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Chemical and Functional Properties of Amazonian Fruits
Published in Luzia Valentina Modolo, Mary Ann Foglio, Brazilian Medicinal Plants, 2019
Elaine Pessoa, Josilene Lima Serra, Hervé Rogez, Sylvain Darnet
Bertholletia excelsa, most popularly known as the Brazil nut, belongs to the Lecythidaceae family. This species is a native plant from South America found in various Brazilian states, such as Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia and Amazonas. The fruit is approximately 2 kg in weight and has a woody shell, 8 to 12 mm thick that contains 8 to 24 seeds (nuts) (Figure 8.1A). Each seed is protected also by a woody, thick, indurate and rugose coat. An edible pale brownish-white kernel is found inside the seed (Figure 8.1A) (Lim, 2012).
Fruits, Vegetables and Tubers
Published in Bill Pritchard, Rodomiro Ortiz, Meera Shekar, Routledge Handbook of Food and Nutrition Security, 2016
Cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale) is consumed as a tropical fruit in Brazil but this species is grown solely as a nut crop in many other tropical countries. Vietnam produced about 30 per cent of the cashew nuts and together with 19 other LIFDCs these countries produced nearly 70 per cent of this crop. Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) at 106 thousand MT and a number of minor tropical and subtropical nut species estimated by the FAO under the category of nuts not elsewhere specified (nes) combine to account for about 950 thousand MT of high-energy food produced in more than 70 countries. Bolivia and Brazil are the most important of the five countries producing Brazil nuts.
Radionuclides in Foodstuffs and Food Raw Material
Published in Michael Pöschl, Leo M. L. Nollet, Radionuclide Concentrations in Food and the Environment, 2006
Pascal Froidevaux, Tony Dell, Paul Tossell
Brazil nuts are seeds of the tree Bertholletia excelsa, found in many parts of the Amazon River valley, on clay and argillous sandstone, a formation of low NORM content. As early as 1933, it was shown that Brazil nuts accumulated unusual amounts of barium [94]. Turner et al. [95] measured NORM activity in Brazil nuts as high as 300 Bq/kg. Later, Penna-Franca [96] measured 226Ra and 228Ra in Brazil nuts and found both isotope activities to be around 50 Bq/kg. It was shown that Bertholletia excelsa possess an enormous radicular system that is able to absorb a large amounts of nutrients from the soil. Unlike the vast majority of plants, Bertholletia excelsa discriminates against calcium in favor of barium, with barium and radium preferentially absorbed in all parts of the tree, especially in the fruits and nuts [10].
Brazil nut prevents oxidative DNA damage in type 2 diabetes patients
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2022
Tamires Pavei Macan, Thais Aquino de Amorim, Adriani Paganini Damiani, Ângela Caroline da Luz Beretta, Marina Lummertz Magenis, Thais Ceresér Vilela, João Paulo Teixeira, Vanessa Moraes de Andrade
The Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa, H.B.K.) presents high concentration of proteins, fibers, and bioactive compounds, especially phenolic compounds, sterols and tocopherols, and favorable fatty acids composition (Cardoso et al.2017). At the moment, this Amazonian nut is considered the richest known source of dietary selenium (Se) (Finley 2005, Cardoso et al. 2017). This mineral is presented as selenomethionine that is an organic form of Se highly bioavailable (Thomson et al.2008). This oleaginous fruit is produced without pesticides (Rockwell et al.2015), harvested usually by local people, and the commercialization of this nut provides one of the major sources of income for many Amazonian indigenous and riverine communities (Ribeiro et al.2014), making this a sustainable agriculture. It is known that micronutrients ingestion from food sources is better than alternative supplementation practices when the goal is to improve the human nutritional status, since food is low-cost, sustainable and has a lower risk of toxicity (Finley 2005, Kieliszek 2019). Furthermore, this nut has been associated with a wide range of health benefits and has been put in the spotlight as an effective and low-cost alternative to improve the Se status (Cardoso et al.2017).