Aplicação da espectroscopia fotoacústica na identificação de biomoléculas funcionais do grupo dos polifenóis em frutas e vegetais.

Abstract

In this work we have used the technique of Photoacoustic Spectroscopy to identify Functional Biomolecules, present in various fruits and vegetables. These polyphenolic compounds constitute groups of substances widely distributed in plants, fruits and vegetables, common components of the human diet, especially anthocyanins, flavonols, tannins and carotenoids that have been found to exhibit several therapeutic and pharmacological properties. Among the fruits and vegetables species investigated and scientifically established as host for bioactive or functional biomolecules, some of them are detached by their excellent functional properties, then, have been nominates as “superfruits”. They are characterized by exhibit high concentrations of polyphenols compounds such as anthocyanins, flavonols (quercitins, kaempferol, catechins, tannins), the phenolic acids such as the gallic, ascorbic, ellagic, chlorogenic, benzoic, ferulic, etc, and the carotenoids β–carotene, lycopene, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, neoaxanthin among others. The “superfruits” are classified in this way for exhibit functional extraordinary value. The experimental results obtained by photoacoustic spectroscopy λmax for the wave lengths representing the absorption peaks of each sample of fruits and vegetables investigated showed the existence of Functional Biomolecules, which are human health as well. Our results obtained by the technique Photoacoustic Spectroscopy confirm this as an experimental tool with great potential and efficiency in the detection of biomolecules in biological systems “in nature”, without the need of using exhaustive molecular extraction processes.