MINERAL CONTENTS IN AMAZONIAN LECYTHIDACEAE SHELL FRUITS

The results presented here are part of our studies about the chemical composition of probably edible plant products from the Amazonian forests. Lecythis usitata and Allantoma lineata are shell fruits producing tree species.
Botanically they belong to the Lecythidaceae family like the well known Brazil nut tree.
The nuts of them are not yet exploited commercially and not yet chemically studied sufficiently – but tasty and consumed by the local population with pleasure.
The results of the analysis of their mineral compositions are evaluated and compared with that of Brazil nuts.
As expected for shell fruits, both nuts contain considerable amounts of minerals – L. usitata 3.8g/100g and A. lineata 2.6 g/100g.
The high values of Fe, Zn and Mn could contribute to improve the insufficient daily intake of these elements by the local population.
The high mean contents of selenium and barium in respect to possible physiological and toxicological effects are discussed, as well.
Especially L. usitata seeds could be considered as a natural selenium source to enrich human diet – in case of selenium deficiency or for preventive medicinal purposes.

II ISHS Conference on Fruit Production in the Tropics and Subtropics

F. Marx, J.G.S. Maia, E.H.A. Andrade

Lecythis usitata, barium, food supplement, selenium

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.531.39