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Carotenoid and ascorbic acid content was determined in peppers of two red cultivars and three yellow lineages of “Jalapeno” (Capsicum annuum L.) plus a “sweet red biquinho” and a “red bode” cultivar (C. chinense Jacquin) from the Brazilian Breeding Program. Capsanthin (68 ± 3 to 177 ± 2 μg/g) was found to be the main carotenoid in the red peppers, and violaxanthin (34 ± 3 to 100 ± 17 μg/g) was the main carotenoid in the yellow jalapeno peppers. Red jalapeno peppers grown in the field (in summer) showed higher zeaxanthin (29 ± 0 and 31 ± 2 μg/g), β-cryptoxanthin (11 ± 1 and 7 ± 0 μg/g), provitamin A (161 ± 2 and 81 ± 2 μg/g) and ascorbic acid (132 ± 2 and 129 ± 2 μg/g) than peppers grown in the greenhouse. Peppers of one yellow jalapeno lineage (C. annuum) and of the red “bode” cultivar (C. chinense) also stood out for their very high levels of zeaxanthin (36 ± 6 and 53 ± 7 μg/g), besides nutritional compounds, provitamin A (222 ± 17 and 299 ± 32 retinol activity equivalents/100 g) and vitamin C (152 ± 5 and 123 ± 1 mg/100 g). These results indicate that the selected peppers presented compounds that are beneficial for human health and that they could be used in the Brazilian pepper breeding programs to develop new commercial hybrids.

Guaco, a native and perennial Brazilian liana, is one of the medicinal plants most widely commercialized in the Brazilian market. The major bioactive compounds in guaco leaves are coumarin and o-coumaric acid, along with kaurene-type diterpenes. Two Mikania species, M. laevigata and M. glomerata, are both treated as guaco in the Brazilian pharmacopeia and are commercialized indiscriminately, although they can be distinguished by the shape of the leaves and by the characteristic coumarin aroma of M. laevigata. We used DNA barcoding, chromosome counting and chemical analysis to study guaco germplasm accessions from collections in 10 Brazilian states. ETS and ITS sequences failed to distinguish most guaco accessions identified as M. glomerata and M. laevigata regardless of geographical origin, suggesting that M. glomerata and M. laevigata are recently diverged species. The chromosome number 2n = 36 was observed in all guaco accessions. In guaco accessions grown under experimental conditions, two chemical phenotypes were found: phenotype G-I, containing moderate coumarin content (644–755 mg/100 g) and high levels of kaurenoic acid (771–881 mg/100 g) and phenotype G-II, containing high levels of coumarin (1123–1309 mg/100 g) and low levels of kaurenoic acid (160–334 mg/100 g). None of the M. glomerata accessions produced coumarin in satisfactory levels (all

Several carotenoids are known to possess many health-promoting properties. Berries from five accessions of Pereskia aculeata Mill. and leaves from 10 accessions of Pereskia aculeata Mill. and Pereskia grandifolia Haw. were evaluated for their carotenoid composition. The xanthophylls found in berries and leaves were mainly unesterified. Berries of four accessions of Pereskia presented very high levels of β-carotene (>20.0 µg/g), and high levels of α-carotene (>5.0 µg/g), while one of these accessions presented very high contents of α-carotene (35.1 µg/g) and β-carotene (39.3 µg/g), together. Leaves presented high levels of carotenes (β-carotene ranged between 13.8 and 47.0 µg/g) and xanthophylls (lutein ranged between 45.8 and 114.2 µg/g and levels of zeaxanthin of four accessions were >5 µg/g). The high levels of α-carotene and zeaxanthin found in berries and leaves, respectively, could be carotenoid biomarker characteristics for Pereskia species, which may be important sources of functional compounds for health-promotion.

Coumarin, o-coumaric, and kaurenoic acid are bioactive compounds usually found in the leaves of Mikania laevigata. Genetic and environmental variations in the secondary metabolites of plants may have implications for their biological effects. Three different accessions of M. laevigata cultivated in four sites between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn in Brazil were evaluated aiming to present potential raw materials and discuss relationships among these three bioactive compounds. The results revealed effects of plant accessions and environmental factors and suggested two contrasting chemical phenotypes of M. laevigata. The first phenotype presented the highest levels of kaurenoic acid (2283 ± 316 mg/100 g) besides lower levels of coumarin (716 ± 61 mg/100 g), which was also stimulated by the environment and mild climate at the site nearest to the Tropic of Capricorn. The other phenotype presented the lowest levels of kaurenoic acid (137 ± 17 mg/100 g) besides higher levels of coumarin (1362 ± 108 mg/100 g), which was also stimulated by the environment and tropical climate at the site nearest to the Equatorial beach.

Dentre as fruteiras do Cerrado brasileiro com forte potencial para a exploração sustentada, encontram-se o araticum (Annona Crassiflora Mart.), o coquinho-azedo (Butia Capitata Mart.) e o pequi (Caryocar Brasiliense Camb.). O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar o teor de óleo e o perfil de ésteres metílicos da fração lipídica da polpa dos frutos destas três espécies. Os teores de lipídeos foram determinados por extração contínua a quente com éter de petróleo em extrator tipo Soxhlet. O óleo para perfil de ésteres metílicos foi extraído a frio por Bligh e Dyer e caracterizado por cromatografia a gás, usando detector de ionização de chama. A polpa de pequi apresentou elevados teores de óleo, em média 30,89 %; as polpas de araticum e coquinho-azedo apresentaram, respectivamente, médias de 2,14 e 2,73 % de óleo. Os ácidos graxos oleico e palmítico predominaram nas três espécies, e todas apresentaram prevalência de ácidos graxos insaturados, sendo a maior concentração encontrada no araticum (78,3 %), seguida pelo coquinho-azedo (63,3 %). A polpa de araticum e de coquinho-azedo apresentaram elevados teores de ácido linolênico (2,5 a 3,7%). A presença de ésteres metílicos de ácido caproico parece estar associada à percepção do aroma frutal típico destas frutas do Cerrado. Araticum (Annona Crassiflora Mart.), coquinho-azedo (Butia Capitata Mart.) and pequi (Caryocar Brasiliense Camb.) are native fruits from the Brazilian Savanna with strong potential for sustained exploration. The objective of this study was the characterization of lipid contents and fatty acid profiles of these species. Total lipids were hot extracted with petroleum ether in Soxhlet extractor. The oil used for methyl ester profiles was cold extracted by Bligh & Dyer and characterized by gas chromatograph, using flame ionization detector. The pequi pulp presented highest oil content (30.89 %); araticum and coquinho-azedo pulps presented respectively 2.14 and 2.73 %. The oleic and palmitic acids predominated in all three species and all of them presented prevalence of unsaturated fat acids. The highest value was found in araticum pulp (78.3 %), followed by coquinho-azedo pulp (63.3 %). The araticum and coquinho-azedo pulps presented highest content of linolenic acid (2.5 to 3.7 %). Methyl esters of caproic acid found in these pulps seems to be linked to perception of fruit aroma of these native fruits from Cerrado.