Análise da composição centesimal do fruto camucá (Plinia rivularis) da região de Serra Verde, Lajes Pintadas-RN

Abstract

Non-Conventional Edible Plants (PANC) are plant species that have one or more edible parts, capable of enriching the diet with nutrients and offering beneficial properties to health. This research aimed to determine the centesimal composition of camucá fruits (Plinia rivularis), a common PANC in the Atlantic Forest. Camucá samples were collected in the community of Serra Verde/RN, located in the municipality of Lajes Pintadas/RN. The moisture, ash, fiber, protein, lipid and carbohydrate contents were analyzed and the total energy value was determined. O fruto integral (polpa com casca) apresentou altos teores de umidade (85,47 g/100g), o que indica alta suscetibilidade à deterioração, impactando na vida útil do fruto, e possui como principal composto orgânico os carboidratos (12,27 g/100g). Furthermore, it revealed amounts of proteins (0.63 g/100g), ash (0.74 g/100g) and fibers (0.83 g/100g) similar to commonly consumed fruits, as well as other species of the Myrtaceae family. The scientific information available about this species is scarce, so it is recommended that studies be carried out to characterize it more comprehensively. Therefore, camucá fruits can contribute to food security, in addition to providing income for family farmers and rescuing the culture of traditional peoples by reintroducing PANC into the daily diet.