Details about the chemical characterist composition and nutritional value of the cerrado fruits are basic tools for evaluating the consumption and formulation of new products. However, few data are available in the literature with regard to chemical composition of these fruits and their technological application, highlighting the need for scientific research on the subject. It was performed the present study aiming at characterizing the physical-chemical and determine the antioxidant activity in vitro by the DPPH method, the cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica) cajuzinho-do-cerrado (Anacardium humile), chichá (Sterculia striata Naud .), jatoba-do-cerrado (Hymenaeastigonocarpa Mart.) and macaúba (Acrocomiaaculeata Mart.). The fruits were harvested at EMBRAPA - MID NORTH - PI and Correntes City - PI. It was analyzed the physical characteristics (weight, length and diameter), chemical (moisture, ashes, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates), total energy value (TEV), the content of total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, β-carotene, lycopene, vitamin C and antioxidant activity by DPPH. The samples were analyzed in two batches and each in triplicate analysis. For data analysis, it was designed a database, using the statistical program EPI INFO, version 6.04b. The obtained results for the studied bioactive compounds showed that all the fruits expressed hight amount of vitamin C (mg/100g), highlighting the cajuzinho-do-cerrado (500). The fruits with the highest antioxidant capacity, expressed in ability to reduce by 50% the activity of free radical DPPH (EC50mg / L) were cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica Dc.) and cajuzinho-do-cerrado (Anacardium humile). The research concludes, therefore, that the fruits studied showed good nutritional value, a meaningful content of bioactive compounds and demonstrate antioxidant activity.
native fruits; bioactive compounds; antioxidant capacity (DPPH)
