A comparative study of nutritional composition and potential use of some underutilized tropical fruits of Arecaceae

Abstracts

In this study, pulp and kernel of fruits from six Arecaceae species were subjected to proximate analysis, fatty acid composition and total carotenoid content analysis. The species with the highest carbohydrate, lipid and protein values were Ptychosperma macarthurii (70.1 g/100 g in the kernel), Syagrus cearensis (40.6 g/100 g in the kernel), andS. coronata (20.6 g/100 g in the pulp). The ash content ranged from 0.61 to 7.51 g/100 g. Lauric, palmitic, and oleic acids were the major fatty acids identified. The total carotenoid contents and retinol activity equivalents were highest in the Pinanga kuhlii (180.3 µg/g) andAcrocomia intumescens (138.0 µg/g) pulp oils. Retinol activity equivalents varied between the investigated species (456 to 1515 μg RAE/100 g). Native species such as A. intumescens, S. coronata, and S. cearensis are good sources of fresh food for the underserved populations that inhabit poorly developed areas such as the semi-arid region of Brazil. P. macarthurii, an exotic species, is an excellent source of ash and carotenoids, demonstrating its potential both as a food source and as bioactive compounds. Pulp and kernel ofA. intumescens, could be a good alternative feedstock for soap and biodiesel production, respectively.

biomass; foods; oleic acid; palm trees

Neste estudo, a polpa e a amêndoa de frutos de seis espécies de Arecaceae foram submetidos à análise centesimal, determinação da composição de ácidos graxos e análise do teor de carotenoides totais. As espécies com os maiores valores de carboidratos, lipídios e proteínas foram Ptychosperma macarthurii(70,1 g/100 g na amêndoa), Syagrus cearensis (40,6 g/100 g na amêndoa) e S. coronata (20,6 g/100 g na polpa). O teor de cinzas variou de 0,61 a 7,51 g/100 g. Láurico, palmítico e oleico foram os principais ácidos graxos identificados. O teor de carotenoides totais e equivalentes de atividade de retinol foram maiores nas polpas dePinanaga kuhlii (180,3 µg/g) e Acrocomia intumescens (138,0 µg/g). Equivalente de atividade de retinol variou entre as espécies estudadas (456-1515 µg RAE/100 g). Espécies nativas como A. intumescens, S. coronata e S. cearensis são boas fontes de alimentos frescos para as populações carentes que habitam áreas pouco desenvolvidas, como a região semiárida do Brasil. P. macarthurii, uma espécie exótica, é uma excelente fonte de cinzas e carotenoides, demonstrando seu potencial como fonte de alimento e de compostos bioativos. A polpa e a amêndoa de A. intumescens, podem ser uma boa alternativa como matérias-primas para a produção de biodiesel e sabão, respectivamente.

biomassa; alimentos; ácido oleico; palmeiras

INTRODUCTION

Numerous species from different Brazilian ecosystems are appreciable sources of amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, fiber, protein, and minerals (Mayworm et al. 1996, Pinho et al. 2009, Oliveira et al. 2012). Other natural compounds, such as carotenoids, also have a wide range of benefits to human health, mainly due to their antioxidant properties, which protect the human body against oxidative stress and serve as precursors of vitamin A. Thus, the intake of carotenoid-rich vegetables is very important (Rodriguez-Amaya and Kimura 2004).

Despite the species diversity in Brazil, many of these species are still poorly exploited as industrial feedstock. Located in the Brazilian semi-arid region, the Caatinga, is a seasonal dry tropical forest characterized by dry, spiny and predominantly deciduous shrub/forest vegetation. The Caatinga has crucial importance for people who inhabit this region, and it provides a wide variety of plants that are used as fuel, building materials and medicinal resources (Nascimento et al. 2011, 2012). However, few species are actually used by small local industries, despite the semi-arid region having approximately 6000 species of angiosperms.

Arecaceae is one of the largest botanical families of economic importance. It comprises 2600 species in 240 genera. In Brazil, the family is represented by 38 genera and 269 species (Leitman et al. 2014). The Arecaceae flora of the Brazilian Northeast includes 80 native species and in the Pernambuco state (northeast Brazil), there are 17 species registered (Leitman et al. 2014), most of which have some economic value (Medeiros-Costa 2002, Rufino et al. 2008).

