Articles
FRUITS OF BUTEA CAPITATA (MART.) BECC. AS SOURCE OF β-CAROTENE AND PROVITAMIN A
Article number
972_6
Pages
47 – 54
Language
English
Abstract
Butia capitata is a palm tree, wildly harvested from the Brazilian savanna and largely used by local communities to prepare juices, jelly and ice-cream.
The use of local genetic resources rich in carotenoids and provitamin A to improve diet quality of poor communities is a strategy for food security.
The main objective of this work was to determine the carotenoids profile of Butia capitata fruits and their provitamin A values, through open-column chromatography and HPLC. Total carotenoids content ranged from 11.1 to 43.9 μg/g. β-carotene was the predominant carotenoid (5.2-22.8 μg/g), followed by γ-carotene, phytoene, phytofluene, ζ-carotene, γ- γ-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin (or zeinoxanthin) and α-carotene.
Provitamin A values varied from 50 to 200 RAE/100 g.
The high provitamin A value of B. capitata suggests that this fruit pulp may represent a very good source of provitamin A for the local population.
The use of local genetic resources rich in carotenoids and provitamin A to improve diet quality of poor communities is a strategy for food security.
The main objective of this work was to determine the carotenoids profile of Butia capitata fruits and their provitamin A values, through open-column chromatography and HPLC. Total carotenoids content ranged from 11.1 to 43.9 μg/g. β-carotene was the predominant carotenoid (5.2-22.8 μg/g), followed by γ-carotene, phytoene, phytofluene, ζ-carotene, γ- γ-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin (or zeinoxanthin) and α-carotene.
Provitamin A values varied from 50 to 200 RAE/100 g.
The high provitamin A value of B. capitata suggests that this fruit pulp may represent a very good source of provitamin A for the local population.
Authors
J.P. Faria, E.M.A. Siqueira, R.F. Vieira, T.S. Agostini-Costa
Keywords
β-carotene, carotenoid, vitamin A, Butia, Brazilian savanna, palm tree
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