TOTAL PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDATING CAPABILITY OF PEARL PINEAPPLE AND HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE

The pineapple is praised for its aroma, flavor, and nutritional value. Researches of food composition and bioactive substances gained more space in the academic environment due to a more current severe concern of maintaining a healthier lifestyle. The objective of this paper was to quantify the presence of total phenolic compounds and to evaluate the antioxidant activity in vitro in the peel and pulp of two pineapples varieties: the Abacaxi Perola and Abacaxi Havaiano (Ananas comosus), cultivated and commercialized at the region of the Triangulo Mineiro and Southern of Goias. This region was chosen due to its geographic proximity to the city of Itumbiara, and for being a region with an outstanding production of the subject two varieties. The content of total phenolic compounds was evaluated using the Folin-Ciocauteau method and the antioxidant activity was assessed using the free radical scavenging method (DPPH center dot - 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhidrazil). The tests showed values of 72.53 to 143.90 mg GAE / 100g for each sample, for the aqueous extract and from 62.04 to 165.47 mg GAE / 100g of sample, the highest values being found for the bark extracts. For the test carried out with DPPH, to check the antioxidant activity of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts, significant consumption of the DPPH reagent was not observed. The reading was performed for 1 hour without the measured value undergoing substantial changes. Therefore further studies need to be carried out to elucidate the antioxidant activity in pineapples.