Physicochemical Properties and Effects of Fruit Pulps from the Amazon Biome on Physiological Parameters in Rats

Araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.): A critical review for the food industry

This review aimed to critically and comparatively analyze the physicochemical, proximate, nutritional, phytochemical composition, and bioactivities of araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) (AAc), a fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado. Additionally, the potential applications of this fruit in the food industry were reviewed. Data and information were collected from the Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. AAc, a fruit mainly studied in the Brazilian regions of Minas Gerais and Goiás, has well-documented physicochemical, proximate, and nutritional characteristics. It is rich in fiber, sugars, vitamins A and C, minerals, and oil, making it attractive to the food industry. However, there are research gaps, such as the impact of climatic conditions on the AAc chemical composition. Additional studies are needed, especially for the peel and seeds, and investigations of pre-treatments effect on the chemical composition are recommended. The application of AAc in food products is mainly limited to pulp, but there is potential for using peels and seeds. AAc is a rich source of phytochemical compounds with various biological properties, such as antioxidants, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial activities. Future studies should explore other phytochemicals present in the fruit beyond phenolic compounds. The consumption of AAc can contribute to combating food insecurity malnutrition, and promoting the conservation of the Brazilian Cerrado.

Edible Fruits from the Ecuadorian Amazon: Ethnobotany, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Bioactive Components

In the Ecuadorian Amazon region, there are various types of edible fruits that have distinct qualities and benefits. Understanding the uses, properties, and functions of these fruits is important for researching products that are only available in local markets. This review aims to gather and summarize the existing scientific literature on the ethnobotany, physicochemical composition, and bioactive compounds of these native fruits to highlight the potential of the region's underutilized biodiversity. A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA methodology, utilizing databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed, Redalyc, and SciELO up to August 2023. The research identified 55 edible fruits from the Ecuadorian Amazon and reported their ethnobotanical information. The most common uses were fresh fruit consumption, preparation of typical food, and medicine. Additionally, nine native edible fruits were described for their physicochemical characteristics and bioactive components: Aphandra natalia (Balslev and Henderson) Barfod; Eugenia stipitate McVaugh; Gustavia macarenensis Philipson; Mauritia flexuosa L.f; Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh; Oenocarpus bataua Mart; Plukenetia volubilis L.; Pouteria caimito (Ruiz and Pav.) Radlk.; and Solanum quitoense Lam. The analyzed Amazonian fruits contained bioactive compounds such as total polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. This information highlights their potential as functional foods and the need for further research on underutilized crops.

UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS Profiling of Phytochemicals from Araticum Fruit (Annona crassiflora Mart.) and Its Antioxidant Activity

Araticum is a native species of the Brazilian Cerrado with a high potential for exploitation. Several studies have stated that araticum is a rich source of phytochemicals with multifaceted biological actions. However, little information is available regarding the characterization of phytochemicals found in the pulp of this fruit. In this context, this study aimed to carry out a comprehensive characterization of phytochemicals present in the araticum pulp using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). The antioxidant potential of araticum pulp was also evaluated. UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS profiling of the phytochemicals allowed for the identification and annotation of 139 phytochemicals, including organic acids, jasmonates, iridoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, annonaceous acetogenins, fatty acid derivatives, and other compounds. Among them, 116 compounds have been found for the first time in araticum pulp. Phenolic compounds and their derivatives represented about 59% of the phytochemicals identified in the extract. Moreover, araticum pulp showed high total phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity. The majority of identified phytochemicals have been associated with key roles in the plant's defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stress factors in the Cerrado environment. Furthermore, many of these phytochemicals found in the araticum pulp are already widely recognized for their beneficial effects on human health. Our findings showed that the araticum fruit contains different classes of phytochemicals that exert various biological activities, both in the plant itself and in humans.

