Chemical and Functional Properties of Amazonian Fruits
Luzia Valentina Modolo, Mary Ann Foglio in Brazilian Medicinal Plants, 2019
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).
Herbal Products in Antihypertensive Therapy
Dilip Ghosh, Pulok K. Mukherjee in Natural Medicines, 2019
Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae) is a palm species popularly called açaí, found in the Amazonas region of Brazil, in the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, and Amapá. The açaí fruits are widely consumed as food by indigenous populations and Amazonian communities and are also used to treat fever, pain and tiredness, among other medicinal uses (Plotkin and Balick 1984). In recent years, the consumption of açaí has spread along the country and has reached Europe, the United States, Japan and China.
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
The plant Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Aracaceae family) is widely found in the Amazon region of Brazil, and its fruits “açaí” are rich in polyphenols (11). We have reported that the hydroalcoholic extract of the açaí seed (ASE) obtained from the fruit is rich in catechin, epicatechin, and polymeric proanthocyanidins (12). Previously, we have demonstrated that ASE induces an endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect (13) and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (14,15), which may contribute to its antihypertensive effect in experimental models of spontaneous and renovascular hypertension (15,16).
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).
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