RESUMO
In spite of the fact that most of the members of Palmaceae contain high concentrations of oil, its potential as a source of oil and protein for human consumption has not been exploited. The pulp and kernels of the Eliaes guineensis palm fruits grown in the Northeast region of Brazil were analyzed only for their proximate composition. The lipid content of the dried pulp and kernels was 73.2% and 32.6%, respectively. Hexane extracted oils from the pulp and kernels yielded similar refractive indices, specific gravity but different peroxide, acid, iodine and saponification values. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of 24 and 18 fatty acids in pulp and kernel oils, respectively. The principal saturated acid of the pulp oil was palmitic acid (36.9% of the total), and lauric acid (53.3%) for kernel oil. Oleic acid was the predominant monounsaturated fatty acid in both the oils though its concentration in the pulp and kernel oils was 45.29% and 5.5%, respectively. In relation to the essential amino acids, pulp proteins presented a better profile than the kernel proteins. In comparison to the FAO reference protein, the pulp proteins were deficient in methionine, lysine and threonine (16.8%, 51.6% and 93.5% of FAO reference protein) but contained leucine, valine, isoleucine and phenylalanine in optimal concentrations. With exception to phenylalanine and valine (102.2% and 111.4% of reference protein, respectively), the kernel proteins were deficient in all other essential amino acids. The oils from this palm can be used as culinary oil and in margarine manufacture, while pulp could be a supplement for essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and valine with other protein sources that are deficient in these amino acids.
