Dados do Trabalho

Título

CAROTENOIDS AND PROTEIN CONTENT IN FRUITS OF FICUS DRUPACEA THUNB.

Introdução

Indian Ficus species (Moraceae) have various medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticancer, among others. These health effects are due to phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, furanocoumarins, and polyphenolic compounds in the different Ficus species. However, no reports are available in the literature on 66 phytochemistry compound species, including F. drupacea, which animals widely consume. This study aimed to determine freeze-dried fig fruits carotenoid and protein content.

Material e Métodos

The fruits were collected in Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, sanitized, and dehydrated in a Freeze Dryer (©Liobras-L101). Carotenoid extraction was performed in triplicate with acetone, then partitioned in petroleum ether:ethyl ether (50:50 v/v). The extraction of carotenoids was carried out according to the exhaustive extraction protocol, using acetone as solvent. The extract obtained was saponified with 10% KOH for 16 h (overnight), washed to remove the alkali, evaporated in a rotary evaporator and resuspended in petroleum ether. Carotenoid content was determined by UV-vis spectrophotometry (450 nm) and identification by HPLC-DAD. The crude protein content was quantified using AOAC (2010) method n. 2001.11, where the total nitrogen content was determined by the Kjeldahl method (N= 6.25). Acid digestion was performed with sulfuric acid under heating at 350 °C and distillation with boric acid. The fraction obtained was titrated with a standardized 0.02 N HCl solution. All the analyses were performed in triplicate.

Resultados e Discussão

The results show that fig fruits have a relevant content of total carotenoids 90.5 (ug/g) and the main carotenoids found were all-E-lutein (61%), a-Carotene (16%), B-Carotene (3.9%) and a-Cryptoxanthin (2.7%). Furthermore, it can be a good protein alternative with 7.15 g/100g of the dehydrated figs.

Conclusão

Therefore, the fruits of this fig species can be considered an excellent source of carotenoids and proteins. However, for human consumption, more research is still needed, such as complete nutritional composition, identification of bioactive compounds and cytotoxicity analysis.