PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ACERO LA (MALPIGHIA-GLABRA L) PRODUCED IN MARINGA, PARANA STATE, BRAZIL

The acerola Malpighia glabra L., originally from the Antillas and Nort h of South America, known by the people as cereja-das-antilhas or cere ja-do-para distinguish itself by its high content of vitamin C. The ri pe and fresh acerola fruits utilized in experiments, were obtained fro m fanners of Maringa region, Parana State, Brazil. The fruits were hul led in steel sieve with 25 mesh and the bagasse (seeds and hull) disca rded. These physico-chemical analysis were realized in the pulp: vitam in C, moisture, protein, carbohydrate, fiber, lipids and fatty acids c omposition. We also determined the content of ash and cadmium, calcium , lead, copper, chrome, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium sodium a nd zinc minerals. The average content of vitamin C was 1.79g/100g of p ulp, it was higher than the one for other fruits, like pineapple, arac a, cashew guava, kiwi, orange, lemon, and strawberry and lower than th e camu-camu sylvestral fruit of Amazonia. The contents of moisture, ca rbohydrate, fiber, lipids and minerals in the acerola were not signifi cantly different when compared to other fruits.