Flavan-3-ol, flavanone, flavone, flavonol, phenolic acid, and stilbene contents of four Butia species (Arecaceae)

Introduction - Phenolic compounds are plant metabolites that have been largely studied for their beneficial effect on human health. Butia palm is a species native to southern South America that is emerging as a potentially relevant fruit crop with high yields and rich in bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds. The objective of this work was to evaluate the variability of phenolic composition of the butia fruit among Butia species. Materials and methods - Four Butia species (B. catarinensis, B. odorata, B. paraguayensis, and B. yatay) and 57 genotypes of B. odorata from two geographic locations were sampled. The freeze-dried flesh of ripe butia fruits was extracted with aqueous methanol (75%) and analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for phenolic content. Results and discussion - Twenty-two phenolic compounds (4 hydroxycinnamic acids, 3 hydroxybenzoic acids, 3 flavan-3-ols, 8 flavonols, 1 stilbene, 1 flavone, and 2 flavanones) were identified and quantified by LC-MS. Chlorogenic acid and epicatechin were the predominant phenolic and flavonoid compounds, respectively, found in all species evaluated. Significant differences in the phenolic compounds were detected among species and geographical locations. Conclusion - The phenolic composition varied among four species evaluated and was dependent on the collection site for B. odorata. The abundant phenolics make butia fruit an excellent source of natural antioxidants for food and pharmaceutical applications.