Composição Centesimal de Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANC) das espécies Psidium schenckianum Kiaersk e Psidium sartorianum (O.Berg) Nied existentes em uma comunidade rural do Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

Non-Conventional Food Plants, known by the term “PANC”, refer to plant species that have one or more edible parts and that can add nutrients to the diet, in addition to other properties beneficial to health. The community of Serra Verde, located in the city of Lajes Pintadas/RN, enjoys the presence of the PANC Psidium schenckianum Kiaersk and Psidium sartorianum (O.Berg) Nied, which popular names are respectively “Cumati” and “Cumati Branco”. The work aimed to determine the proximate composition of these fruits. The moisture, ash, fiber, protein, lipid, carbohydrate and energy contents were analyzed. According to the results, it is considered that they are fruits with a high moisture content (80,5 g/100g in Cumati and 79,8 g/100g in Cumati Branco), which may indicate greater susceptibility to deterioration, and are most abundant organic compound, carbohydrates (11,5 g/100g present in Cumati and 13,3 g/100g in Cumati Branco). They can contribute to fiber intake (5,68 g/100g in Cumati and 4,57 g/100g in Cumati Branco) and deserve to have their consumption encouraged. Other scientific information about these species is scarce, therefore, studies are suggested that better characterize them, looking for other properties, such as the presence of bioactive compounds.