Non-Thermal Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Processing Retains the Quality Parameters and Improves the Kinetic Stability of an Araticum Beverage Enriched with Inulin-Type Dietary Fibers

Fruit-based beverages have been considered excellent food vehicles for delivering prebiotics. However, the conventional thermal processes currently used to microbiologically and enzymatically stabilize these products may cause significant losses in their sensory, physicochemical, nutritional, and bioactive characteristics. Thus, in this study, we evaluate the effect of different levels of pressure (8, 15, and 21 MPa) and temperature (35 and 55 °C) on the characteristics of an inulin-enriched araticum beverage processed with non-thermal supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) technology. The temperature showed a significant effect on total soluble solids, pH, particle size distribution, and kinetic stability. In contrast, pressure affected only the particle size distribution. The interaction between pressure and temperature influenced the total soluble solids, pH, and particle size distribution. Color parameters, ζ-potential, and glucose and fructose contents were not modified after all SC-CO₂ treatments. Moreover, the SC-CO₂ treatments preserved the inulin molecular structure, thus maintaining its prebiotic functionality. Overall, the SC-CO₂ treatment did not alter the sensory, nutritional, and functional quality of the beverage, while improving its physical stability during storage. Therefore, non-thermal SC-CO₂ treatment can be an alternative to current conventional processes for stabilizing inulin-enriched fruit-based beverages.

Scientific Advances in the Last Decade on the Recovery, Characterization, and Functionality of Bioactive Compounds from the Araticum Fruit (Annona crassiflora Mart.)

Araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) is a native and endemic species to Brazilian Cerrado whose fruits have high sensorial, nutritional, bioactive, and economic potential. Its use in local folk medicine, associated with recent scientific findings, has attracted growing interest from different industrial sectors. Therefore, understanding the scientific advances achieved so far and identifying gaps to be filled is essential to direct future studies and transform accumulated knowledge into innovative technologies and products. In this review, we summarize the phytochemical composition, bioactivities, and food products from araticum fruit that have been reported in the scientific literature over the past 10 years. The compiled data showed that araticum fruit parts contain a wide range of bioactive compounds, particularly phenolic compounds, alkaloids, annonaceous acetogenins, carotenoids, phytosterols, and tocols. These phytochemicals contribute to different biological activities verified in araticum fruit extracts/fractions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antidyslipidemic, antinociceptive, hepatoprotective, healing of the cutaneous wound, antibacterial, and insecticide effects. Despite the promising findings, further studies-particularly toxicological (especially, with byproducts), pre-clinical, and clinical trials-must be conducted to confirm these biological effects in humans and assure the safety and well-being of consumers.

Phytochemical Analysis of the Fruit Pulp Extracts from Annona crassiflora Mart. and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities

Annona crassiflora Mart., the marolo fruit of the Cerrado biome, is one of the most frequently consumed species from the Brazilian Midwest. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of the fruit pulp of A. crassiflora collected at Chapada das Mesas, Maranhão, Brazil. The volatile concentrate was identified as mainly ethyl octanoate, ethyl hexanoate, and methyl octanoate. From the ethanol (LFP-E) and ethyl acetate (LFP-A) extracts were identified phenolic acids (p-coumaric, gallic, quinic, and ferulic), flavones and derivatives (apigenin, epicatechin, 2′-5-dimethoxyflavone, 3′,7-dimethoxy-3-hydroxyflavone, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and 3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, procyanidin B2, and rutin), aporphine alkaloids (xylopine, stephagine, and romucosine), and acetogenin (annonacin). For the LFP-E and LFP-A extracts, the total phenolic compound values were 15.89 and 33.16 mg GAE/g, the flavonoid compound content values were 2.53 and 70.55 mg QE/g, the DPPH radical scavenging activity showed EC₅₀ values of 182.54 and 57.80 µg/mL, and the ABTS radical activity showed TEAC values of 94.66 and 192.61 µM TE/g. The LFP-E extract showed significant cytotoxicity and cell selectivity for the U251-glioma strain, presenting a GI₅₀ value of 21.34 µg/mL, which is close to doxorubicin (11.68 µg/mL), the standard chemotherapeutic drug. The marolo fruit seems to be a promising source for developing innovative and healthy products for the food industry.