Valor nutricional e bioativo das folhas de Chanana (Turnera subulata Sm.): a Planta Alimentícia Não Convencional (PANC) símbolo de Natal/RN

Abstract

The promotion of a healthy and biodiverse diet is essential for the maintenance of health. Therefore, this should include not only varieties of species commonly consumed but also favor the insertion of unconventional food plants (PANC). Turnera subulata Sm., popularly known as Chanana, is a PANC found in Brazil's northeast region. Among the primary traditional forms of consumption of the species is the infusion of the leaves, like a “tea”. The main objective of this research is to assess the nutritional composition of Chanana leaves and quantify bioactive compounds present in the leaf extracts obtained by infusion, comparing different solvents and times applied in the process. The centesimal composition was determined from the analytical methods recommended by Instituto Adolf Lutz, being analyzed for moisture, ash, lipids, and proteins. The extraction of total phenols was established from the Folin-Ciocalteau spectrophotometric method, using extracts obtained by aqueous and hydroalcoholic infusions with the application of different times (7, 15, and 30 minutes). Regarding the moisture content of the Turnera subulata Sm. sample, it was 70.27%, while the ash content reached 8.52%, proteins 6.47%, lipids 3.47%, and carbohydrates 11,27 %, resulting in a total of 102 kcal/100g. Regarding extracts, aqueous extraction was efficient in obtaining bioactive compounds. This process extracted about 70% of the phenol content compared to the potential of a standard extraction (hydroethanolic). Therefore, the proximate constituents of Chanana presented a particular profile when compared with the composition of other plant species, whether conventional or unconventional. The aqueous infusions showed a significant capacity to extract the phenolic compounds in the species studied and can be an important tool to add bioactive compounds to the diet.