The aim of this work was to evaluate the anthocyanins stability and the flavonols protective action on acerola pulp during frozen storage. Two assays were carried out with completely mature acerola. For the first assay, the pulp was obtained from a known selection of acerola and for the second, from different trees grown in a particular crop. These experiments were completely randomised with three repetitions and two factors: (a) pulp from different origins and (b) six months frozen storage. At each 30 days, samples units (30g) were randomly collected and analysed in order to determine total anthocyanins and flavonols content. At the end of the storage period, the first assay lost 4,3% and the second, 3,76% of the total anthocyanins content and 13,44% and 14,90% of the total flavonols content, respectively. On assay II, the lower reduction of percentage of anthocyanins was probably due to flavonols protective action.
Malpighia emarginata D.C; anthocyanins; flavonols; stability
