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Pouteria glomerata is a native species from the Brazilian Pantanal, whose fruit is edible and still underexploited. The objective of this study was to carried out the chemical, nutritional and antioxidant properties of this tropical fruit, as well as to isolate e characterize the chemical strucutre of their dietary fibers. DPPH and ORAC methods were used to determine the antioxidant capacity. Minerals were quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Soluble and insoluble dietary fiber fractions were obtained by the standard enzymatic-gravimetric method and chemically characterized by monosaccharide composition, gel permeation and NMR spectroscopy. Results showed that P. glomerata fruits presented high antioxidant capacity and high levels of vitamin C, minerals, insoluble dietary fiber, and malic acid. The soluble dietary fiber was mainly composed of uronic acids, arabinose, and galactose, and NMR analysis indicated the presence of highly methylesterified homogalacturonan, arabinan and/or arabinogalactan as pectic polysaccharides. Hemicelluloses present in insoluble dietary fiber fraction were solubilized by alkaline treatment, and characterized as (1 → 4)-β-D-xylan. The results brings new chemical information about this native fruit and may open new opportunities for using it as a potential ingredient for health improvement by human comsumption., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Maintaining the plant architecture of Psidium guajava L. (guava tree) is essential for enhancing capture and distribution in the plant, directly affecting the fruit quality. The lifespan of the harvest period can be extended by proper pruning. Both timeliness and proper pruning play crucial roles in achieving high-quality fruit production and in maintaining a consistent fruit size while stimulating ascorbic acid levels, sugar content, total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity. From this perspective, this study aimed to characterize the influence of different intensities of fruit pruning and thinning on guava trees grown under a seasonal tropical climate in two growing seasons in Currais, Piauí, Brazil. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design with a 3 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement corresponding to short, medium, and long pruning intensities and 0%, 10%, and 20% thinning intensities during the two growth seasons, respectively. An analysis was performed to discriminate the treatment groups according to the physicochemical variables of the guava tree cv. Paluma and canonical discriminant analysis. There was significant variation in the SS, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, and pH contents. Cluster analysis of all treatments allowed division into five different groups for the two pruning times. Canonical discriminant analysis showed that the first two canonical variables explained 91% of the total variance. The fruits of the second harvest exhibited a lower level of acidity, higher levels of soluble solids, and higher levels of ascorbic acid contents. In addition, these fruits also obtained better nutrient contents. Short pruning with up to 20% thinning, medium pruning with up to 10%, and long pruning without thinning favored better levels of macronutrients and micronutrients and, consequently, better fruit quality. Medium or long pruning with up to 20% thinning resulted in higher average fruit weights and nutrient contents (especially of Fe and Cu), lower acidity, and higher ascorbic acid contents. Thus, in general, the importance of production pruning in guava plants is evidenced and thinning of 20% is recommended to improve the fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underused crops have been expanding in the market due to their nutritional and antioxidant characteristics. Lulo, or naranjilla, can be considered an underused crop because it is grown on a small scale in Colombia and has high nutritional value. The edaphoclimatic conditions of cultivation of this fruit can influence its post-harvest characteristics. Thus, the objective of the work was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and the physicochemical characteristics of lulo fruit obtained from cultivation in Brazil. The post-harvest variables analyzed were antioxidant activity by ABTS, DPPH, FRAP methods, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, and physicochemical characteristics of acidity, soluble solids, and ratio. Twenty replicates were used for each variable, including three replicates for antioxidant analyses and two replicates for carotenoids; each replicate consisted of one fruit. The mean and standard deviation were calculated. The FRAP antioxidant activity method showed 81.40 mg Ferrous Sulfate g-1 (dry mass), ABTS 57.00 mg Trolox g-1 (dry mass) and DPPH 14.40 mg Trolox g-1 (dry mass). The flavonoids contents were 1.00 mg Quercetin g-1 (dry mass), which is considered low. Lulo fruit showed to be a good source of β-carotene (7.00 mg 100 g-1), lycopene (3.57 mg 100 g-1) and ascorbic acid (57.71 mg 100 g-1). The fruit is acidic (2.29 g Citric Acid 100 mL-1), with low soluble solids content (5.12%) and low ratio (2.25). