Caracterização físico-química e avaliação da viabilidade tecnológica de plantas alimentícias não convencionais disponíveis no Vale do Médio Rio Doce - MG

Abstract

Brazil is rich in biodiversity with food potential, yet little is done to valorize and make real use of these national treasures. Caruru (Amaranthus spinosus), trapoeraba (Commelina benghalensis), coração-magoado (Iresine herbstii), ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata), and beldroega (Portulaca umbraticola) are unconventional edible plants available in the Vale do Médio Rio Doce region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. However, there is a scarcity of studies to understand their constituents and applicability. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the nutritional components of A. spinosus, C. benghalensis, I. herbstii, P. aculeata, and P. umbraticola, and to verify the technological feasibility of flours made from I. herbstii, P. aculeata, and P. umbraticola. Analyses were conducted on proximate composition (proteins, lipids, moisture, ash, total dietary fiber, and carbohydrates), micronutrients (carotenoids, vitamin E, and vitamin C by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, and minerals (P, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Se, Zn, and Mo) by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity (ABTS and DPPH). The technological viability (moisture, solubility, hygroscopicity, colorimetry, pH, and wetting time) of the produced flours was also evaluated. The leaves of A. spinosus and C. benghalensis exhibited high moisture content (>83.3 g/100g), β-carotene (6.94 mg/100g), and minerals like potassium (>708.8 mg/100g) and iron (>4.0 mg/100g). A. spinosus leaves also had a high content of dietary fiber (10.20 g/100g), low lipid content, and reduced total energy value. C. benghalensis leaves were found to be sources of potassium (1399.31 mg/100g), calcium (163 mg/100g), and ascorbic acid (23.61 mg/100g). The flours had a high protein content (>20g/100g), with P. umbraticola flour being a source of ascorbic acid (26.21 mg/100g) for adults. Additionally, the evaluated flours were considered rich in vitamin A (>1557.1 μg/100g). Dehydrated P. aculeata showed a reduction in antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds compared to the fresh leaves, suggesting that antioxidants may have been degraded during the thermal processing to produce the flour. In terms of technological viability, all the flours exhibited satisfactory characteristics, making them suitable for use in the production of other foods. This study demonstrates the nutritional and technological potential of unconventional edible plants available in the Vale do Médio Rio Doce region of Minas Gerais, Brazil.