Avaliação do desenvolvimento, qualidade e capacidade antioxidante em brotos de palma (Opuntia sp.) para o consumo humano.

Abstract

The bud of palm comes in northeast semiarid as an alternative and potential vegetable for human consumption, making it possible to obtain products and foods rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the development, quality and antioxidant capacity in palm buds for human consumption. The buds were harvested in the early hours in the experimental area of the Centre for Science and Agrifood Technology, Federal University of Campina Grande, in Pombal - PB and analyzed for physical and chemical variables, using a completely randomized design in a factorial 2 x 4, with 2 cultivars (‘Giant’ and ‘Round’) and 4 developmental stages (stage 1 - buds from 4,0 to 8,0 cm, stage 2 - buds from 8,01 to 12,0 cm, stage 3 - buds 12,01 to 16,0 cm, stage 4 - buds from 16,01 to 20,0 cm), with six replicates of 250 g per experimental unit. For longitudinal and transverse diameter variables, fresh pasta with thorns, without thorns and spines and income, there was a significant increase in their values with the stage of development, with emphasis on the buds of the cultivar ‘Round’. The levels of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates significantly decreased with advancing development, for cultivars, as well as the soluble solid and titratable acidity and starch. Bioactive compounds in chlorophylls, carotenoids and flavonoids, the highest levels were found in the third and fourth stages of cultivar ‘Giant’; have extractable polyphenols were higher in the first and second stages, this cultivar. The levels of ascorbic acid increased with the stage of development in both cultivars. The antioxidant capacity was higher in dry weight when compared to fresh weight in buds palm ‘Giant’ and ‘Round’. Thus, regardless of the treatments, the shoots palm exhibited similar to other vegetables, constituting a source of compounds with antioxidant characteristics, can be used as a vegetable in any stage of development, and the third and fourth in stars were the most suitable for both fresh consumption and for the agro-processing.