Polpa de acerola (Malpighia emarginata D. C.)adicionada de extrato comercial de própolis : avaliação físico –química e sensorial

Abstract

Considering the nutritional potential of acerola, the objective of this research was to investigate the effect of commercial propolis extract addition on the quality of acerola pulp stored under freezing. Nectar of acerola, added in different percentages of commercial propolis extracts were prepared and evaluated sensorially by hedonic scale and determined the ascorbic acid, pH and °Brix content, as well as, the chromatic characteristics using CIELAB (L a b) color system. Acerola pulp, added commercial propolis extract was stored during 180 days and determined the content of anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity and the chromatic characteristics using CIELAB (L a b). After this period, it was evaluated sensorially under nectar form. The addition of different concentrations of propolis interfered in the sensory attributes and in the color’s parameters of the acerola nectar, but, however, did not alter their physicochemical characteristics. The nectar containing 0.5% of propolis was the only accepted on the flavor, color, overall appearance and the purchase intention. Regarding to the frozen pulp evaluation, the addition of commercial extracts of propolis did not prevent the loss of anthocyanins and ascorbic acid, or the chromatic parameters modification. However, it seems that the addition of this product was responsible for maintaining the antioxidant capacity of acerola pulp stored under freezing. The acceptability of the acerola pulp stored under freezing containing commercial extracts of propolis showed that as the percentage increased, affected adversely all sensory attributes of the nectar and the only nectar with 0% of propolis obtained acceptability index above 70% for all attributes evaluated.