DETERMINAÇÃO DE CAPACIDADE ANTIOXIDANTE E COMPOSTOS FENÓLICOS DA POLPA DO FRUTO E DA FARINHA DO CAULE E DA FOLHA DA ORA-PRO-NÓBIS (Pereskia aculeata Miller)

Abstract

Among the diversity of non-conventional food plant species (PANC), Pereskia aculeata Miller, popularly known as ora-pro-nóbis (OPN), is a highly nutritious species of the Cactaceae family from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, which is being more consumed in Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and total phenolic compounds in hydroethanolic extracts produced from the stem and leaf flour and the pulp of the OPN fruit. The fruits and flours obtained from the leaf stem were evaluated for the content of total phenolic compounds (CFT) by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the (DPPH and ABTS) method. The mean values of TLC found for stem, leaf and fruit pulp flours were 0.25 mg EAG g-1, 1.01 mg EAG g-1 and 118.2 mg EAG g-1 respectively. For antioxidant activity by the DPPH method for stem flours, leaf and fruit pulp were 0.25 mg EAG g-1, 1.01 mg EAG g-1 and 118.2 mg EAG g-1 respectively. For antioxidant activity by the DPPH method for fruit stem, leaf and pulp flours the values were 1.20 mg fruit/g DPPH, 1.4 mg fruit/g DPPH and 1.5 mg fruit/g DPPH, respectively and for ABTS were 13.82 µmol Trolox g-1, 6.30 µmol Trolox g-1 and 3.20 µmol Trolox g-1 respectively for stem, leaf and fruit. In general, the extract of the flour stem, leaf and pulp of the fruits of ora-pro-nobis presented relevant values of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in all analyzed samples. Being able to act as a possible food enricher in day care centers, schools and in the food and pharmaceutical industries.