Evaluation of the morphological and physicochemical characteristics of the mesocarp of Attalea phalerata from the state of Mato-Grosso

Abstract

The acuri (Attalea phalerata Mart. ex Spreng) is a palm tree frequently found in the Pantanal and other Brazilian regions. Studies demonstrate that its pulp is rich in carotenoids, precursors of vitamin A. There are few studies of the acuri pulp for food purposes, either as provitamin A, or as a coloring agent to replace synthetic β-carotene, although antioxidant-rich vegetable oils have been widely studied by the pharmaceutical and food industry. Oil stability is one of the first factors that guarantee product quality. Thus, our objective was the process of morphological characterization of the fruit, the extraction of oil from the pulp of the acuri and its physical and chemical characterization. The fruits were collected in Várzea Grande-MT and the voucher was deposited in the Federal University of Mato Groso herbarium (44310). The fruits were sanitized and pulped, oven-dried at 40°C for 30 hours. The oil was obtained by solid-liquid extraction with hexane (1:3) for 7 days; subsequently processed in a rotary evaporator and stored in an amber bottle. Analyses of acidity index, free fatty acid content, peroxide index and relative density were determined in triplicate, according to the methods established by the Instituto Adolf Lutz. The oil yield was 11.39%. The oil had an acidity of 8.54±0.26 mg NaOH/g (up to 10.0mgNaOH/g), AGL content of 0.43% ±0.01 of oleic acid, peroxide index of 0.99 ± 1.20mEq/kg (maximum 20mEq/kg) and density of 0.79 ± 0.085g/ml.  The fruit of Attalea phalerata has a morphology consistent with its species and the oil from its the mesocarp showed oxidative stability, meeting the identity and quality standards established by current legislation for vegetable oil.