Aloysia gratissima (Gill. et Hook) Tronc. (Verbenaceae) is native to South America with folk therapeutic applications for a wide range of diseases. The polyphenolic and carotenoid profile, toxicity, and antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Aloysia gratissima were investigated. HPLC analyses showed high amounts of ferulic acid, trans-cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid, and also trans-β- carotene and lutein which fluctuated throughout the seasons. Furthermore, the extract investigated not only exerted antioxidant activity but also inhibited lipid peroxidation. Toxicity was achieved only at the highest dose tested. Therefore, A. gratissima is a potential species for medicinal purposes.

A ameixa (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Harry Pickstone), originária da China, é amplamente produzida e consumida em países como o Japão e o Brasil. A prática do raleio é comum na fruticultura e as frutas que são removidas são descartadas como resíduo. Como a grande maioria dos vegetais, estes frutos de raleio também contêm óleos essenciais; porém, eles não foram investigados. A extração do óleo volátil de ameixa de raleio, pelo método de hidrodestilação, obteve rendimento de 0,06% (m/m) e um total de 21 componentes foram identificados, dos quais 11 são responsáveis por 72,9% da composição total do óleo. Os principais componentes determinados por CG-DIC e CG-EM foram Z-α-bisaboleno (13,7%), ácido n-hexadecanoico (12,7%), fitol (12,7%) e β-cariofileno (10,4%).

Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Harry Pickstone), a China indigenous fruit, is widely produced and consumed in countries such as Japan and Brazil. The practice of thinning is common in horticulture and the fruits removed are discarded as waste. Like the great majority of vegetables, these thinning discards also contain essential oils which have not been investigated until the present time. The extraction of the plum thinning discards volatile oil, through the hydrodistillation method, produced a yield of 0.06% (m/m) and a total of 21 components were identified, with 11 of them being responsible for 72,9% of the total oil composition. The major compounds determined through GC and GC-MS were Z-α-bisabolene (13.7%), n-hexadecanoic acid (12.7%), phytol (12.7%), and β-caryophyllene (10.4%).

Resíduos do processamento de palmeira-real (Archontophoenix alexandrae) foram utilizados para produção de farinha e caracterizados quimicamente. O conteúdo de proteína encontrado nas farinhas variam de 3,62 a 9,75, sendo maior na farinha da folha peneirada. Os teores de fibra dietética total variaram de 64.00 a 72 g/100g, valores altos quando comparados com farinhas tradicionalmente utilizadas na alimentação humana. A análise de fatores antinutricionais indicou teores de fitato abaixo dos níveis que afetam a biodisponibilidade de minerais na dieta. Os teores de tanino foram significativos, compatíveis aos encontrados nas leguminosas entre 0 e 2000 mg/100g. As farinhas de palmeirareal apresentaram elevados teores de minerais, podendo ser indicadas como suplementos em alimentos, porém, deve-se considerar que a biodisponibilidade destes minerais pode ser afetada pela alta concentração de fibras dietéticas totais e de outros componentes antinutricionais contidos na amostra.

Residues from King palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) processing were used for the production of flours, which were then chemically characterized. The protein content in these flours ranged from 3.62 to 9.75 g/100g and was higher in sifted leaf flour (SLF). The dietary fiber contents varied from 64 to 72 g/100g. These values were high when compared to those of flours used in human nutrition. Analysis of anti-nutritional factors showed phytate contents to be below the levels that affected the bioavailability of minerals in human diet. Tannin contents were compatible with those found in legumes, between 0 and 2000 mg/100g. These flours showed high mineral content, which suggested a possibility for them to be used as food supplement. However, the bioavailability of these minerals could be affected by high total dietary fibre concentrations and anti-nutritional components contained in the samples.