BIOACTIVE COMPOSITION OF COFFEE LEAVES DURING AN ANNUAL CYCLE

Abstract

As the main organ for capturing light in the process of photosynthesis, coffee (Coffea arabica) leaves have an important role in the development of the crop, and through its chemical analysis it is possible to know the operation of the plant. To date, little is known about the chemical composition of coffee leaves, and it is unknown whether they are suitable for the extraction of caffeine and chlorogenic acids for the purposes of nutraceutical use. In the present study, it was analyzed the concentration of caffeine, chlorogenic acids, macro and micronutrients, reducing sugars, chlorophyll and foliar area in leaves of Coffea arabica var. Red Caturra to obtain a detailed profile of the nutritional and anabolic variations in different stages of the annual cycle of the crop, such as vegetative stage, flowering and fructification. At flowering the largest foliar area, caffeine content, chlorogenic acid, galactose, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, nitrogen, zinc and boron were present, while at fructification the content of arabinose and xylose were outstanding. Coffee leaves have greater ptential to be used for nutraceutical purposes at the flowering stage.