FRUITS OF Butia capitata (Mart.) Becc AS GOOD SOURCES OF β-CAROTENE AND PROVITAMINA

Butia capitata is a palm tree, widely found in the Brazilian savanna. Their fruits are largely used by local communities to prepare juices, jellies and ice-creams. The main objective of this work was to determine the carotenoids profile of Butia capitata fruits and their provitamin A values. Total carotenoids content ranged from 11.1 to 43.9 mu g.g(-1); beta-carotene was the predominant carotenoid (5.2-22.8 mu g.g(-1)), followed by gamma-carotene, phytoene, phytofluene, zeta-carotene, alpha-cryptoxanthin (or zeinoxanthin) and alpha-carotene. Provitamin A values varied from 50 to 200 RAE.100g(-1). This result suggests that B. capitata pulp may be a good source of beta-carotene and provitamin A.