Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os compostos fenólicos e a capacidade antioxidante da semente e da torta da semente de faveleira. Os perfis fenólicos foram avaliados por cromatografia líquida de ultra alta eficiência. Além disso, o conteúdo fenólico total e a eliminação do radical DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) foram avaliados. A torta e a semente de faveleira são fontes de compostos fenólicos naturais para dieta humana e possuem potente atividade antioxidante. O ácido gálico foi o composto fenólico predominante na semente e na torta. O estudo mostrou que a torta e a semente de faveleira podem ser consideradas alimentos funcionais e de interesse potencial para a indústria de alimentos.

Abstract The objective of the present study was to assess the phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of faveleira seed and press cake extracts. Phenolic profiles were assessed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC). Furthermore, the Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging were evaluated. The faveleira seed and press cake extracts are sources of natural phenolic compounds in human diet and have potent antioxidant activity. Gallic acid was the predominant phenolic compound in seed and press cake extracts. The study showed that faveleira seed and press cake extracts can be considered functional foods as well as a potential interest to the food industry.

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the physicochemical properties and tocopherol content in faveleira seed oil extracted using three methods (Bligh-Dyer, Soxhlet extractor, and cold-pressing). Each of the methods generated different yield percentages, with cold-pressing producing the least amount of oil. However, the cold-pressing method produced better quality oil with more desirable properties, including low acidity (1.56 ± 0.01% oleic acid) and low peroxide value (0.45 ± 0.09 mEq/1000 g). Cold-pressing resulted in higher quantities of tocopherols: 0.59 ± 0.12 mg/100 g of alpha-tocopherol and 20.97 ± 1.15 mg/100 g of beta + gamma-tocopherol. Faveleira seed oil, when extracted by cold-pressing, maintains better physicochemical quality, with the highest beta + gamma-tocopherol content.

RESUMO Na vegetação da caatinga a Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus, popularmente conhecida como favela ou faveleira, destaca-se por ser uma planta altamente resistente a seca e de alto teor nutricional, apresentando diversas aplicações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes períodos sazonais na composição química da semente da faveleira da região Seridó/RN. As sementes, separadas em 3 lotes por períodos sazonais diferentes (lote 1 - época chuvosa; lote 2 - estiagem inicial; lote 3 - estiagem prolongada), foram trituradas e analisadas quanto aos teores de umidade, cinzas, lipídios, proteínas e carboidratos. Verificou-se que as sementes da faveleira apresentaram predominância de lipídios e de proteínas. Na análise de umidade observou-se diferença significativa (p < 0,05) entre todos os lotes, o teor de cinzas foi significativamente (p < 0,05) menor no lote 1 (4,67 ± 0,18) quando comparado ao lote 3 (4,96 ± 0,08), na análise de proteínas o lote 3 (30,42 ± 1,63) apresentou o maior teor e diferiu significativamente (p < 0,05) dos demais. Quanto aos lipídios houve diferença significativa (p < 0,05) entre os lotes, sendo o lote 2 (21,57 ± 0,37) o que apresentou o menor teor. Em relação aos carboidratos também houve diferença significativa (p < 0,05) entre os lotes, sendo o lote 1 (14,37 ± 1,83) o de menor teor e o lote 2 (39,17 ± 0,52) o de maior. As diferenças observadas entre os lotes ocorreram, em virtude de as sementes terem sido colhidas em períodos sazonais diferentes. A partir dos dados encontrados é possível afirmar que o período sazonal influencia no valor nutritivo da semente da faveleira, devendo-se verificar as melhores formas de utilização de acordo com o período de colheita.

ABSTRACT Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus, popularly known as favela or faveleira, is a species of the caatinga vegetation highly resistant to drought, with high nutritional content, and having several uses. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of different seasons on the chemical composition of faveleira seeds in the region of Seridó/RN. The seeds collected in different seasons were separated into 3 lots (lot 1 - rainy season; lot 2 - initial dry season; lot 3 - prolonged dry season), ground, and analyzed for moisture, ash, lipids, protein, and carbohydrates. The chemical analysis the seeds showed predominance of lipids and proteins. The results showed that moisture was significant different (p < 0.05) between all the lots; the ash content in lot 1 was significantly (p < 0.05) lower (4.67 ± 0.18) than lot 3 (4.96 ± 0.08); and protein content was highest in lot 3 (30.42 ± 1.63) and significantly (p < 0.05) different from the others. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) for lipids between the lots, with lot 2 showing the lowest content (21.57 ± 0.37). Significant difference (p < 0.05) was also found for carbohydrates between the lots, with lot 1 (14.37 ± 1.83) having the lowest content and lot 2 (39.17 ± 0.52) the highest content. The differences observed between the lots are attributed to the harvest of the seeds in different seasonal periods. The results show that the seasonal period influences the nutritional value of faveleira seeds, and that better forms of use need to be identified according to the period of harvesting.