Although some of the Arecaceae species, including some species from Brazil, have been previously analyzed for centesimal composition (Crepaldi et al. 2000, Hiane et al. 2003, Menezes et al. 2008, Teixeira da Silva de La Salles et al. 2010,Coimbra and Jorge 2011), there is still a lack of research on the industrial applications of some palm trees. The aim of this work was to perform proximate analysis, fatty acid composition determination and total carotenoid analysis of the fruits of six tropical Arecaceae, some of which have not been reported to date, to evaluate their potential use as food and for other industrial purposes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PLANT MATERIALS

The species were selected based mainly on the results of previous ethnobotanical studies, on their economic importance and on underexploited potential (Medeiros-Costa 2002, Lorenzi et al. 2004). Fruit samples from Acrocomia intumescens Drude, Pinanga kuhlii Blume, Ptychosperma macarthurii (H. Wendl. ex H.J. Veitch) H. Wendl. ex Hook. f.,Syagrus cearensis Noblick, Syagrus coronataMart. (Becc.) and Veitchia merrillii (Becc.) H.E. Moore were collected between January and September of 2011 in Recife, Garanhuns and Buíque (Northeastern Brazil). The fruits were stored at 4 ºC until the chemical analysis was performed.

MOISTURE AND ASH

The pulp and kernel (5 g each) were dried overnight at 105 ºC in accordance to AOAC method 930.15 (AOAC 2000). The moisture percentage was calculated by subtracting the dry weight from the wet weight. After determining the moisture content the pulp and kernel were placed in a porcelain crucible and incinerated in a muffle furnace (Tecnal, 1100-1P, Piracicaba, Brazil) at 550 ºC until light gray ash resulted, in accordance with AOAC method 923.03 (AOAC 2000). The crucibles were transferred to a desiccator and cooled to room temperature. The loss in mass was determined gravimetrically.

TOTAL LIPIDS AND FATTY ACID METHYL ESTER ANALYSIS

The pulp and kernel (5 g each) were dried at 45 ºC, powdered and extracted withn-hexane (60 - 80 ºC) for 8h in a Soxhlet extractor (Ahmad 1981). The oil content of the pulp and kernel was calculated by dividing the initial weight by the weight of the extracted lipids. The oil from each fruit pulp and kernel was hydrolysed (separately) at 100 ºC for 10 min in a water bath with 1.5 mL of KOH in methanol (0.5 M). After cooling on ice for 5 min, 2.5 mL of 14% boron trifluoride methanolic (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Missouri) was added, and the sample was placed in a water bath for 30 min and then cooled again for 5 min. After methylation, 2.5 mL NaCl (1%) and 3 mL ofn-heptane were added, and the sample was centrifuged at 730.8g for 5 min. The organic phase was collected, and excess moisture was removed by adding 0.1 g of anhydrous Na₂SO₄.

The free fatty acids methylated were analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS (QP5050 Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan). The oven temperature was started at 150 ºC, and then was increased to 250 ºC at 4 ºC/min and held for 20 min. The chromatograph was equipped with a capillary DB-column and helium was used as the carrier gas with a flow rate of 1 cm³/min. The detector and injector temperatures were set to 280 ºC. The injection volume was 1.0 µL, and the split ratio was 30:1. All mass spectra were acquired using the electron impact (EI) mode at 70 eV. Fatty acids were identified as methyl esters by comparison using authentic standard (FAME Supelco^TMmix C4-C24, Bellefonte, PA, USA) and by comparison with mass spectra in the Wiley 229 database (Wiley, New York) and the NIST/EPA/NIH Mass Spectral Library (NIST05). The relative amount of the FAME was calculated from the integrated area of each peak and expressed as a percentage of the total area of all peaks.

PROTEINS

The pulp and kernel (5 g each) were dried at room temperature (approximately 30 ºC) under forced blowing until the sample reached a constant weight, after which the sample was ground to a powder form. The crude protein was determined by the Kjeldahl method in accordance with AOAC method 960.52 (AOAC 2000). The protein percentage was calculated using conversion factors of 6.25 and 5.30 for the pulp and the kernel, respectively (Jones 1941).

