Abstract
Juçara (Euterpe edulis) is a native Brazilian palm tree from the Atlantic Forest, whose fruit-processing waste can present high concentration of antioxidant compounds. This research was assessed to determine the antioxidant potential of juçara waste extracts aiming to reduce the lipid and protein oxidation processes on conventional and antibiotic-free broiler meat throughout 9 d during refrigerated storage. The juçara waste extracts were obtained by microwave-assisted extraction. Two different extracts were tested based on the optimum point obtained when checking total phenolic (TPC) contents (Extract P) and antioxidant activity (Extract A) based on a previous study. The treatments using conventional and antibiotic-free broiler meat included: chicken patties without antioxidant addition (AFBNC and CBNC), with synthetic antioxidant (BHT) (AFBPC and CBPC), with Extract P (AFBEP and CBEP) and with Extract A (AFBEA and CBEA), totaling 8 treatments. Antioxidant activity of extracts along with TPC, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and tannin contents of extracts and patties were assessed. Proximate composition, fatty acid profile, lipid and protein oxidation process, and instrumental color were analyzed in patty treatments. Although both extracts had similar content of TPC and tannin, extract A presented the highest anthocyanin, while extract P exhibited the highest flavonoid. While extract A exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, extract P was highly influential in the stability of lipid oxidative degradation in both types of broiler meat (AFBEP and CBEP), and as successful as BHT (AFBPC and CBPC). In addition, extract P was also able to stabilize protein oxidation in conventional broiler meat (CBEP) from the third day, until the end of the storage period. Therefore, the fruit waste extract P of juçara can be a promising source of natural antioxidants to prevent the oxidative process in conventional and antibiotic-free broiler meat.