Peels of tucuma (Astrocaryum vulgare) and peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) are by-products classified as very high carotenoid sources

摘要

Tucuma (Astrocaryum vulgare) and peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) are Amazonian fruits with high potential to be used as source of carotenoids due to the remarkable yellow-orange colour of their pulp and peel. In this study, for the first time, both the extraction of carotenoids from the peel of tucuma and peach palm fruits and their carotenoid profile were investigated. The carotenoid contents of the peel of both fruits were higher than those found in the pulp. The highest yield of carotenoids from both fruit peels were obtained at the solid-liquid ratio of 1:7 (w/v), 80 min of shaking and by adding 30% of ethyl acetate in acetone, being beta-carotene the major carotenoid (7.8 and 7.3 mg/100 g for tucuma and peach palm, respectively), followed by gamma-carotene and delta-carotene. Thus, peels of tucuma and peach palm fruits were classified as very high carotenoid sources to be used by any potential interested industry.