Avaliação mineralógica e dos teores de vitamina C das polpas in natura purpurea de Spondias tuberosa Arruda Câmara (umbu), Spondias, L. (ciriguela) e Spondias sp. (cajarana do sertão).

Abstract

The genus Spondias is constituted by species which are very much adapted to the semiarid region. The Spondias sp., Spondias purpurea e Spondias tuberosa are species which are grown all over the Northeast region, in rural properties as well as in backyards in urban areas. They present fruits whose taste is acid and sweet, which are used as raw material by agroindustries in order to produce beverages, marmalades, jams, ice-creams, among others. They are also very much consumed fresh due to their rich taste. No matter how they are consumed, they have increased the incomes of small families of rural workers in the Brazilian Northeast. This study aimed to evaluate macronutrients (Na, P, K, Ca and Mg), micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Cr, Mn, Se and Zn) and Vitamin C levels in Spondias sp., Spondias purpurea L. and Spondias tuberosa Arruda Câmara pulps. Fruits were collected in two areas of Lajedo Ranch, in the municipality of Santa Terezinha-PB and also in an urban area in the municipality of Brejo do Cruz-PB. Three trees were selected considering their phytosanity conditions for fruit collection and then, 5 kg of fresh fruit from each species were collected. After the pulping stage, 2 kg of pulp from each studied species were stored. Analysis of minerals was carried out through the atomic emission spectrometry method and analysis of Vitamin C levels was performed using the method of volumetric titration by oxidation-reduction. Levels of minerals and Vitamin C were expressed in mg.100-1and compared to the values expressed in the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for children aged between 04 and 10 years old, as stated by the Regulation nº 269 from the Collegiate Directorate of the ANVISA (Brazil's National Agency for Sanitary Regulation) in 2005. Fruit samples were classified in accordance to the FDA categorization as “good or excellent sources” for a certain nutrient according to its percentage of contribution to the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI). The Tukey test was applied at 1% and 5% of probabilities for levels of macronutrients and micronutrients. From the data it was found that the Spondias sp. is a good source of calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium and Vitamin C; Spondias purpurea is a good source of iron, potassium, Vitamin C and an excellent source of copper and Spondias tuberosa is a good source of potassium and Vitamin C.