CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND DETERMINATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN SOURSOP MASS (ANNONA MURICATA L.)

Given the commercial importance that soursop (Annona muricata L.) has acquired over the years in Brazil, especially in the south of Bahia State, where the cultivation of those fruits holds first place in production and cultivated area at national level; it has also enabled to increase income to producers, especially after the decline of the cacao crop, becoming an alternative for agricultural diversification for farmers. Considering that most producers sell fruit in the form of frozen mass (pulp with seeds), the objectives of this study were determining the chemical characteristics of soursop mass produced in the south region of Bahia State, analyzing fresh fruit mass, and after 30, 60 and 90 days of freezing, as well as the changes over those intervals, regarding to phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity present in the pulp. The obtained results showed that frozen mass presented differences in chemical characteristics comparing to fresh mass. For all treatments it was observed that the mass presented the characteristics in accordance to the standards established by Brazilian Technical Regulation for fixing the Identity Standards and Quality for soursop mass. The results also showed that 100 g of fresh or frozen fruit mass during 90 days presented excellent source of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and iron for the adult population (31-50 years of age). It was also determined large amount of phenolic compounds in fresh and frozen mass stored for 30 days. Even after a 90 days storage period it kept good amount of this bioactive compounds. Those obtained values for total phenols correlate with high antioxidant potential for fresh and frozen mass after 30 days and even moderate potential, after 90 days of freezing.