Abstract The objective of this study was to characterize the structural and physicochemical properties, the bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of freeze-dried açaí pulp (FDAP). The morphology of freeze-dried açaí pulp showed a continuous matrix with a spongey aspect, and the X-ray diffractometry indicated that 96.17% of the molecular structure was in the amorphous state and 3.82% in the crystalline state. Freeze-dried açaí pulp presented an interesting chemical composition of macronutrients, which constituted mainly of lipids (49.14 g/100 g d.b.), proteins (9.19 g/100 g d.b.), total crude fiber (20.29 g/100 g d.b.) and total sugars (2.71 g/100 g d.b.). It also showed great amount of total phenolic compounds (1405.03 mg gallic acid/100 g d.b.) and anthocyanins (127 mg cyanidine-3-glucoside/100 g d.b.), allowing for functional properties allegations. There was significant increase in the water absorption and water solubility indices when the freeze-dried açaí pulp was submitted to a gradual increase in temperature, properties that are adequate for industrial use. Thus, the consumption of freeze-dried açaí pulp should be encouraged and also its use by the food industry in order to develop new food products.

Abstract Recently, many researches have become available in order to value agroindustrial waste and by-products through processes that exploit these wastes and transform them into new value-added products. Thus, this study aimed to assess the chemical composition (proximate analysis, mineral profile, pectic substances, carbohydrates), fatty acid profile, and bioactive compounds of two major exotic fruit wastes (seeds), marolo and soursop, largely found in one of the richest Brazilian biomes, the Savannah. Soursop and marolo seeds showed significant fat (295.1 and 311.3 g kg-1 d.b., respectively), protein (149.9 and 188.7 g kg-1 d.b., respectively), and fiber (426.7 and 351.1 g kg-1 d.b., respectively) contents. Marolo seeds were found to be the richest in phenolic compounds (32043.1 mg GAE kg-1 d.b.) and also presented the highest DPPH• scavenging activity (91.25%). The major phenolic compound found in marolo and soursop seeds was rutin. Among the fatty acids found in both seeds, the ones with unsaturated chains were predominant, such as oleic acid (48.54% for marolo, and 40.35% for soursop seeds). The seeds analyzed were found to be sources of Cu and Mg. Marolo and soursop seeds were found to be a good source of nutritional compounds and an alternative to obtain compounds of interest to be used in the development of food produce, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.

Abstract Pequi, murici and sweet passionfruit are typical fruits from Brazilian Cerrado, which stand out for their sensory attributes such as color, flavor and aroma, in addition to their high nutritional value. Their seeds are by-products from the industrial processing of juices, pulps, jellies, and others, and have great exploitation potential due to their high oil content and the presence of bioactive compounds. The present work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of pequi almonds, and of murici and sweet passionfruit seeds, and also to quantify the total phenolic compounds, carotenoids, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity by the scavenging activity of •DPPH method. Concerning the chemical composition, pequi almonds presented the highest concentration of lipids (50%), followed by sweet passionfruit (30%) and murici seeds (15%). The almonds from pequi fruit showed the greatest content of protein (33.3%) followed by sweet passionfruit seeds (15%), which presented the highest amount of fiber (41.3%). Murici seeds exhibited the highest content of carbohydrates (46.4%). Pequi almonds had the greatest content of the following minerals, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, and sodium, and anthocyanins (14.4 mg CYG/100 g d.b.). Sweet passionfruit seeds presented the greatest amount of calcium, and also had the highest carotenoid content (9 mg/100 g d.b.). Murici seeds showed the highest potential for bioactive compounds, with 404 mg GAE/100 g d.b. and 81% of scavenging activity for the •DPPH. The results demonstrated that the studied seeds have the potential to be sources for new product development, such as oil.