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Herbal Products in Antihypertensive Therapy
Published in Dilip Ghosh, Pulok K. Mukherjee, Natural Medicines, 2019
Fernão C. Braga, Steyner F. Côrtes
Brazil possesses two relevant features that could foster drug development in the country: rich plant biodiversity and a broad tradition on the use of medicinal plants. Furthermore, in 2014 the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) established a rigid framework to regulate the approval of new herbal medicines, based on consistent pharmacological and toxicological preclinical and clinical data, in addition to strict quality requirements. In spite of these favourable aspects, the development of medicinal herbal products in the country is still incipient, although there is a considerable volume of pharmacological preclinical data to corroborate the use of the Brazilian plants Euterpe oleracea (açaí) and Hancornia speciosa (mangaba) as an antihypertensive.
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
The Amazonia rainforest, particularly the eastern region, is highly enriched in edible plants, such as fruits, and the legacy of 4500 years of polyculture agroforestry by the pre-Columbian population and biodiversity exploration (Maezumi et al., 2018). With the exception of two fruits, Brazilian nuts and açaí, the Amazon fruits are neglected and underutilized; however, over the last 30 years, scientific studies have highlighted the high nutritional value and medicinal properties of this legacy (Dutra et al., 2016; Neri-Numa et al., 2018; Oliveira et al., 2012). This chapter presents the functional studies from a list of valuable fruits of the Amazonian region. This list of valuable and underused fruit is very long, yet only few species have already been functionally explored. For example, Theobroma grandiflorum (cupuaçu), Platonia insignis (bacuri) and Endopleura uchi (uxi) are not included due to the lack of characterization and functional studies. Theobroma cacao is excluded from this chapter, although it originated in the Amazon, because the functional studies focus on the byproduct, cocoa and chocolate, and the research was performed outside of the native South American region. In the first part of this chapter, we describe the functional research of the fruit of four trees, Spondias mombin, Myrciaria dubia, Genipa americana and the well-known Brazilian nut (Bertholletia excelsa) (Figure 8.1) (Table 8.1). In addition, palm trees are a primary element of the Amazonian landscape and an essential plant for the local population, and studies on four palm tree fruits are described, Astrocaryum vulgare, Mauritia flexuosa, Bactris gasipaes and the well-known açaí (Euterpe oleracea) (Figure 8.2) (Table 8.1) (Brokamp et al., 2011; Paniagua-Zambrana et al., 2015; Sosnowska and Balslev, 2009).
Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart) seed extract protects against maternal vascular dysfunction, hypertension, and fetal growth restriction in experimental preeclampsia
Published in Hypertension in Pregnancy, 2020
Alexandre de Souza da Silva, Douglas Val Quintans Nunes, Lenize Costa dos Reis Marins de Carvalho, Izabelle Barcellos Santos, Matheus Pontes de Menezes, Graziele Freitas de Bem, Cristiane Aguiar da Costa, Roberto Soares de Moura, Angela Castro Resende, Dayane Teixeira Ognibene
Euterpe oleracea fruits were obtained from the Amazon bay (Pará State, Brazil). The plant was identified at the Goeldi Museum (Belém do Pará, Brazil), where a voucher specimen was deposited under number MG205222. ASE was obtained from the decoction of seeds, as previously described (13). The analysis of ASE by high-performance liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrum demonstrated that it is predominantly composed of polymeric proanthocyanidins and in minor extent catechin and epicatechin, as previously reported (12,17).
Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Martius) Promotes Jejunal Tissue Regeneration by Enhancing Antioxidant Response in 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Mucositis
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2021
Talita Alves Faria Martins Magalhães, Melina Oliveira de Souza, Sttefany Viana Gomes, Raiana Mendes e Silva, Flaviano dos Santos Martins, Renata Nascimento de Freitas, Joana Ferreira do Amaral
Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Martius) is a fruit of indigenous origin, derived from the Açaí tree, a palm tree native to South America, present abundantly in the Amazon region and located mostly in the northern part of Brazil (5). This fruit is very popular in Brazil and also consumed worldwide. Generally, the pulp is consumed in the form of energy drinks, ice cream, jellies, wines, liqueurs, and other products (6, 7). It has considerable special taste and is rich in polyphenols, dietary fiber, and unsaturated fatty acids (5, 6).