Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) as a source of bioactive compounds for health benefits: A review

Abstract

• E. uniflora presents a significant amount of bioactive compounds beneficial for health. • Little is known about the potential toxicity induced by E. uniflora . • The application of E. uniflora shows a range of biological properties. • Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant are some of the properties of E. uniflora. • In vivo studies of E. uniflora are incipient and may be the target of new research. The pitangueira ( Eugenia uniflora ) is a tree native to Brazil but is cultivated in several subtropical countries. A great diversity of nutrients and bioactive compounds have been found in the leaves and fruits of E. uniflora , which supports its use in folk medicine to treat diseases such as stomach and intestinal disorders, fever and general inflammation. Antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant effects on metabolism have been reported for this plant. This review discusses the phytochemical profile, toxicity and pharmacological action of E. uniflora leaves and fruits and points out that gaps in the literature that need to be investigated further. This review also discusses studies developed with E. uniflora demonstrating its promising therapeutic potential for several diseases with an apparent low toxicity in mammals. The compilation of the main pharmacological and toxicological results, as well as the phytochemical characterization of the varieties and constituents of E. uniflora are general aspects that this review attempts to demonstrate in order to contribute to the new approaches and developments to plant-derived natural product drug discovery. However, further studies are required to establish the nutraceutical effects and uses of E. uniflora as an important and safe supplement for human health.