INFLUENCE OF GENOTYPE AND HARVEST SEASON ON THE PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ARAÇÁ (PSIDIUM CATTLEIANUM SABINE) FRUIT

?L-ascorbic acid, total anthocyanin, total carotenoid, total tannin, total and individual phenolic compounds content, antioxidant potential, and antiproliferative activity against tumoral cells of extracts from six Araçá genotypes (AR9, AR19, AR29, AR27, AR46, and AR72) from six consecutive harvest seasons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013) were evaluated. Results showed that in general variations in phytochemical content were greater among genotypes than among harvests. Whereas red genotypes (AR9, AR19, and AR29) had higher anthocyanin and total phenolic content, yellow genotypes (AR46, and AR72) had higher L-ascorbic acid content. (-)-Epicatechin was the most abundant phenolic compound found in the fruits, followed by gallic acid, in all genotypes. Only soluble solids, pH, and total tannin content were not affected by harvest year. Regarding the antioxidant capacity against S. cereviseae XV 185-14C cells, all extracts revealed a protective effect from the oxidative stress agent (H2O2). Similarly, all extracts inhibited the proliferation of the human colon adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2) without cytotoxicity towards fibroblast cells (3T3). Although harvest season influenced the functional potential of Araçá fruit, genotype had the strongest influence.