Studies of edible Amazonian plants part 4 - Chemical characterization of the fruit of Annona squamosa L. occurring in the amazon

The chemical composition of the fruit pulp of Annona squamosa growing in th e Brazilian Amazon was investigated and compared with data of specimens occ urring in Southeast Asia. In accordance with the sweet taste of the fruit p ulp the amounts of sugars were found to be quite high (58% of dry mass). Th e triglyceride concentration was found to be very low. The presence of the diterpenoid compound kaur-16-en-18-oic acid in a considerable amount (0.25% of dry mass) was detected in the lipid fraction, The essential oil of the fruit pulp was obtained and its volatile constituents were identified by GC -MS. The major compounds were alpha -pinene (25.3%), sabinene (22.7%) and l imonene (10.1%). The occurrence of the isoricinoleic acid previously report ed in the seed oil could not be confirmed. (C) 2001 Academic Press.