Evaluation of some physical and nutritional parameters of almonds of chichá, sapucaia and castanha-do-gurguéia

Abstract

Brazil, thanks to its geographic localization and territorial dimension, is one of the biggest repositories of native species of the world. There are in the Brazilian native flora and specially in the Northeast Brazil, mainly in the states of Piauí and Maranhão, some species that are still little known, but they present potentiality for the almond market, such as chichá (Sterculia striata St. Hill. et Naud), the sapucaia (Lecithys pisonis Camb.) and chestnut-of-the gurguéia (Dipteryx spp.). The aim of this work was to evaluate some physical and nutritional parameters of seeds and almonds of chichá, sapucaia and chestnut-of-the gurguéia and their potential for the nutrition of human being. The physical analysis of the diameter, length, average weight of almonds were carried out as well as the physicochemical analysis of protein content, raw fiber, total lipids, carbohydrates, energy, humidity and ashes. The three types of analyzed almonds revealed to be very distinct in their physical characteristics and nutritional values, however, all of them possess a good nutritional composition mainly in relation to protein content, total lipids and carbohydrates. The sapucaia distinguished amongst the evaluated almonds, for presenting the highest values for the majority of the evaluated parameters (except total humidity and carbohydrates), being of the energetic and proteic point of view, the most promising as food. The nutritional aspects of the three evaluated almonds confer to them characteristics that make them as competitive as the main widely commercialized almonds in the national and international market