Phytochemical and Nutrient Composition of the Freeze-Dried Amazonian Palm Berry, Euterpe oleraceae Mart. (Acai)

Abstract

Euterpe oleraceae is a large palm tree indigenous to the Amazon River and its tributaries and estuaries in South America. Its fruit, known as acai, is of great economic value to native people. In this study, a standardized freeze-dried acai fruit pulp/skin powder was used for all analyses and tests. Among many findings, anthocyanins (ACNs), proanthocyanidins (PACs), and other flavonoids were found to be the major phytochemicals. Two ACNs, cyandin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside were found to be predominant ACNs; three others were also found as minor ACNs. The total content of ACNs was measured as 3.1919 mg/g dry weight (DW). Polymers were found to be the major PACs. The concentration of total PACs was calculated as 12.89 mg/g DW. Other flavonoids, namely, homoorientin, orientin, isovitexin, scoparin, and taxifolin deoxyhexose, along with several unknown flavonoids, were also detected. Resveratrol was found but at a very low concentration. In addition, components including fatty acids, amino acids, sterols, minerals, and other nutrients were analyzed and quantified. Total polyunsaturated fatty acid, total monounsaturated fatty acid, and total saturated fatty acids contributed to 11.1%, 60.2%, and 28.7% of total fatty acid. Oleic acid (53.9%) and palmitic acid (26.7%) were found to be the two dominant fatty acids. Nineteen amino acids were found; the total amino acid content was determined to be 7.59% of total weight. The total sterols accounted for 0.048% by weight of powder. The three sterols B-sitosterol, campesterol, and sigmasterol were identified. A complete nutrient analysis is also presented. Microbiological analysis was also performed.

Açai Fruit as a Source of Bioactive Phytochemicals

“…The relative abundance of secondary metabolites in most fruits varies according to the ripening and harvest time and growing conditions [26]. A drawback to this study is the limited regional and seasonal variety of açai samples studied, that said, our polyphenol data are consistent with the results of previous studies [13,27]. In the present work, we identified phenolic acids (gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, gentisic acid, syringic acid and vanillic acid), flavonols (quercetin), hydroxycinnamic acids (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid) and an abundance of anthocyanins in açai extracts Figure .…”

Economic profile of two species of Genus der Euterpe, producers of açaí fruits, from the Pará and Amazonas States - Brazil

“…It also presents ornamental potential [17,18], in view of its morphological aspects. Highlights the therapeutic use [19]; The medicinal use [20]; Food use [21,22];Bioenergetic potential [23];High antioxidant activity [24,25,26].…”

Harnessing the health benefits of plant biodiversity originating from the American tropics in the diet

“…Research and study work into the composition of familiar resources such as the tomato [43,44], sweet potato [45,46] or chocolate [40], and less well-known species, such as the acai [36,37], acerola [38] or the camu-camu [39], are beginning to reveal a useful potential for safeguarding consumer health, to be investigated in the rich biodiversity of the American tropics.…”