Chemical composition, vitamins and minerals of a new cultivar of lychee (Litchi chinensis cv. Tailandes) grown in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction. Different cultivars of lychee are produced all around the world and to date no information has been published on the nutritional value of cv. Tailandes, which is a new lychee cultivar introduced into Brazil and other tropical countries. Our study performed a pioneering evaluation of the physical and chemical characteristics, carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals in pulp of fruit of this cultivar. Materials and methods. Titratable acidity was determined by volumetric neutralization, pH by potentiometry, soluble solids by refractometry, moisture by gravimetry after oven drying, ash by calcination in a muffle furnace, proteins by the micro-Kjeldahl method, dietary fibers by the gravimetric non-enzymatic method and lipids by gravimetry after extraction in ethyl ether. Vitamin C (ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids) and carotenoids (a-carotene, b-carotene, b-cryptoxanthin and lycopene) were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection, vitamin E (a-, b-, g-and d-tocopherols and tocotrienols) was analyzed by HPLC with fluorescence detection, and fourteen minerals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry in inductively coupled plasma. Results and discussion. The lychee cv. Tailandes showed high pulp yield (59.0%), moisture (80.7 mg×100 g-1) and dietary fiber (2.2 g×100 g-1), and a low total energy value (70.2 kcal×100 g-1). It presented no carotenoids, but was an excellent source of vitamin C (34.7 mg×100 g-1). The total vitamin E content was 117.0 g×100 g-1. Pulp of lychee cv. Tailandes was shown to be a source of iron (0.86 mg×100 g-1) and magnesium (12.90 mg×100 g-1), a good source of copper (0.12 mg×100 g-1) and an excellent source of potassium (1067.33 mg×100 g-1). Conclusion. The lychee cv. Tailandes showed high pulp yield and low total energy. The pulp is a source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, copper and potassium.