CARBOHYDRATES AND ENERGY

The carbohydrates content, including fiber, was calculated by subtraction of the sum of the crude protein, total fat, moisture, and ash. The energy content was calculated by multiplying the mean values of lipids, proteins, and total carbohydrate by their respective caloric values: 37 kJ/g (9.0 kcal/g), 17 kJ/g (4.0 kcal/g), and 17 kJ/g (4.0 kcal/g), respectively (Atwater factors). The results were expressed as kJ/100 g.

TOTAL CAROTENOIDS DETERMINATION

The oil from the pulp or the kernel (1 g each) was separated and diluted in 100 mL of petroleum ether (60-80 ºC), and the absorbance was measured at 450 nm in a Genesys 10S UV/VIS spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA), in accordance with Rodriguez-Amaya et al. (2008). The carotenoid content was expressed as β-carotene equivalents (µg/g). The retinol activity equivalent (RAE) levels were calculated using a conversion factor of 1 µg retinol to 12 µg of dietary all-trans-β-carotene and were expressed in µg RAE/100 g (IOM 2001).

STATISTICAL ANALYSES

At least three replications of the experiment were performed. The data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. All tests were set at 0.05 level of significance and analyzed using GraphPad Prism software (GraphPad, San Diego, CA, USA).

RESULTS

The results of the proximate analysis for the six Arecaceous fruits studied are shown in Table I. All studied species, exceptP. kuhlii, had high levels of moisture (ranging from 60 to 75%). In most species, the pulp had more moisture than the kernel. In P. macarthurii, the moisture values were the same for the pulp and the kernel. S. coronata, V. merrillii, and S. cearensis showed higher moisture content in the pulp when compared with the other species studied (74.94, 74.40 and 72.57 g/100 g, respectively).

TABLE I
Proximate analysis and calorific values of some tropical fruits of Arecaceae from northeastern Brazil.

Species	Proximate analysis (g/100 g)a
	moisture	ash	proteins	carbohydrates	lipids	energy (kJ/100 g)
Acrocomia intumescens	62.2/14.8	2.0/2.0	2.5/11.7	3.5/43.9	29.6/27.4	1200/1960
Pinanga kuhlii	22.9/48.2	6.3/1.4	5.1/7.2	64.0/40.6	1.5/2.3	1231/902
Ptychosperma macarthurii	65.4/65.4	7.5/1.6	4.8/7.1	14.2/70.1	8.0/0.8	621/134
Syagrus cearensis	72.5/24.3	0.6/7.1	4.3/4.4	19.2/23.3	3.1/40.6	518/1977
Syagrus coronata	74.9/12.5	0.5/3.2	20.6/4.3	16.0/33.4	1.5/30.0	680/1754
Veitchia merrillii	74.4/44.3	1.4/1.0	1.5/2.6	11.6/51.2	10.9/0.6	629/942

• aValues represent the proximate analysis and calorific values from pulp and kernel, respectively, from five grams of dried fruits. The protein percentage was calculated using a conversion factor of 6.25 and 5.30 for pulp and kernel, respectively and the energy content was based on Atwater factors (see materials and methods section for detailed explanation). Standard error not shown in order to improve clarity of the table.

In the palm trees studied, the ash contents ranged from 0.56 to 7.51 g/100 g in the pulp and from 1.04 to 7.12 g/100 g in the kernel. The greatest amount of ash (more than 7 g/100 g) was found in the pulp and kernel of P. macarthuriiand S. cearensis, respectively (Table I). The ash content in the pulp of P. kuhlii was also very high (6.36 g/100 g). The ash content of the pulps of S. cearensis and S. coronata were similar, but the ash content of the kernel was two and a half times higher in S. cearensis than in S. coronata. Of all samples analyzed, the fruits of V. merrillii had the lowest ash content (lower than 2 g/100 g).

For most of the species, the macronutrient analyses indicated that the total protein concentration was relatively low (Table I), but it was always higher in the kernel than in the pulp. One exception was observed in S. coronata, the species with the greatest amount of protein in the pulp (20.64 g/100 g). In contrast, the protein content in the pulp of S. cearensis was almost five times lower than that observed in S. coronata.

