Abstract Inulin is a resistant fructooligosaccharide, synthesized by a wide variety of plants. Due to the importance of fibers intake and the high amount of residues of açaí, the objective of this study was to optimize the inulin extraction process from açaí seed flour (ASF) and subsequently, from this biomass, to develop inulin purification technology. Açaí seeds were dehydrated in a ventilated oven. Aiming the inulin extraction, from ASF, an aqueous extract was elaborated. It went through several stages of centrifugation and filtration with alcohol, acetone and water, until the constitution of a precipitate that was lyophilized. The analysis of the solvent concentrations effects and the precipitation temperatures on the responses was performed using the Designer Expert Program. A model with a response surface and contour was generated, allowing temperature, time and water: ASF relation selection, what provided the highest inulin concentrations, in other words, the extraction treatment with 80 °C and proportion of water: ASF of 4:1, for 20 minutes, presented the best performance. Although this extraction output is inferior when compared to other sources, it must be considered as relevant, since the açaí seed is evaluated as a waste product.

Apesar de a fruticultura brasileira estar em constan-te crescimento, este incremento poderia ser maior, se fossem consideradas as espécies nativas pouco exploradas economicamente. Dentre estas espécies vegetais, merece atenção o abajeru, fruto pouco conhecido e com boa aceitação pela população residente onde os arbustos crescem espontaneamente. Este trabalho teve por objetivo disseminar informações, no que concerne às características morfométricas, valor nutritivo e parâmetros físico-químicos deste fruto, fomentando o seu aproveitamento na dieta tradicional. Os frutos foram colhidos na restinga de Massambaba, no município de Arraial do Cabo (RJ), na safra 2009. Os resultados revelaram que o peso médio dos frutos foi de 9,40±1,35 g, enquanto o das sementes oscilou entre 2,9 g e 3,17 g. Quanto ao comprimento e diâmetro das sementes, foram observadas médias de 2,04±0,26 cm e 2,26±0,25 cm, respectivamente, onde a polpa apresenta 70% de rendimento, com 10ºBrix e baixa acidez, além de conter alto teor de umidade (84,40±0,15 g 100 g-1), baixo conteúdo de lipídios (0,85±0,07 g 100 g-1) e de proteínas (0,68±0,01 g 100 g-1) e fibra alimentar total igual a 2,63±0,08 g 100 g-1. Os resultados proporcionaram maior conhecimento sobre o valor nutricional deste fruto, que se destacou pela concentração de minerais como o cromo, selênio, cálcio e ferro.

The Brazilian horticulture has faced a constant growth rate, which could be higher if less economically exploited native species were considered. Among them, the coco plum, a not very well-known fruit, but with good acceptance by the resident population where the shrubs grow spontaneously, stands out. The objective of this study was to disseminate information concerning the morphometric features, nutritional information, and physicochemical parameters of this fruit, in order to encourage its use in the traditional diet. The fruits were harvested at the Massambaba shoal, in Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro State, Brasil, at the 2009 harvest. The results revealed a fruit average weight of 9.40±1.35 g, whereas, for the seeds, it ranged from 2.9 g to 3.17 g. For seeds length and diameter, an average of 2.04±0.26 cm and 2.26±0.25 cm were respectively observed, with yield of 70% for the pulp, 10ºBrix, and low acidity, besides a high humidity content (84.40±0.15 g 100 g-1), low lipids (0.85±0,07 g 100 g-1) and proteins (0.68±0,01 g 100 g-1) levels, and total alimentary fiber of 2.63±0.08 g 100 g-1. The results provided a better knowledge on the coco plum nutritional information, specially concerning the presence of chromium, selenium, calcium, and iron.