Potencial nutricional e tecnológico de plantas alimentícias não convencionais predominante na Paraíba: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

Food consumption is passing through a fast and intense change in the whole world in the last decades. In this context, natural foods as fruits and vegetables were substituted by a high-level consumption of multiprocessing feed regarding the increase of chronic non-communicable diseases and changes in the nutritional style of human beings. Nevertheless, part of the population has changed the focus, again, searching for foods in nature, which promote health and better organic functions and corporal shaping. Brazil is a country that has a large variety of plants. One of them is the unconventional food plants (PANC). PANC are vegetables, fruits, flowers, or herbs that have potential consumption. In addition, PANC is a source of bioactive and nutritional components. Because of the variety of these plants in the state of Paraiba and its low exploration, the main goal of our work was a literature review about PANC in the state of Paraiba, concerning their nutritional characteristics and technological potential. We selected the most uncommon. To achieve our aim, we review papers, thesis, books, manuals, and government documents related to the theme. We observe a total of 24 kinds of PANC in the state of Paraiba, of which 15 (62,5%) species were studied for deeper comprehension. We notice that these plants have a wide variety of fibers, vitamins, minerals, and numerous bioactive compounds with functionality. These properties are essential for the maintenance of health and to prevent and treat several diseases. The PANC also presented chemical, physical, and sensorial characteristics which allow their use in natural or being added in other food preparation, such as in new product elaboration. Therefore, we concluded the unconventional food plants work as a powerful tool in human nutrition, becoming healthy, varied, and rich in nutrients, which help to a safe and healthy feeding.