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spondias tuberosa is a tree fruit native to the Caatinga biome in Brazil whose fruits (umbu) are usually consumed fresh, in regional recipes or in the form of pulp. Grown in Brazilian low-income regions, S. tuberosa fruits present high sociocultural importance in the Semiarid region of Brazil, acting as a source of livelihood for various family groups in these regions. In this sense, the aim of this work was to develop an integrative review of the nutritional and biological attributes of S. tuberosa fruits using a systematic approach. We searched on four databases: CABI, Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Twenty-four studies were included after the review protocol was applied. The results showed that umbu exhibits low carbohydrate and protein content, varying according to the maturation stage and fruit part. Both the pulp and peel of umbu presented low lipid content whereas the highest lipid content was found in the seeds, which also presented the highest fiber content. The fruits presented considerable amounts of vitamin C and minerals. Bioactive phenolic compounds and carotenoids are concentrated mainly in the fruit peel and seeds. The studies presented promising findings, which reinforce the importance of considering the consumption of this fruit due to its potential for health benefits and increase of its socioeconomic value. • Umbu (Spondias tuberosa) is a fruit native from Brazilian semi-arid (Caatinga). • Low concentration of carbohydrates and lipids are found in Spondias tuberosa. • High concentrations of dietary fiber and minerals are found in Spondias tuberosa. • The fruit's peel presents high carotenoid concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) is one of the most important fruit produced in the São Francisco Valley, a Semi-arid region in the Northeast of Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical quality of thirty-five acerola genotypes produced during two growing seasons in a Semi-arid region and to identify the best ones with potential for fresh consumption based on a multivariate selection index. Fruit of each genotype were harvested during two growing seasons at the maturity stage red-ripe, characterized by full red skin color. After harvest, the fruit were evaluated for diameter, mass, flesh firmness, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, ascorbic acid content and skin color. A multivariate selection index (SI) was applied for scoring and ranking the genotypes for fresh consumption based on red-ripe fruit physicochemical quality. According to the results, all physicochemical attributes had high variability among genotypes. The SI was a powerful tool for identifying genotypes with high potential for fresh consumption, since it allowed selecting genotypes with multiple desirable traits. In the first and second growing seasons, the SI identified the genotypes PROG 052 (SI = 76.1 and 78.9), BRS Rubra (SI = 74.1 and 99.5), Cabocla (SI = 72.3 and 70.7), Costa Rica (SI = 61.2 and 73.8) and PROG 069 (SI = 68.1 and 72.4) as the most promising ones for fresh consumption due to the presence of multiple desirable traits such as high diameter, mass, flesh firmness, SS, and SS/AT ratio, as well as lower acidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to design culturally acceptable and healthy diets with reduced energetic share of ultra-processed foods (UPF%) at no cost increment and to evaluate the impact of the change in the UPF% on diet quality. Food consumption and price data were obtained from the Household Budget Survey (n 55 970 households) and National Dietary Survey (n 32 749 individuals). Linear programming models were performed to design diets in which the mean population UPF% was reduced up to 5 % with no cost increment relative to the observed costs. The models were isoenergetic or allowed the energy content to vary according to the UPF%, and they were not constrained to nutritional goals (nutrient-free models) or maximised the compliance with dietary recommendations (nutrient-constrained models). Constraints regarding food preference were introduced in the models to obtain culturally acceptable diets. The mean population UPF% was 23·8 %. The lowest UPF% attained was approximately 10 %. The optimised diet cost was up to 20 % cheaper than the observed cost, depending on the model and the income level. In the optimised diets, the reduction in the UPF% was followed by an increase in fruits, vegetables, beans, tubers, dairy products, nuts, fibre, K, Mg, vitamin A and vitamin C in the nutrient-constrained models, compared with the observed consumption in the population. There was little variation in most nutrients across the UPF% reduction. The UPF% reduction in the nutrient-free models impacted only trans-fat and added sugar content. UPF% reduction and increase in diet quality are possible at no cost increment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

