Abstract Seeds from endemic Brazilian fruits (Mangaba, Cagaita, Jatobá and Araticum), previously confirmed to be toxic using Artemia salina bioassay were exposed to different temperatures and heating times aiming to test inhibitory effects on toxicity, as a first approach to characterize and identify toxic compounds and their thermal stability. After treatment, water extracts from kernels were filtered and added to Artemia cultures for 24 hours after which the survival of cultures was calculated. The inhibitory effect of temperature on toxicity was significant, whereas toxins from Mangaba and Cagaita were the most labile, showing 90% Artemia survival after heating at 78 °C for 2 minutes and 10 minutes, respectively. The most resistant toxins were those found in Araticum seeds which remained active (0% Artemia survival), even after heating at 160 °C for 12 min. Response surfaces and statistical multivariate analysis showed a significant effect for both temperature and heating time (linear fit) on Cagaita and Mangaba toxicity reduction, while the temperature factor was more significant in Jatobá samples. The results confirm the need to adopt safety procedures during the manufacture of industrialized derivatives for these fruits, in order to minimize toxicity risks after their consumption.

Artemia salina bioassay was used to assess toxicity of seeds and kernels of Brazilian fruits from cerrado (central high plains region) and other inner regions of the country. Water extracts of the kernels were filtered and added to Artemia cultures containing ten individuals per mL. Dose - response curves were constructed, and LD50 values were calculated. Pure potassium cyanide standard was used to draw a calibration curve for comparison to detect the presence of cyanide in the samples tested. Extracts of the seeds of araticum, mangaba, cagaita, jatobá, and tucumã were found toxic to Artemia salina, and some of the dose - response curves were very similar in shape to those obtained with pure potassium cyanide standards, while the samples of baru, cajá-manga, siriguela, trauma, and veludo showed no toxicity at all. The Guignard test, specific for cyanide detection, showed negative results in all toxic samples, suggesting the presence of other toxic compounds rather than cyanide. The comparison of araticum dose - response curve with those of other annonaceous fruits suggests the presence acetogenins as the main toxic compounds in the seeds. These results could be useful to prevent poisoning by industrial derivatives of the fruits studied.