Evaluation of vitamin C content and analysis by infrared spectroscopy of the pulp of araçá Psidium brownianum Mart. Ex DC

Abstract

Araçá, belonging to the Myrtaceae family, is a small, round fruit with soft pulp. Araçá species have shown an important potential with characteristics of nutritional interest, such as richness in vitamins and antioxidants. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the vitamin C content and perform infrared analysis of the pulp of the araçá species Psidium brownianum Mart. ex DC, found in the National Forest of Araripe, Ceará, Brazil. The analysis of ascorbic acid content was performed by electrochemical technique using a Potentiostat/Galvanostat, Metrohn Autolab, model PGSTAT 101, and for the analysis by infrared spectroscopy of the pulp of araçá Psidium brownianum Mart. ex DC, a Fourier transform infrared absorption spectrometer FT-IR VERTEX 70 V, Bruker, was used. In this study, the value of 109.3 mg of ascorbic acid per 100 g of sample was found for the pulp of Psidium brownianum Mart. ex DC. The verification of ascorbic acid content in a sample is of great relevance, since, according to studies, this vitamin exerts important effects in the organism, being considered an excellent antioxidant, acting also in the formation of collagen, iron absorption and immune response. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis allowed the identification of the functional groups present in the studied sample, such as alkyl, alkene, and carbonyl groups, allowing a better knowledge of the species.