Caracterização física, físico-química e atividade antioxidante (in vitro) da polpa dos frutos de buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) em diferentes sistemas ecofisiológicos

Abstract

The buritizeiro (Mauritia flexuosa L.) is a palm tree belonging to the botanical family Arecaceae. It is considered one of the most extensively removed palm trees from the natural environment by extractivism and occurs in a wide geographic area in the national territory, however, there are few studies regarding its post-harvest characteristics. In this sense, the present study aimed to characterize physically, physicochemically and determine the in vitro antioxidant activity, by the DPPH method, of buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) in different ecophysiological systems. The fruits were harvested at the complete maturation stage, and biometric analyzes were performed. Soon after, the fruits were sanitized, pulped and stored under refrigeration until freezing. Then the pulp was submitted to analysis of pH, Total Titratable Acidity (ATT), Total Soluble Solids and SST/ATT chemical ratio, moisture, ash, protein, lipids, vitamin C and antioxidant activity. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three treatments and six replications. Statistical analyzes for comparing treatment means were performed using the Tukey test at 5% probability. The correlation coefficient by the PEARSON method, performed using the statistical program AgroStat. Regarding the physical characteristics, the fruits of the Mirador ecophysiological system showed higher values than those analyzed in Paço do Lumiar and Icatu. The fruits of paço do lumiar showed better chemical qualities, as they were sweeter and less acidic than the fruits of Mirador and Icatu. While the ecophysiological system of Icatu showed greater potential for antioxidant activity