Characterization of Bioactive Compounds in Eugenia brasiliensis, Lam. (Grumixama).

Eugenia brasiliensis Lam., locally known as Grumixama, is a species of Myrtaceae commercially underexploited in Brazil. The study was performed in order to identify and quantify, by high performance liquid chromatography, bioactive compounds such as vitamin C, carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids and phenolic acids in the fruits of this species. The vitamin C content in the edible part was 18.75 mg.100 g-1, classifying this fruit as rich in this bioactive compound. Eight carotenoids were identified and quantified, the main one was Beta-cryptoxanthin with a content of 22.3 µg.g-1, sufficiently high to consider this fruit as a new source of this carotenoid. Also, 4837.21 mg.100 g-1 of the anthocyanins were obtained in the freeze-dried fruit peels. Furthermore, ten, nine and seven phenolic compounds were identified in the peel, pulp and seeds of grumixama, respectively. The results showed that the fruit of grumixama is promising for exploitation and has the potential for innovative healthy products