Estudo da composição química e avaliação das atividades biológicas de Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch (Juglandaceae)

Abstract

Increased diabetes, dietary changes, and population sedentary lifestyle are major global concerns that have sparked interest in research into seeking alternative treatments aimed at improving the quality of life for people. In this context, the species Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch, popularly known as pecan, comes from North America, but can be found in other places such as Chile, Africa, Argentina and Brazil . It is a functional food of the group of oilseeds, which has a predominantly lipid composition, about 65-75%, in addition to other components such as proteins, fibers, low glycemic index carbohydrates, minerals (zinc, phosphorus, copper, magnesium and manganese) and some secondary metabolites (phenolic compounds, sterols and tocopherols). The objective of the project was to study the chemical profile and biological activities of C. illinoinensis almonds. The species was collected in the municipality of Campo do Meio - MG and its exsicata was deposited and registered in the Herbarium of the Federal University of Alfenas. The pecan nut almonds were separated from the husks manually, dried and ground in a knife mill to be used only in three different methodologies at work. The first one was carried out through the production of the treatment ration of male Wistar rats through the incorporation of pecan nut in concentrations of 6 and 10% in the Nuvilab commercial ration. This was also used for analysis of the centesimal composition of moisture, protein, lipid, ash, carbohydrate and energy. The second methodology was applied in the extractive process of maceration that resulted in the 70% (v / v) hydroethanolic extract of the C. illinoinensis almonds, which was the sample used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and also the chemical profile in mass spectrometry. The third and final methodology employed the fixed oil of pecans of walnuts, by means of two different extractive processes, in order to determine the composition of the fatty acids present in the species. The results showed that the almonds of the pecan walnut in the concentration of 10% present hypoglycemic activity in diabetes mellitus and that the mechanisms responsible for this effect are related to the grease composition of the species. The hydroethanolic extract was classified as very active because it exhibited antifungal activity at concentrations below 100 μg / mL and better than the positive control fluconazole for Candida glabrata and Candida krusei. The results of gas chromatography showed the presence of unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic and linoleic fatty acids, confirming that these lipids are possibly responsible for the specific activities of the species. However, in addition to the fact that it was not possible to identify the secondary metabolites of the hydroethanolic extract as reported in the literature, the lipid profile of rats treated with 6% pecan nut almonds did not present reliable data. Thus, it can be affirmed that the almonds of the species present benefits to be inserted in the diet, contributing to the binomial diet / health.