Estudo do potencial de resíduos de frutas tropicais para elaboração de suplemento alimentar probiótico

Abstract

The fruit processing industries produce large amounts of residues, which often do not receive adequate attention. This raw material has several constituents beneficial to health, which can be applied in the food industry in the development of new products. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of using agro-industrial residues such food supplements enriched with probiotic. Residues of pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Mer.), acerola (Malpighia glabra L.), cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.), guava (Psidium guajava L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and sapodilla (Achras sapota L.) were evaluated. The physicochemical composition of the residues was determined with the analysis of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, ascorbic acid, lipid, moisture, anthocyanins, water activity, protein, ash, total reducing sugars, total phenolics, antioxidant activity and mineral composition (Na, Mn, Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Zn and P) by the microwave digestion, digester block or ash techniques. The samples were analyzed by optical absorption spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES). Microbial loads of the fruit residues (molds, yeasts, total coliforms and Escherichia coli) were also evaluated. Subchronic toxicity tests were performed with male Swiss mice by administration of extracts from fruit residues (C= 500 mg/ kg orally). The lethality bioassay against Artemia salina L., was conducted at 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100 and 10 mg/ mL concentrations from fruit residue extracts. In addition, tests were performed with the probiotic Lactobacillus casei NRRL B-442 grown in skim milk 10%, submitted to the lyophilization or atomization processes. The analytical results showed rich nutritional properties of the fruit residues and the acerola residue showed the highest values of total anthocyanins (60.83 mg/ 100 g), total phenolic compounds (173.30 mg EAG/ 100 g), ascorbic acid (170.73 mg/ 100 g) and antioxidant activity (48.21%). The microwave digestion procedure is the most suitable for minerals determination of fruit residues given the easiest and simplest analysis. The subchronic toxicity study, in the experimental conditions evaluated did not cause mortality or toxicity in male mice; however, additional studies are recommended. The lethality bioassay with Artemia salina L. indicated that acerola and cashew apple extracts showed biological activity, with LC50 values of 209.90 and 148.10 mg/ mL, respectively. In this study, no fungal contamination was detected, only the guava residue showed total coliforms and there was no evidence of E. coli in all samples, indicating no contamination of fecal origin. In tests with Lactobacillus casei, all counts obtained in fermented milk samples, submitted to drying processes, were within the limits required by legislation to be considered probiotic. Due to the nutritional properties, coupled with functional compounds and higher antioxidant activity, the acerola residue is proposed for the preparation of food supplement enriched with probiotic