'Pera' orange is a scion variety widely grown in commercial orchards of various citrus-producing regions in Brazil due to the good acceptance of its fruits by the consumer market, both for fresh consumption and industrial processing. The development of clones or selections occurs by genetic mutations within genetic improvement studies with the different varieties, consisting of the selection of plants with superior quality and production characteristics to the variety of origin. In this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of four 'Pera' orange selections ('D9', 'D12', 'D25', and 'C21') grafted on two rootstocks (Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) and 'Volkamer' lemon (Citrus volkameriana Tan. and Pasq.), under the semi-arid conditions of the São Francisco Valley, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement, with the first factor corresponding to the orange selections ('Pera D9', 'Pera D12', 'Pera D25', and 'Pera C21') and the second factor corresponding to the Rangpur lime and 'Volkamer' lemon rootstocks, using five replications of 10 fruits. The physical characteristics evaluated were: fruit mass (g), diameter, and length (mm); fruit firmness (Lb), peel thickness (mm), number of seeds, and juice yield (%). The chemical parameters were determined through the contents of vitamin C, soluble solids (°Brix), and titratable acidity (g of citric acid 100 mL-1), also calculating the maturation index (SS/TA ratio). The interaction between rootstock varieties and orange scions (selections) induced differences in the physical and chemical attributes of fruits, with the Rangpur lime rootstock inducing better fruits for the orange selection 'Pera D-9', which showed the highest values of fruit mass and diameter, associated with thicker peels, lower soluble solids content, lower acidity, and higher vitamin C content, while inducing higher values of fruit length and soluble solids content in the fruits of the orange selection 'Pera C-21', and lower number of seeds and higher juice yield for the orange selection 'Pera D-12'. Based on these results, under these conditions, the physical and chemical characteristics observed in the fruits of the 'Pera' orange selections meet the standards required by the market of fresh fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centralizing chemical composition data for biodiverse foods is an important strategy in promoting their consumption. To support this strategy, a dataset of foods based on Brazilian biodiversity was created. The set was based on data for foods produced or commercialized in Brazil; these data were previously compiled for the Brazilian Food Composition Table (TBCA), according to international guidelines. Inclusion criteria were based on the following indicators: (i) foods with description below species level; (ii) wild foods; and (iii) underutilized foods. The dataset contains 1,305 food entries, and the majority correspond to raw plant foods. Nutrient content in foods identified below species level exhibited a wide range of values. Underutilized foods presented similar or higher selected nutrient contents than commonly consumed foods. For instance, depending on the cultivar of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), vitamin A content ranged from a negligible amount to high content (0.33‐ to 3,637‐μg retinol equivalents per 100‐g edible portion on a fresh weight basis [EP]). Camu‐camu (Myrciaria dubia), a fruit from Amazon, was identified as the richest source of vitamin C (2,300 mg of ascorbic acid per 100‐g EP), corresponding to 48‐fold the content of orange. The dataset provides evidence to promote nutrient‐rich foods that may be integrated into more effective programmes and policies on nutrition and food security in Brazil. It can be accessed online, free of charge on the TBCA platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on Acerola, a fruit native to Mexico and Central America, renowned for its exceptionally high vitamin C content. Topics covered include its traditional uses in Brazil for various health conditions, its role as a host for butterfly larvae, and its potential as a functional ingredient in