantified phenolic bioactives present in the pulp and peel of pomegranate using high-performance liquid chromatography. Punicalagin β rendered the greatest antiradical activity as evaluated by on-line HPLC-ABTS method, which was followed by punicalagin α, gallic acid, and epicatechin. Furthermore, the scavenging activity against peroxyl and DPPH radicals, as well as the reducing power were investigated. Extracts obtained from the peel showed much higher phenolic contents and antioxidant properties than that of the pulp, hence being selected as potential inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, a key enzyme involved in the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. Phenolics from pomegranate peel showed inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, which was dependent on the phenolic concentration. Therefore, pomegranate peel may be considered by the industry as a functional food ingredient and possibly for manufacturing of nutraceuticals.