The proximate analysis for the carbohydrate content showed that the kernels instead of the pulps are the major sources of sugar (Table I). The six species studied had the highest carbohydrate content in the kernel (ranging from 23.36 to 70.12 g/100 g). The highest carbohydrate content was observed in the P. macarthurii and A. intumescenskernels (70.12 and 43.91 g/100 g, respectively). Unlike other species, P. kuhlii exhibited a significant carbohydrate content in the pulp (64.03 g/100 g).

Among the six species analyzed, only three contained high lipid contents (Table I). The greatest oil content was found in the kernels of S. coronata and S. cearensis(40.64 and 30.04 g/100 g, respectively). The fruits of A. intumescens had a similar oil content in their pulp (29.61 g/100 g) and kernel (27.42 g/100 g). The other studied species had a low quantity of oil, particularly P. kuhlii (less than 3 g/100 g). Based on crude protein, lipid and total carbohydrate contents, the calorific values of the fruits ranged from 518 to 1977 kJ/100 g (Table I). Due to the higher carbohydrate content in the kernel and the lipid content in the pulp, the fruit of A. intumescens exhibited the highest overall energy value (1200 and 1960 kJ/100 g, respectively).

Lauric, palmitic and oleic acids were the main fatty acids identified (Table II). Lauric acid predominated in the kernels of A. intumescens (45.44%) and in the twoSyagrus species (38.11 to 44.55%), while palmitic acid was predominant in the kernels of P. macarthurii (92.61%). Oleic acid was markedly dominant in the pulps, particularly in A. intumescens(74.14%). Linoleic acid was identified only in the pulp oils of P. macarthurii and A. intumescens.

TABLE II
The fatty acid compositions of some fruits of Arecaceae from northeastern Brazil.

Fatty acids composition (%)a
	C10:0	C12:0	C14:0	C16:0	C18:0	C18:1	C18:2
Acrocomia intumescens	-/5.03	-/45.44	-/12.61	14.08/9.53	-/4.31	74.14/23.07	11.78/-
Pinanga kuhlii	-/-	7.12/-	-/-	31.28/45.20	-/-	11.81/-	-/-
Ptychosperma macarthurii	-/-	-/-	-/-	41.89/92.91	4.91/-	28.79/-	23.60/-
Syagrus cearensis	-/3.44	-/38.11	-/3.37	34.40/-	-/-	28.33/-	-/-
Syagrus coronata	-/9.16	-/44.55	-/19.04	42.31/10.03	32.35/3.78	25.34/13.44	-/-
Veitchia merrillii	-/-	-/4.76	-/-	36.58/36.89	20.17/15.58	-/-	-/-

• aValues represent the fatty acids composition from pulp and kernel, respectively. C10:0 = capric acid, C12:0 = lauric acid, C14:0 = myristic acid, C16:0 = palmitic acid, 18:0 = stearic acid, C18:1 = oleic acid, and C18:2 = linoleic acid. - = Not detected or trace amounts. Standard error not shown in order to improve clarity of the table.

As shown in Table III, the total carotenoid contents, expressed as β-carotene equivalents, were significantly higher in the pulp oils than in the kernels. The total carotenoid contents of the kernels were similar in most species. P. kuhlii and A. intumescens exhibited the highest carotenoid contents (180.3 and 138.0 µg/g, respectively). The total carotenoid contents differed significantly betweenSyagrus species. Due to the large amount of carotenoids,P. kuhlii and A. intumescens showed higher retinol activity equivalent values (1515 and 1166 µg/100 g RAE, respectively).

TABLE III
The total carotenoid contents and retinol activity equivalents of some fruits of Arecaceae from northeastern Brazil.

