Bioactive Compounds Found in Brazilian Cerrado Fruits.

Elisa Bailão,Leonardo Borges,Ivano Devilla,Edemilson Da Conceição

doi:10.3390/ijms161023760

Abstract

Functional foods include any natural product that presents health-promoting effects, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Cerrado fruits are considered a source of bioactive substances, mainly phenolic compounds, making them important functional foods. Despite this, the losses of natural vegetation in the Cerrado are progressive. Hence, the knowledge propagation about the importance of the species found in Cerrado could contribute to the preservation of this biome. This review provides information about Cerrado fruits and highlights the structures and pharmacologic potential of functional compounds found in these fruits. Compounds detected in Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (pequi), Dipteryx alata Vog. (baru), Eugenia dysenterica DC. (cagaita), Eugenia uniflora L. (pitanga), Genipa americana L. (jenipapo), Hancornia speciosa Gomes (mangaba), Mauritia flexuosa L.f. (buriti), Myrciaria cauliflora (DC) Berg (jabuticaba), Psidium guajava L. (goiaba), Psidium spp. (araçá), Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill (lobeira), Spondias mombin L. (cajá), Annona crassiflora Mart. (araticum), among others are reported here.

Highlights

Functional foods include whole grains, phytochemical-rich fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, dairy products, and tea [1] that present health-promoting effects by maintaining bio-homeostasis and reducing the risk of chronic diseases [2]
These results indicate that a daily consumption of Cerrado fruits could protect human tissues against oxidative stress, and potentially prevent chronic diseases and premature aging [21]
Brazilian Cerrado is an important source of food or medicine to the local communities

Summary

Introduction

Functional foods include whole grains, phytochemical-rich fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, dairy products, and tea [1] that present health-promoting effects by maintaining bio-homeostasis (in mental and physical spheres) and reducing the risk of chronic diseases [2]. The high content of bioactive compounds found in araticum, cagaita, cajuzinho, jurubeba, lobeira, magaba, and tucum corroborate the high antioxidant activity of these fruits [21] These results indicate that a daily consumption of Cerrado fruits could protect human tissues against oxidative stress, and potentially prevent chronic diseases and premature aging [21]. Myricetin (37), cyanidin (38), quercetin (6), ellagic acid (35), and proanthocyanidins were found in pitanga residue powder, consisting of residual fruit pulps, seeds, and peels after juice extraction It makes pitanga-dried residue a promising natural ingredient for food and nutraceutical manufacturers, due to their rich bioactive compound content [54]. These results suggest that the ethanolic extract of G. americana may affect placental cell regulation [62]

Hancornia speciosa Gomes

12. Other Cerrado Fruits

Findings

13. Conclusions