Phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of tropical fruits

Author(s)

Adna Prado

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2009-10-23

Examining board members

Severino Matias de Alencar; Solange Guidolin Canniatti Brazaca; Rodrigo Rodrigues Petrus

• Advisor: Severino Matias de Alencar

Abstract

The fruits are known to be natural sources of antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, carotenoids and phenolic compounds. When they are consumed, the fruits are responsible to prevent many diseases in humans beings. The phenolic compounds are strongly correlated with the antioxidant activity in fruits and the biological activity study has been the aim of many researches. The purpose of the present study was to determine the phenolic content and the antioxidant activity in tropical fruits. The ethanolic extract of seven fruits was used to determine the phenolic content, to measure the antioxidant activity by DPPH free radical sacavenging, ABTS+, -carotene/linoleic acid system oxidation and oxidative estability in Rancimat assays and, chemical identification by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry technique. The phenolic content expressed as milligram gallic acid equivalents of fruits ranged from 0.128 to 15.8 mg GA/mL extract. Acerola, pitanga, guava and mango had higher phenolic contents. Melon had the smallest phenolic content among seven fruits. About the antioxidant activity study, pitanga and guava showed good activity all the used assays. The two fruits presented antioxidant activity higher up 70% in DPPH free radical scavenging; 6.3 and 5.14 µM Trolox/g pulp (dry basis), respectively, in ABTS+ assay; antioxidant acitivity about 60% in -carotene/linoleic acid system oxidation; protection factors values of 1.07 and 1.13, respectively, in Rancimat. The identified phenolic compounds in fruits extracts were benzoic acid trimethylsilyl ester in pineapple, mango, passion fruit and pitanga extracts and quercetin in acerola. The ascorbic acid was identified in acerola and guava extracts besides sugars and others organic acids in all fruits extracts. This study confirmed the good antioxidant acitivity of tropical fruits, natural sources of antioxidants. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/53050-4 - Antioxidant activity and phenolic composition of tropical fruits
• Grantee: Adna Prado Massarioli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master