Species	Carotenoids content (µg/g)*		Total RAE
	pulp	kernel	(µg/100 g)
Acrocomia intumescens	138.0 ± 5.2b	1.9 ± 0.7a	1166
Pinanga kuhlii	180.3 ± 2.7a	1.5 ± 0.5a	1515
Ptychosperma macarthurii	77.9 ± 3.1c	0.4 ± 0.2b	652
Syagrus cearensis	54.1 ± 1.2d	0.7 ± 0.2b	456
Syagrus coronata	87.0 ± 1.3c	0.7 ± 0.3b	731
Veitchia merrillii	70.7 ± 2.8c	0.4 ± 0.2b	592

• *Values represent the total carotenoids based on β-carotene from 5 g of dried fruits and are mean ± SD of three determinations. Values with same letters are not significantly different by the Tukey test (P > 0.05). Total RAE = retinol activity equivalents from the pulp and kernel combined, where 1 μg retinol is equal to 12 μg of dietary all-trans-β-carotene matrix (see materials and methods section for detailed explanation).

DISCUSSION

In general, the proximate analysis data for six palms species studied were similar to values previously reported in other studies of Arecaceae species. Lipids were the main constituents of the dried kernels of the two Syagrus species studied. S. cearensis had the highest oil content and the second greatest caloric value. The fat content of S. cearensis was greater than that of S. coronata (Table I), but it was almost two times lower than that reported by other authors for the same species (Nascimento et al. 2011). The oil content in the kernel of S. coronata was also one and a half times less than a previously reported value (Crepaldi et al. 2000). These discrepancies are likely due to the higher moisture content found in our analyses.

Despite the similar lipid content in S. coronata and S. cearensis (Table I), these species can be distinguished by the high protein content in the pulp of S. coronata (20.64%). This high protein value is comparable to that of other species traditionally used as foods, such as black beans (Trugo et al. 2000). Since protein and lipid predominates, respectively, in the pulp and kernel of S. coronata, the consumption of whole fruit as a flour is more indicated to permit the use of both macronutrients.

P. kuhlii, P. macarthurii, and V. merrillii are three exotic species that are widely grown in Brazil as ornamental trees (Lorenzi et al. 2004). Although no other use has been suggested for these species, our study showed that the P. kuhlii pulp and the P. macarthurii kernel could provide alternative sources of carbohydrates (Table I). P. macarthurii, which occurs naturally in Australia (Jones 2010), but in Brazil is an exotic species used in urban and domestic landscapes, was also a good source of ash and palmitic acid (in the kernel and the pulp, respectively). Although the nutritional potential of these species is rarely reported, the high carbohydrate and ash contents of P. kuhlii and P. macarthurii are similar to those of other traditional tropical palm trees such as A. aculeata, Euterpe oleracea Mart., Phoenix dactyliferaL., Syagrus oleracea (Mart.) Becc, and S. romanzoffiana(Cham.) Glassman (Bora et al. 2003,Menezes et al. 2008, Coimbra and Jorge 2011).

In our study, the Syagrus species and A. intumescens were the most energetic, due to their higher oil and carbohydrate concentrations. The caloric value of S. coronata,shown in Table I, is similar to a previously reported value (Crepaldi et al. 2000). According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the caloric requirement for adults and children as of the age of 4 years old is 2000 kcal (= 8368 kJ/day). Thus, the energetic values of most of the species studied, including the exotics, represent more than 10% of the established reference daily intake (RDI).

Lauric acid was identified as the main fatty acid in the kernel of A. intumescens and in the two species of Syagrus (Table II). In accordance to Bora et al. (2003), kernels rich in lauric acid are a characteristic of palm oils. Species rich in lauric acid have numerous industrial applications. For example, they may be used in the food industry as cooking fats and as dairy fat replacements in margarines, biscuits, candies, and ice cream; they can also be used as a cocoa butter substitute. Oils rich in lauric acid are also very useful in soap and detergent manufacturing due their effects on surface tension (Arkcoll 1988, Bora et al. 2003).

Many vegetable oils, including palm oils, can be used for bioenergy production. The crude oil obtained from the kernel of S. coronata, for example, has characteristics that are favorable for biodiesel production (Teixeira da Silva de La Salles et al. 2010). The seed production of S. coronata is estimated to be approximately 2000 kg/ha (Drumond 2007). According to Gunstone (1996), traditional oilseeds have lipid content from 18% such as soybean (18-20% oil), cotton (21%) and canola (24-27%). Since our studies showed that the kernels of the Syagrusspecies were rich sources of lipids (ranging from 30 to 40%), their fatty acid composition, suggested that they may also be used as biofuel.

