Nutritional characterization, antioxidant activity and bergenin content of the pulp of Endopleura uchi

ABSTRACT

The yellow uxi (Endopleura uchi) is a tree native to the Amazon and its fruits are appreciated in the region. It is rich in total phenols and its bark is known to have high bergenin content, an isocoumarin derivative that presents several pharmacological activities. Yet the nutritional and functional properties of the fruit are still little known. We analyzed the nutritional, centesimal, and mineral properties, and the antioxidant activity and total phenol content of the alcoholic extract of yellow uxi fruit pulp from different locations in the Amazon. The bergenin content was also quantified. Average pulp yield was 45.66 ± 4.44% (w/w), with 60.1 - 89.2 g 100 g^-1 of moisture and 1.28 - 1.32 g 100 g^-1 of ash (dry basis). Calcium (78.2 - 87.1 mg 100 g^-1) and potassium (260.2 - 395 mg 100 g^-1) were the most abundant minerals in the pulp. Aluminum concentration was high compared to other Amazonian fruits (23.7 - 28.7 mg 100 g^-1). The high caloric value of the pulp (325.3 ± 20.9 Kcal 100 g^-1) is attributed to its lipid (32 - 44.9%) and carbohydrate (48.2 - 64.1%) content. The scavenging activity of DPPH was 1.95 - 20.68%, which was highly associated with the total phenolic content (16.91 - 30.07 µg GAE mg^-1). Bergenin content was 180.8 ± 55.3 mg 100 g^-1. We conclude that E. uchi pulp has high caloric and mineral content, and it is also a source of bergenin, thus this fruit has a potential nutritional and functional value.

KEYWORDS:
Amazonian fruit; yellow uxi; proximate analysis; functional food