OBJETIVOS: Diagnosticar bioquimicamente o estado nutricional de vitamina E de lactantes por meio da análise do alfa-tocoferol no soro e no colostro, verificar sua associação com variáveis maternas e determinar a prevalência de deficiência de vitamina E nessas mulheres. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo 103 puérperas que foram classificadas quanto às seguintes variáveis maternas: idade, estado nutricional pré-gestacional, ganho de peso gestacional, paridade e tipo de parto. Amostras de soro e colostro foram coletadas em jejum no pós-parto imediato e o alfa-tocoferol foi analisado por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). Para definir o estado nutricional de vitamina E, foi adotado ponto de corte sérico (697,7 μg/dL). A análise estatística foi realizada com o uso do teste t de Student para amostras independentes e correlação de Pearson. As diferenças foram consideradas significativas quando p<0,05. RESULTADOS: A concentração média de alfa-tocoferol foi 1.125,1±551,0 μg/dL no colostro e 1.138,6±346,0 μg/dL no soro, indicativo de estado nutricional bioquímico adequado. Entretanto, ao analisar as puérperas individualmente, constatamos que 16% apresentaram valores abaixo do esperado para esta vitamina. As mulheres submetidas à cesárea apresentaram níveis de alfa-tocoferol no colostro (1.280±591 μg/dL) significativamente maiores em relação àquelas cuja via de parto foi a normal (961,7±370 μg/dL) (p<0,05). Verificou-se que as parturientes com excesso de peso pré-gestacional tiveram concentração da vitamina no colostro maior (1.331,5±548 μg/dL) quando comparadas às mulheres com baixo peso (982,1±374 μg/dL) ou eutrofia (992,3±346 μg/dL) (p<0,05). Entretanto, as demais variáveis estudadas não apresentaram associação com o alfa-tocoferol do colostro. Além disso, nenhuma variável mostrou estar relacionada aos níveis da vitamina no soro materno e não foi demonstrada correlação entre os níveis de alfa-tocoferol no soro e no leite. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar do diagnóstico de satisfatório estado nutricional, as lactantes apresentaram risco importante de deficiência subclínica para vitamina E. Sugere-se que a concentração de alfa-tocoferol presente no colostro esteja associada ao tipo de parto e ao estado nutricional pré-gestacional da mulher.

PURPOSE: To determine the nutritional status of vitamin E in breastfeeding women through the analysis of alpha-tocopherol concentration in serum and colostrum, to analyze its relation with maternal variables and to determine the prevalence of vitamin E deficiency in these women. METHODS: The study included 103 mothers who were classified according to maternal variables: age, nutritional status before pregnancy, gestational weight gain, parity and mode of delivery. Colostrum and serum samples were collected under fasting conditions in the immediate postpartum period. Alpha-tocopherol was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A serum cutoff of 697.7 μg/dL was adopted to define the nutritional status of vitamin E. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student's t test for independent samples and Pearson's correlation. Differences were significant when p<0.05. RESULTS: The average concentration of alpha-tocopherol was 1.125±551.0 μg/dL in colostrum and 1,138.6±346.0 μg/dL in serum, indicating adequate biochemical nutritional status. However, when analyzing the mothers individually, a 16% rate of subclinical vitamin E deficiency was detected. Women undergoing cesarean delivery had significantly higher alpha-tocopherol levels in colostrum (1.280±591 μg/dL) compared with those undergoing normal delivery (961.7±370 μg/dL) (p<0.05). It was found that mothers who were overweight before pregnancy had higher vitamin concentration in colostrum (1,331.5±548 μg/dL) when compared to underweight women (982.1±374 μg/dL) or women of normal weight (992.3±346 μg/dL) (p<0.05). However, the other variables were not associated with alpha-tocopherol in colostrum. Moreover, no variable showed association with vitamin E levels in maternal serum and no correlation was demonstrated between the alpha-tocopherol levels in serum and in milk. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the diagnosis of satisfactory nutritional status, breastfeeding women showed significant risk of subclinical vitamin E deficiency. We suggest that the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in colostrum be associated with type of delivery and pre-gestational nutritional status of women.