Systematic review of scientific literature on bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential of Theobroma grandiflorum

• Published in: Cuadernos de educación y desarrollo Vol. 17; no. 6; p. e8734
• Main Authors: Leder, Prisna Jamile Santos, Castro Junior, Hilton Prado de, Pantoja, Lauana Natasha da Gama, Santanna, Jhuliana da Silva, Oliveira, Elisa Maria de, Sales, Victor Hugo Gomes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 27.06.2025
• ISSN: 1989-4155; 1989-4155
• DOI: 10.55905/cuadv17n6-118

Theobroma grandiflorum, an Amazonian fruit popularly known as cupuaçu, has remarkable sensory characteristics and a plant matrix rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids, which give this fruit promising antioxidant properties for applications in areas such as food and pharmaceuticals. In this context, this research aimed to map scientific productions carried out from 2015 to 2025 on the bioactive and antioxidant properties of T. grandiflorum, identifying advances, gaps, and future study perspectives. For this, a systematic bibliographic survey was carried out, with searches on open access platforms with artificial intelligence technology and in databases, using specific descriptors on the subject under study. The results reveal the phytochemical diversity present in the different parts of the fruit (pulp, seed, peel, and leaves), with emphasis on research directed to the use of seeds. Among the most recurrent compounds are catechin, epicatechin, and quercetin, identified by analytical methods such as HPLC and GC-MS. In addition, antioxidant assays such as DPPH, ABTS, ORAC, and FRAP were widely applied. The analysis of the correlation matrix revealed the multifunctional potential of T. grandiflorum in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and therapeutic areas, which suggests that this Amazonian species represents a promising resource for vast biotechnological applications, and the integration between research is essential to expand its bioeconomic use.