Sapucaia (Lecythis pisonis Camb.) raw nuts collected from Brazil were analyzed to determine the proximate composition, amino acid profile of protein fractions, in vitro protein digestibility and antinutritional factors in order to evaluate their potential as a protein alimentary complement. The nuts contained adequate amounts of essential amino acids, fatty acids and minerals. In the present study, no hemagglutinating or inhibitory activities were observed in any of the samples investigated, indicating low or non-detectable levels of proteinase inhibitors or lectins in the samples. In vitro digestibility of in natura and heated nut globulins by mammalian digestive proteinases was carried out using trypsin + chymotrypsin + peptidase, with resulting mean values of approximately 70.30 and 71.35%, respectively. Taken together, the results suggest that sapucaia nuts may provide a new source of protein to use as a potential nutritional agent. Keywords: protein digestibility; antinutritional factors; globulins; proteinases; Lecithys pisonis. ResumoAmêndoas cruas de Sapucaia (Lecythis pisonis Camb.) colhidas no Brasil foram analisadas para se determinar a composição centesimal, o perfil de aminoácidos de suas proteínas, a digestibilidade protéica in vitro e a presença de fatores antinutricionais, para avaliar o seu potencial como complemento alimentar protéico. As amêndoas apresentaram quantidades adequadas de aminoácidos essenciais, ácidos graxos e minerais; no entanto, baixo teor de fibra foi observado. No presente estudo, a presença de lectinas ou inibidores de proteinases, quando detectada, apresentou baixos níveis. A digestibilidade in vitro de globulinas, in natura ou aquecidas, por proteinases digestivas de mamíferos foi realizada utilizando-se tripsina + quimotripsina + peptidase, obtendo-se valores aproximados de 71,5 e 73,5%, respectivamente. Estes resultados sugerem que as amêndoas de sapucaia podem ser utilizadas como complemento alimentar de proteínas, sendo um potencial agente nutricional.
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