skin-conditioning formulas due to its antioxidant properties and protection against UV radiation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of extracts from aracá ( Psidium cattleianum ), butiá ( Butia eriospatha ), and pitanga ( Eugenia uniflora ) fruits with different flesh colors (i.e., purple, red, and orange), and blackberries ( Rubussp. ;cv.Xavante and Cherokee)collected in the southern region of Brazil.Thecontentof ascorbic acid, total carotenoids, and phenolics were determined. The profile of the phenolic compounds wasassessedbyhigh-performance liquid chromatography combined with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The antioxidant activity was determined using the ferric- reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) assay, total reactive antioxidant potential(TRAP) assay,and total antioxidantreactivity (TAR) assay. The Xavante blackberry and purple-fleshed pitanga showed the highest total phenolic content [816.50 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100g and 799.80 mg GAE/100g, respectively]. The aracá and red-fleshed pitanga showed the highest carotenoid content (6.27 ug β -caro- tene/g and 5.86 ug β-carotene/g, respectively). The fruits contained several phenolic com- pounds such as quercetin derivatives, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, and cyanidin derivatives, which may contribute differentially to the antioxidant capacity. The highest scavenging activityintheDPPHassaywasfoundforpurple-fleshedpitanga(IC50 36.78mg/L),blackberries [IC50 44.70 (Xavante) and IC50 78.25 mg/L (Cherokee)], and aracá (IC50 48.05 mg/L), which also showed the highest FRAP, followed by orange- and red-fleshed pitanga. Our results revealed that some fruits grown in southern Brazil such as purple-fleshed pitanga, blackberries, and aracá are rich sources of phenolic compounds and have great antioxidant activity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the potential relationships between fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and some oxidative stress markers in young adults, with particular emphasis on fibre and vitamin C intake. The study enrolled 246 healthy subjects (eighty-eight men and 158 women), with a mean age of 22 (sd 3) years and a mean BMI of 21·9 (sd 2·8) kg/m2. Dietary intake, anthropometry, blood pressure, lifestyle features and blood biochemical data were assessed with validated procedures. Those subjects in the highest tertile (T) of FV consumption ( ≥ 705 g/d) had statistically lower oxidised LDL (ox-LDL) concentrations as well as higher plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (P for trend < 0·05), after adjusting for sex, age, energy intake, physical activity, smoking, BMI, vitamin supplement use and other confounding factors. Moreover, plasma ox-LDL concentrations showed a decreasing trend and TAC an increasing trend across tertiles of fibre (T3: ≥ 14 g/d) and vitamin C (T3: ≥ 150 mg/d) from FV intake, while GPx activity was positively associated with vitamin C intake (P for trend < 0·05). In conclusion, greater FV consumption was independently associated with reduced ox-LDL as well as increased TAC and GPx activity in healthy young adults, with dietary fibre and vitamin C from FV clearly being implicated in this beneficial relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The objective of this work was to characterize exotic fruits (cambuci, araça-boi, camu-camu, jaracatia, araça) and commercial frozen pulps (araça, cambuci, umbu, coquinho, pana, native passion fruit, cagaita) from Brazil in relation to their bioactive compounds contents and antioxidant capacity. Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) presented the highest vitamin C and total phenolics contents (397 and 1797 mg/100 g f.w., respectively) and the highest DPPH• scavenging capacity. Coquinho (Butia capitata) also showed a significant vitamin C content (43 mg/100 g f.w.). Among the commercial frozen pulps, cagaita presented the higher DPPH scavenging activity and inhibition of β-carotene bleaching. A good correlation between total phenols and DPPH scavenging activity was found for fruits (r=0.997) and commercial frozen pulps (r=0.738). However, no correlation was found for total phenols and inhibition of β-carotene bleaching. Quercetin and kaempferol derivatives were the main flavonoids present in all samples and cyanidin derivatives were detected only in camu-camu. Camu-camu and araça (Psidium guineensis) showed the highest total ellagic acid contents (48 and 63.5 mg/100 g f.w.). All commercial frozen pulps presented lower contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity than their respective fruits. According to our results, camu-camu and araça might be sources of bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]