Background: Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) is a fruit from Brazilian Cerrado rich in bioactive compounds, such as phytosterols and tocopherols, which can modulate the death of cancer cells. Objective: In the present study, the main bioactive compounds of hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts of pequi oil and pulp were identified and were verified if they exert modulatory effects on oxidative stress of mononuclear cells cocultured with MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Study design: Identification and quantification of the main compounds and classes of bioactive compounds in pequi pulp and oil, hydrophilic, and lipophilic extracts were performed using spectroscopy and liquid chromatographic methods, while the beneficial effects, such as antioxidant capacity in vitro, were determined using methods based on single electron transfer reaction or hydrogen atom transfer, while for antioxidant and antiproliferative activities ex vivo, 20 healthy volunteers were recruited. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MN) were collected, and cellular viability assay by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide), superoxide anion evaluation, and CuZn-superoxide dismutase determination (CuZn-SOD) in MN cells, MCF-7 cells, and coculture of MN cells and MCF-7 cells in the presence and absence of pequi pulp or oil hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts were performed. Results: In the hydrophilic extract, the pequi pulp presented the highest phenolic content, while in the oil lipophilic extract, it had the highest content of carotenoids. The main phytosterol in pequi oil was β-sitosterol (10.22 mg/g), and the main tocopherol was γ-tocopherol (26.24 μg/g sample). The extracts that had highest content of bioactive compounds stimulated blood mononuclear cells and also improved SOD activity. By evaluating the extracts against MCF-7 cells and coculture, they showed cytotoxic activity. Conclusion: The results support the anticarcinogenic activity of pequi extracts, in which the pequi pulp hydrophilic extracts presented better immunomodulatory potential.

The study aimed to know how almonds from Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), a byproduct of this fruit from Brazilian Cerrado, can be used to improve value to cereal bars. To respond to this question, the study characterized pequi almonds and cereal bars with pequi, and evaluate sensory acceptance. The preparation of cereal bars enriched with pequi almonds consisted of 3 formulations: standard (0%, pequi almond), formulation A (12.5% almond) and formulation B (25.0% almond). The best results were obtained through drying kinetics for the use of almonds in the formulations. Later, they were subjected to physicochemical analyses: moisture, ash and lipids, pH and soluble solids, crude fiber, proteins, sugar content and color index (L*, a* and b*), antioxidant capacity and sensory analysis which relied on 108 consumers. The blind test was applied and the information was used to evaluate the attributes: color, taste, texture, overall impression and purchase intention. Pequi almond obtained: 27.99% of fibers, 29.62% of proteins and 35.36% of lipids (composed mainly of oleic acid 57.65%, followed by 27.43% of palmitic acid). The results showed that the sensory acceptance for the consumers increased when they found out that the cereal bars contained pequi. Regarding the blind test (without information on the product), it was concluded that consumers appreciate new products with this fruit from the cerrado.