Brazilian Biodiversity Fruits: Discovering Bioactive Compounds from Underexplored Sources

Author(s)

Biazotto, Katia Regina ^[1] ; de Souza Mesquita, Leonardo Mendes ^[1] ; Neves, Bruna Vitoria ^[1] ; Cavalcante Braga, Anna Rafaela ^[1] ; Pereira Tangerina, Marcelo Marucci ^[2] ; Vilegas, Wagner ^[3] ; Mercadante, Adriana Zerlotti ^[4] ; De Rosso, Veridiana Vera ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Biosci, Rua Silva Jardim 136, BR-11015020 Santos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biosci, Dept Bot, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] UNESP Sao Paulo State Univ, Lab Bioprospect Nat Prod LBPN, Coastal Campus Sao Vicente, BR-11015020 Sao Vicente, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Fac Food Engn, Dept Food Sci, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry; v. 67, n. 7, p. 1860-1876, FEB 20 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Large segments of the Brazilian population still suffer from malnutrition and diet-related illnesses. In contrast, many native fruits have biodiversity and are underexploited sources of bioactive compounds and unknown to consumers. The phytochemical composition of nine underexplored Brazilian fruits was determined. Carotenoids and anthocyanins were identified and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-MS/MS), and phenolic compounds and iridoids were identified by flow injection analysis-electrospray-ion trap-tandem mass spectrometry (FIA-ESI-IT-MS/MS); in total, 84 compounds were identified. In addition, the chemical structure and pathway mass fragmentation of new iridoids from jenipapo (Genipa americana) and jatoba (Hymenae coubaril) are proposed. The highest level of carotenoids was registered in pequi (Caryocar brasiliense; 10156.21 mu g/100 g edible fraction), while the major total phenolic content was found in cambuci (Campomanesia coubaril; 221.70 mg GAE/100 g). Anthocyanins were quantified in jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora; 45.5 mg/100 g) and pitanga (Eugenia uniflora; 81.0 mg/100 g). Our study illustrates the chemical biodiversity of underexplored fruits from Brazil, supporting the identification of new compounds and encouraging the study of more food matrixes not yet investigated. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Food Research Center
• Grantee: Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC