Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) of the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, Brazil: Physical and chemical characterization, carotenoids and vitamins

Abstract: The physical characteristics (diameters, height and mass), chemical composition (tritratable acidity, soluble solids, pH, moisture, ash, protein, lipids and total dietary fiber), occurrence and content of vitamin C (ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid), carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene), vitamin E (α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherol and tocotrienol) and folates (tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate) were evaluated in the cagaita obtained from the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The analyses of vitamin C and carotenoids were performed by HPLC-DAD and vitamin E and folates by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The cagaita pulp presented high content of moisture (91.56g100g−1), vitamin C (34.11mg100g−1) and folates (25.74μg100g−1). The presence of protein (0.63g100g−1), ash (0.18g100g−1), lipids (0.57g100g−1), carbohydrates (5.54g100g−1), dietary fiber (1.54g100g−1) and carotenoids (0.77mg100g−1) was observed in its composition. Vitamin E isomers were not detected. Consumption of cagaita (100g) contributed significantly to supply the daily requirements of vitamin C (on average 71.0%), vitamin A (on average 7.5%) and folates (on average 7.9%). The cagaita showed high pulp yield, reduced total energy value and was considered a source of vitamin C, which play important role in human health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]