Bioactive compounds in and antioxidant activity of camu-camu fruits harvested at different maturation stages during postharvest storage

ABSTRACT. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of and the content of bioactive compounds in camu-camu fruits harvested at different maturation stages and stored. The fruits were harvested in the municipality of Cantá, Roraima State, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three replications, in a factorial arrangement consisting of three different maturation stages (immature, semi-mature and mature) and eight days of storage (3 x 8). The fruits were analysed every day regarding total vitamin C, carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity (FRAP and DPPH). According to the results obtained, the interaction of maturation stages x eight days of storage had a significant effect according to the F test at 5% probability. The highest antioxidant activity (FRAP) was observed in the fruits harvested in the semi-mature stage, providing a longer shelf life. The carotenoid pigment, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and vitamin C contents were higher in the fruits harvested in the mature stage, and this stage was the most suitable for obtaining these functional biocompounds. Additionally, in mature fruits, the highest mean content of total phenolics and antioxidant activity (DPPH) were observed during storage. It was concluded that the mature stage is the most recommended for the extraction of pigments and antioxidant biocompounds from camu-camu fruits.

摘要：本研究旨在评估不同成熟阶段采收并经贮藏的卡姆果（camu-camu）的抗氧化活性及其生物活性成分含量。试验样品采自巴西罗赖马州坎塔市。本试验采用完全随机设计，设置3次重复，采用3×8双因子试验方案，因子分别为3个成熟阶段（未成熟、半成熟和成熟）以及8天贮藏周期。每日测定样品的总维生素C、类胡萝卜素、花青素、黄酮类化合物、总酚类物质含量，以及抗氧化活性（FRAP与DPPH法）。分析结果显示，成熟阶段×贮藏天数的交互作用在5%显著性水平下经F检验具有统计学意义。半成熟阶段采收的卡姆果展现出最高的FRAP抗氧化活性，且拥有更长的货架期。成熟阶段采收的卡姆果中类胡萝卜素、黄酮类、花青素及维生素C含量更高，该阶段是获取这类功能性生物成分的最优采收期。此外，在成熟果的贮藏过程中，其总酚类物质平均含量与DPPH法测得的抗氧化活性均为最高。综上，从卡姆果中提取色素与抗氧化生物成分的最优采收阶段为成熟期。