Bioactive Compounds and Physicochemical Parameters of Grugru Palm (Acrocomia aculeata) from Brazil: Pulp and Powder

As there is little study on grugru palm, the knowledge of the properties of the fruit pulp and powder is important in the fruit production recovering and in the enhancement of the processes of dehydration for better conservation, development and preparation of diverse foods. The objective of this study was to characterize the bioactive compounds and the physicochemical features of grugru palm pulp and powder. Grugru palm fruits were harvested in the Araripe Plateau, Ceará State, Brazil, and dehydrated by two drying methods (in oven with air circulation and lyophilization) with and without addition of drying adjuvant (maltodextrin). After analysis, results revealed that pulp and powder of grugru palm are products with high content of soluble solids and low acidity, highlighting the high levels of β-carotene and vitamin A. The lyophilized powder T3 have showed the best results in relation to the physicochemical and bioactive parameters.