Functional and nutritional properties of selected Amazon fruits: A review

• Published in: Food research international Vol. 147; p. 110520
• Main Authors: Peixoto Araujo, Nayara Macêdo, Arruda, Henrique Silvano, Marques, David Roger Paixão, de Oliveira, Williara Queiroz, Pereira, Gustavo Araujo, Pastore, Glaucia Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Antimicrobial; Antioxidant; Carotenoids; Edible oils; Phenolic compounds; Therapeutic plants; Antimicrobial; Edible oils; Carotenoids; Antioxidant; Phenolic compounds; Therapeutic plants
• ISSN: 0963-9969; 1873-7145
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110520

[Display omitted] •Biribá, rambutan, pupunha and tucumã presented high contents of phytochemicals.•Phenolic compounds and carotenoid were the main phytochemicals found in the Amazon fruits.•Amazon fruits are rich in nutrients and health beneficial phytochemicals.•These edible fruits may be exploited as food and therapeutic plant. This review reports the nutritional, phytochemical compounds and biological properties of 4 fruits commonly consumed by people living in Amazon region, namely Biribá (Rollinia mucosa Jacq.), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), Pupunha (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) and Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum Meyer). These fruits have been high held nutritional, functional and economic potential and contribute to the daily intake of nutrients, energy and bioactive compounds by people living in Amazon rainforest region. Phytochemical compounds with biological properties were detected in these fruits, for instance (but not limited to), annonaceous acetogenins in Biribá, geraniin and corilagin in Rambutan, rutin and catechin in Pupunha, and β-carotene and flavonoids in Tucumã. The biological properties of Biribá, Rambutan, Pupunha and Tucumã have been evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays, especially antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, these Amazonian fruits can be exploited by the food industry as a food and therapeutic plant-material to develop valuable products, such as medicine products and can be used as sources for obtaining compounds for the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications.