Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) and mammee apple (Mammea americana L.) seeds: Properties and potential of application in industry

Abstract

Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) and mammee apple (Mammea americana L.) are fruits found in Latin America, North of South America (Amazonia) and Western India, traditionally consumed with the disposal of the seeds. These materials presented high caloric value, essential amino acids, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, absence of anti-nutritional compounds, and low concentration of phytates and tannins. The morphological characteristics indicated the presence of starch granules in the mammee apple seeds, which contain 21% of this polysaccharide. The oil from peach palm seeds is rich in lauric acid (49.82%) and myristic acid (21.53%) and the seeds may contain galactomannans in their structure (mannose/glucose 4:1). The mammee apple seed oil showed palmitic acid (30.75%), oleic acid (36.12%), and linoleic acid (25.89%). The characteristics of these seeds justify their application, converting residues into new materials with possible application in the food industry and other industrial sectors.