Nutritional, chemical and functional potential of Inga laurina (Fabaceae): A barely used edible species.

Inga laurina is a plant species which produces edible fruits, and until now there is little information available concerning its nutritional, chemical and bioactive composition. In this study, we evaluated for the first time the proximate composition and mineral contents in its fruit (peel, pulp and seed), that is the traditionally consumed part. The seeds obtained the highest protein (19.52 g/100 g), carbohydrate (22.5 g/100 g) and mineral contents, mainly Cu, Cr, P, Mn, Se and Zn. The peel and pulp were excellent sources of fiber (4.5 and 11.05 g/100 g) as well as mineral content, with Cr and Cu standing out in the pulp. This study is notably the first to provide a detailed assessment of the nutritional compositions of traditionally consumed and not consumed parts of this fruit. Sensory analysis of the pulp was also performed, which indicated good acceptance. The antioxidant properties were characterized in the fruit, peels and leaves. The ABTS test showed that leaf supernatant hydroethanolic crude extract (EC50 = 2.70 µg/mL) and its corresponding ethyl acetate (EC50 = 1.68 µg/mL) and butanol (EC50 = 2.48 µg/mL) partitions presented higher antioxidant potential compared to the control Ginkgo biloba (EC50 = 12.17 µg/mL). The most active precipitate extract regarding DPPH was from the peel (EC50 = 13.30 µg /mL) and the most active partition was the ethyl acetate (EC50 = 13.37 µg/mL), both with better activity compared to the control Ginkgo biloba (EC50 = 46.97 µg/mL). The ethyl acetate partition (EC50 = 13.45 µg/mL) and butanol partition (EC50 = 7.97 µg/mL) from the leaves showed the highest antioxidant capacity. Thus, extracts and partitions from the peels and leaves were studied from a phytochemical point of view due to presenting the best results for antioxidant capacity. The presence of phenolic compounds such as myricetin-3-O-rhamnopyranoside, myricetin-3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-rhamnopyranoside and myricetin-3-O-(2″,4″-di-O-galloyl)-arabinopentoside-methyl ether were observed in the leaf crude extract and polar partitions, being reported for the first time in the Inga genus and Fabaceae family. Moreover, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-galatoctoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-rhamnoside, and quercetin tri-hexose were identified in the peel crude extract and ethyl acetate partition, in which the galloyl derivative of quercetin was identified for the first time in I. laurina fruit peels. GC-MS enabled separating and identifying substances such as palmitic and stearic acids, and ethyl oleate. It is possible to conclude that I. laurina pulp can be a supplementary food as a source of phenolic compounds, and the other organs of the plant (leaves and peel) are rich in flavonoids with great antioxidant capacity, making this species a promising source of antioxidants.

Food neophobia, risk perception and attitudes associations of Brazilian consumers towards non-conventional edible plants and research on sale promotional strategies.

Non-conventional edible plants (NCEP) are plants or parts of plants that are not usually consumed by the population and have limited geographic distribution. This study investigated the consumption of NCEP, the influence of Food Neophobia and risk perception on Brazilian consumers attitudes as well as purchase preferences to determinate the best sale promotional strategy. Participants (n = 271) answered the online questionnaire that consisted of socio-demographic questions, items about consumption (open questions), Food Neophobia Scale, risk perception (to assign the level risk) and attitudes towards NCEP (using 5-point Likert scale). Fisher's exact test was used to investigate possible associations. Task purchase choice was evaluated using the Best-Worst Scale. The most consumed conventional leafy vegetables were collard greens (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala D.C) (95.6%) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) (88.5%). As for NCEP, taioba (Xanthosoma taioba E.G) (26.7%), bertalha (Basela alba L.) (23.3%) and beldroega (Portulaca oleracea L.) (14.1%) were the most cited leafy vegetables. High food neophobia individuals demonstrated to try NCEP if its nutritional value and safety are proven, showing a demand for such strategy, this would increase the consumption of these vegetables. The perception of a high risk was also associated with the inclusion of NCEP in the diet. The inclusion of NCEP at the moment of purchase, even at a higher price, presented higher scores when compared to the purchase of only conventional vegetables, at lower prices. Despite this, the price can still be a limiting factor and the search for promotional strategies should be reinforced to increase the commercialization of NCEP at street markets.