Caracterização química do licor de vangueria infausta

Abstract

Vangueria infausta is one of the species native to Mozambique and some countries in southern Africa whose fruits are used for food by people and wild animals. The other parties of the plant are used in traditional medicine to treat malaria, wounds, problems menstrual, uterine, genital swelling, among others. In southern Mozambique it is known for name Npfilua and its fruits by Mapfilua. One of the main applications of the fruits of Vangueria infausta is in the production of liquor, a alcoholic beverage whose production is relatively simple and represents an alternative to have the components of the fruit for a long time, since this (the liquor) is kept at the temperature environment and has an extensive shelf life. In the present work, a qualitative phytochemical study was carried out and the characteristics physical-chemical characteristics of the pulp and liquor produced from the fruits of the species Vangueria infausta. For the phytochemical study, only the fruit pulp was macerated with the solvent system MeOH-CH 2 Cl 2 (1: 1) and 100% MeOH to obtain the crude extract. The metabolites secondary substances present in the crude extracts of the pulp and fruit liquor, were identified through of specific qualitative identification tests described by Brito et al. (2008), Matos (1997) and Di Stasi (1995). The physical-chemical analyzes of the fruit and liquor samples were carried out according to the standards described by the Adolfo Lutz Institute (2008), except for minerals that were determined according to the Laboratory for Soil, Plant and Water Analysis protocol (1991). The results of this work show that in addition to having, in their compositions, compounds of pharmacological interest (such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and steroids), the pulp and liqueur of the fruit of Vangueria infausta are sources of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamin C and minerals (such as potassium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium) and can be considered as a nutritional and medicinal option.