There are also several characteristics of A. intumescens that make it suitable for industrialization. This species presented a high oleic acid content in the pulp and a high lauric acid content in the kernel oil (Table II), which make it suitable for various industrial applications, some of which were previously mentioned here. Species with high oleic acid content (e.g., Jatropha curcas L.) have a significant potential for bioenergy. A. intumescens can produce 1800 liter/ha of oil (PSTI/MIC 1988). Although we have no current data at this time, this value is similar to that reported for J. curcas, which can produce 2000 liter/ha oil per year (Azam et al. 2005). In addition, the oil production of A. aculeata, another similar species, may reach 16000 - 25000 kg of fruit per hectare and may produce up to 6200 kg/ha of oil (Pires et al. 2013). In addition to the high oleic acid content, A. intumescens grows well in areas with low soil fertility, has tolerance to fire and can be cultivated in areas that undergo prolonged drought. These characteristics are ideal for biomass production in semi-arid areas.

Lipids stimulate the absorption of carotenoids; thus, carotenoids from palm fruits may have the additional advantage of greater bioavailability (Rodriguez-Amaya and Kimura 2004). In our studies, two species stand out as sources of carotenoids (Table III). P. kuhlii, the species with the greatest carotenoid content, showed an RAE level (1515 µg/100 g) similar to that measured for the peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) and almost twice that measured in the tucuma (Astrocaryum aculeatum G. Mey.), another Amazon palm (de Rosso and Mercadante 2007). This value is nearly three times lower than that of the buriti (Mauritia vinifera Mart.), a palm species that is considered an excellent source of provitamin A (Rodriguez-Amaya and Kimura 2004). The mean recommended vitamin A intake for adult women and men is 700 and 900 µg/day, respectively (Trumbo et al. 2001). Approximately 50 g of P. kuhlii fruit would meet the daily vitamin A needs for a woman and more than half of the daily vitamin A needs for a man.

The fruits of A. intumescens are also rich sources of carotenoids (Table III). The carotenoid content of its pulp was higher than that of A. mokayayba Barb. Rodr. (Rodriguez-Amaya and Kimura 2004) but lower than that of A. aculeate (Coimbra and Jorge 2011). Despite higher levels of carotenoids than P. kuhlii, the consumption of A. intumescens appears to be more practical because, according to its popular use, the ripe fruits ofA. intumescens have a fibrous mesocarp and are edible as well as tasty. Three or four fruits are sufficient to fulfill the RDI of vitamin A for adult men and women, because the pulp weighs approximately 20 g.

The fruits of P. kuhlii are also very small compared to those ofSyagrus. Thus, one or two Syagrus fruits are equivalent to 100 g of the fruits from the exotic plants studied. The pulp oil ofS. coronata contained significantly more carotenoids than that of S. cearensis. Because the pulp of S. coronataweighs approximately 20 g, two or three fruits are sufficient to satisfy the RDI of vitamin A for adult women or men. The β-carotene is the main vitamin in the pulp of S. coronata (Crepaldi et al. 2000). Thus, this species is an excellent source of provitamin A for rural populations in the Brazilian northeast, particularly because it is a typical palm that grows in semi-arid regions such as the Caatinga.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that the palm trees A. intumescens and S. coronata can be considered an alternative food sources as well as excellent sources of carotenoids underutilized. Due to the high lauric acid content in their kernel oils, these species can also be used in the food industry as cooking fats and dairy fat replacements. These species could also be used in the manufacture of soaps. The high oleic acid content of the pulp of A. intumescensalso makes this species promising for the biofuel industry. Furthermore, in addition to its ornamental use, P. macarthurii was shown to be an excellent source of carbohydrates, ash and carotenoids. However, before P. macarthurii fruits can be used as a food source, further studies are required to confirm the absence of toxicity.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are thankful to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brazil) for providing a scholarship to the first author; and to the Food Experimentation and Analysis Laboratory (Nutrition Department, UFPE, Brazil) for their technical support.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  28 July 2015
• Date of issue
  Sept 2015

History

• Received
  14 Apr 2014
• Accepted
  15 Dec 2014