Caracterização química de bebidas não alcoólicas à base de maracujá-do-mato (Passiflora nitida)

Abstract

Passiflora nitida Kunth (Passifloraceae) is a species native to the Amazon, whose fruit, known as "maracujá-do-mato" (wild passion fruit), is consumed fresh, but is little explored in terms of chemical composition and potential for product development. The objective of this research was to perform a chemical analysis of P. nitida pulps and teas, identify their bioactive compounds, and evaluate their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. The chemical profile was acquired through NMR (1D and 2D) and identification was performed by HPLC-DAD, with sugars and oligosaccharides determined by HPAEC-PAD. The antioxidant assays were carried out using the DPPH and ABTS methods, and the quantification of total phenolic compounds by the Folin Ciocalteu method. Cytotoxic properties were evaluated using the cell viability assay. Among the samples, those that presented the highest value for physicochemical properties, centesimal composition, and lipids were the pulp and seed teas (PCS). The main non-reducing sugars were glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose (G2). The esterified lipid fractions were predominantly palmitate (palmitic acid) and methyl elaidate (elaidic acid), being major in PCS samples and palmitoleate (palmitoleic acid) in PSS. In the mineral analysis of PCS, the highest content of macronutrients was potassium (8,993.20 ± 77.92 mg/kg) and of micronutrients was manganese (Mn) (8.80 ± 0.18 mg/kg). The fresh pulp showed better antioxidant result with the ABTS assay [588.16 ± 11.54 (PSS) and 743.16± 7.63 µM ET (PCS)], while the methanol extract showed higher content of total phenolic compounds TPC [483.2 ± 0.1 (PSS) and 345.1 ± 0.4 mg GAE/g (PCS)] and consequently better antioxidant response against the DPPH free radical [1,038.5 ± 7.6 (PSS) and 1,048.2 ± 7.1 µM ET (PCS)]. The cell viability of the PCS sample was evaluated at four concentrations (25, 10, 5, and 1%), and it can be observed that the lower concentrations tested (10, 5, and 1%) showed increased viability, while at the concentration of 25% a cytotoxic activity was observed compared to the evaluated control. The samples contain bioactive compounds such as gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechin, and myricetin. The results demonstrate that the pulps can be used to obtain teas rich in bioactive compounds, especially those prepared with the seeds.