First Comprehensive Study on Total Determination of Nutritional Elements in the Fruit of the Campomanesia Adamantium (Cambess.): Brazilian Cerrado Plant

Abstract

Introduction: Composition of fruits and leaves of Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O. Berg commonly called guavira are used in dietary or as a mode of treatment of variety of ailments in indigenous and urban populations in the city of the Campo Grande, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. However, comprehensive studies on their mineral composition are scarce. Objective: In the present study, evaluation of mineral contents (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Zn, Ni, Mn, Co, Cu, Mo, Cr, Si and Al) from peel, pulp and seeds of guavira was carried out. Method: The peel, pulp and seeds of guavira were studied by ICP-OES with microwave digestion. The contents of the elements in the parts of the guavira, were compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), values Adequate Intake (AI) and tolerable upper intake levels (ULs). Results: The results are considered in terms of the utility of the natural herbal medicaments as rich (Cu, P, Cr and Mo) or a source of minerals indispensable for proper functioning of the human organism. The concentration of elements in seeds, pulp and peel the guavira was compared with value of UL and does not cause toxicity. The concentration of elements K, Ca, Na, P are found present at the major level in peel, pulp and seeds of fruit. The contents of Chromium (Cr) were reportedly found higher than the permissible levels as recommended by the WHO. Conclusion: The lack of knowledge of the elemental constituents of several species of medicinal plants often poses human lives at risk, these elements can also be dangerous and toxic, and involves global health problem. The gaps in knowledge about the level of contents in the Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O. Berg was completed in this work. The data obtained would serve as a tool for deciding the dosage of prepared from this plant with medicinal and nutritional purposes.

Keywords: Medicinal plants; Guavira; Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.