文摘
Euterpe oleraceae is a large palm tree indigenous to the Amazon River and its tributaries and estuariesin South America. Its fruit, known as acai, is of great economic value to native people. In this study,a standardized freeze-dried acai fruit pulp/skin powder was used for all analyses and tests. Amongmany findings, anthocyanins (ACNs), proanthocyanidins (PACs), and other flavonoids were found tobe the major phytochemicals. Two ACNs, cyandin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside were foundto be predominant ACNs; three others were also found as minor ACNs. The total content of ACNswas measured as 3.1919 mg/g dry weight (DW). Polymers were found to be the major PACs. Theconcentration of total PACs was calculated as 12.89 mg/g DW. Other flavonoids, namely, homoorientin,orientin, isovitexin, scoparin, and taxifolin deoxyhexose, along with several unknown flavonoids, werealso detected. Resveratrol was found but at a very low concentration. In addition, components includingfatty acids, amino acids, sterols, minerals, and other nutrients were analyzed and quantified. Totalpolyunsaturated fatty acid, total monounsaturated fatty acid, and total saturated fatty acids contributedto 11.1%, 60.2%, and 28.7% of total fatty acid. Oleic acid (53.9%) and palmitic acid (26.7%) werefound to be the two dominant fatty acids. Nineteen amino acids were found; the total amino acidcontent was determined to be 7.59% of total weight. The total sterols accounted for 0.048% by weightof powder. The three sterols B-sitosterol, campesterol, and sigmasterol were identified. A completenutrient analysis is also presented. Microbiological analysis was also performed.