Caracterização físico-química e avaliação biológica de produtos da castanha-do-Brasil (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.)

Abstract

The recognition of the chemical composition and biological response of Brazil nut and its products, originating from the Laranjal do Jari region (AP), was the reason of this study. Such study refers to the assessment of physical and chemical parameters including the proximal composition and selenium content in almond (A) and Brazil nut flour (F); and the fatty acid profile and the tocopherols, carotenoids and total phenolic compounds content in commercial oil of Brazil nut (O). For biological evaluation, an experiment was carried out in two steps in 70 days. In the first step in 21 days, 60 rats (Wistar) weaned were divided into 5 groups: control (C) using diet AIN-93G (7% soybean oil) for 12 rats; Hypercaloric diet (H) (15% of swine fat) for 30 rats and other 3 groups of 6 rats were fed with diets containing Brazil nut products: (F) and (A) diets (7% intrinsic lipids) and (O) diet (7% of regional Brazil nut oil). (C) and (H) diets contained 17% protein based on the AIN-93G. In both phases, (F), (A) and (O) diets, there was suppression of selenium in the mineral mix. In the second step involving 35 days, the diets followed AIN-93M (12% protein) and the last six rats of (C) diet remained on the same diet (7% soybean oil); and 24 mice of (H) diet were grouped (n = 6) in four high fat diet - 15% lipids- HB (swine lard 15%); HA and HF (8% and 7% lard swine intrinsic lipid) and HO (8% of swine fat and 7% nut oil). At the end heart, liver and kidneys were evaluated in relation to body weight. Blood was collected and levels of glucose (G) and serum total cholesterol (TC) and fractions, triglycerides (TG) and total protein (TP) were obtained. Liver function by determinations of serum enzymes (LABTEST, 1999), direct and indirect bilirubin, and albumin were analyzed. Also, selenium diets, plasma and liver by atomic emission spectrometry; histological analyzes of the bodies by light and electron microscopy were evaluated. Almond and almond flour presented, respectively, total lipids, 60.66 ± 0,61g.100 g-1 and 46.40 ± 1,3461g.100 g -1 and selenium, 43.5 ± 0,70 g.g -1 and 41.5 ± 1.10 g.g -1 . Appreciable levels of total tocopherols (193.60 ± 4.41 μg.g-1 ), α tocopherol (52.24 ± 0,85 μg.g-1 ),  tocopherols (141.37 ± 3.56 μg.g -1 ), phenolic compounds (189.0 ± 1.46 mgGAE.100g-1 ) and carotenoids (35.67 ± 1.30 mg- caroteno.kg -1 ) have been identified. In both steps, there was weight gain and adequate CEA, as well as increased selenium levels in plasma and liver of animals with diets containing F and A, and change in liver function tests and the presence of lipids in hepatocytes from fed experimental diets. In the first step, there was maintenance of the CT and PT, reduced VLDL-C and TG. The second step was the normal standard serum LDL-C, HDL-C and E, reduced glucose, VLDL-C and TG. The study indicates the use of almonds, almond flour and oil from the Brazil nuts as a food supplement in a balanced way.