Evaluation of bioactive compounds potential and antioxidant activity in some Brazilian exotic fruit residues

- Agroindustrial residues of achachairu, araçá-boi and bacaba were analyzed;
- Bioactive compounds viz. carotenoids, phenolic acids and flavonoids were determined;
- Sixteen phytochemical compounds were identified for the first time in these residues;
- Antioxidant activity of the residues and its correlation with phenolic compounds was established;
- Bacaba residue was the most promising in phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity.

The agroindustrial residues have been recognized as important sources of some prominent chemical compounds and hence a viable strategy of obtaining bioactive compounds could be applied to them. The present study was aimed to investigate the presence of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of some Brazilian exotic fruits (achachairu, araçá-boi, bacaba) residues. The antioxidant capacity of fruit residues was evaluated by ORAC, FRAP and ABTS assays. The contents of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, chlorophylls and carotenoids were determined. The identification and quantification of the phenolic compounds were performed by using the UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS system. The compounds cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, epicatechin and quercetin were identified and quantified in all fruits residues. The residue with the highest antioxidant capacity was bacaba for ORAC (15,285.51 ± 20.38 μmol TE/100 g) and FRAP (16,916.37 ± 10.01 μmol TE/100 g) assays, as well as total phenolic compounds in its methanolic extract (1537.45 ± 73.35 mg GAE/100 g).

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