Metabolomic Profile of Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart., Euterpe precatoria Mart.), Mirití (Mauritia flexuosa L.), and Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum (Wild. ex Spreng.) Schum) from Colombian Amazon: Insights into Nutritional Composition and Ripening Dy

Amazonian fruits are increasingly recognized for their functional properties due to their rich composition of bioactive metabolites. While species such as <i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart., <i>Euterpe precatoria</i> Mart., <i>Mauritia flexuosa</i> L., and <i>Theobroma grandiflorum</i> (Wild. ex Spreng.) have been extensively studied in countries like Brazil, research on these fruits in Colombia remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the secondary metabolites in freeze-dried pulp and seed samples of açaí, mirití, and cupuassu at different ripening stages, collected in Mitú (Vaupés, Colombia). Eleven samples of different fruits were collected and analyzed by untargeted metabolomics. Untargeted metabolomic profile was performed using LC-QTOF-MS and GC-QTOF-MS techniques. The pulp of <i>M. flexuosa</i> showed high concentrations of galacturonic acid. In <i>T. grandiflorum</i>, both pulp and seeds contained significant levels of galactose and citric acid. Notably, flavonoids such as fisetin and kaempferol-O-rutinoside were abundant in the pulp of <i>E. oleracea</i> and <i>E. precatoria</i>. Additionally, quinic acid and mannitol were detected in the unripe stages of <i>Euterpe</i> and <i>Mauritia</i> species. The diverse profile of secondary metabolites identified in these Colombian Amazonian fruits underscores their functional and nutritional potential. These findings support further exploration of native species for food, nutraceutical, and industrial applications, contributing to the valorization of Amazonian biodiversity.

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Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Published
2025-12-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010410
Primary Topic
Phytochemistry Medicinal Plant Applications
Type
article
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article

Metabolomic Profile of Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart., Euterpe precatoria Mart.), Mirití (Mauritia flexuosa L.), and Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum (Wild. ex Spreng.) Schum) from Colombian Amazon: Insights into Nutritional Composition and Ripening Dy

Alejandro Flores León, Lina Sabrina Porras, Iván Alejandro Giraldo, Fredy Eduardo Lavao et al.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Phytochemistry Medicinal Plant Applications
article

Metabolomic Profile of Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart., Euterpe precatoria Mart.), Mirití (Mauritia flexuosa L.), and Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum (Wild. ex Spreng.) Schum) from Colombian Amazon: Insights into Nutritional Composition and Ripening Dy

Alejandro Flores León, Lina Sabrina Porras, Iván Alejandro Giraldo, Fredy Eduardo Lavao, Esmeralda Rojas, Kaoma Martínez, Manuel Salvador Rodríguez
article en

Abstract

Amazonian fruits are increasingly recognized for their functional properties due to their rich composition of bioactive metabolites. While species such as <i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart., <i>Euterpe precatoria</i> Mart., <i>Mauritia flexuosa</i> L., and <i>Theobroma grandiflorum</i> (Wild. ex Spreng.) have been extensively studied in countries like Brazil, research on these fruits in Colombia remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the secondary metabolites in freeze-dried pulp and seed samples of açaí, mirití, and cupuassu at different ripening stages, collected in Mitú (Vaupés, Colombia). Eleven samples of different fruits were collected and analyzed by untargeted metabolomics. Untargeted metabolomic profile was performed using LC-QTOF-MS and GC-QTOF-MS techniques. The pulp of <i>M. flexuosa</i> showed high concentrations of galacturonic acid. In <i>T. grandiflorum</i>, both pulp and seeds contained significant levels of galactose and citric acid. Notably, flavonoids such as fisetin and kaempferol-O-rutinoside were abundant in the pulp of <i>E. oleracea</i> and <i>E. precatoria</i>. Additionally, quinic acid and mannitol were detected in the unripe stages of <i>Euterpe</i> and <i>Mauritia</i> species. The diverse profile of secondary metabolites identified in these Colombian Amazonian fruits underscores their functional and nutritional potential. These findings support further exploration of native species for food, nutraceutical, and industrial applications, contributing to the valorization of Amazonian biodiversity.

International Journal of Molecular SciencesVol. 27(1)
Universidad de Los Andes (CO), Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca, Agua y Desarrollo Rural (ES), Departamento Nacional de Planeación (CO)
Openalex Percentile: Top 23%
Phytochemistry Medicinal Plant Applications
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