Bacaba, Pracaxi and Uxi Oils for Therapeutic Purposes: A Scoping Review.

Fruits such as bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart), pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba Kuntze) and uxi (Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec), from the Amazon rainforest, are potentially interesting for studies of natural products. The current article aims at mapping and characterizing studies on the bacaba, pracaxi and uxi species. This review reports the main bioactive compounds identified in these species and discusses their therapeutic potential. Searches were performed in MEDLINE (Via Pubmed) and Web of Science. Thirty-one studies that described or evaluated the development of formulations aimed at the therapeutic use of the species were included. The findings suggest that species have the potential for the development of pharmaceutical formulations due to their therapeutic properties. However, further studies are required to assess safety and efficacy of these products. Therefore, it is suggested that new research studies propose strategies so that technological development is based on awareness and preservation of the biome.

Use of bacaba peel for the development of hydroelectrolytic beverages and their consumer acceptance

Abstract The hydroelectrolytic beverages segment has been expading its market and introducing new flavors in order to meet the demand for new products. However, experimental studies find concerns about the chemical compositions of these drinks. The aim of this study was to develop a drink without synthetic coloring or flavoring, with functional attributes based on the bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.) peel extract. Two hydroelectrolytic drinks were developed, one hypotonic and the other isotonic, containing 0.5 and 1.0% of bacaba peel extract. Physicochemical characterization, determination of total phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity were perfomed, in addition to color evaluation, as well as sensory analysis by means of preference tests. The developed formulations showed potential antioxidant activity and natural red coloring due to the phenolic compounds and anthocyanins present in the beverages. The sensory evaluation indicated positive acceptance by the tasters regarding the addition of the bacaba peel extract to the beverage formulations. The developed formulations demonstrated that the use of the bacaba peel is a viable option for the production of sports drinks, acting as a natural dye and offering health benefits due to its bioactive compounds.

Centesimal and mineral composition and antioxidant activity of the bacaba fruit peel / Composição centesimal, mineral e potencial antioxidante da casca do fruto de bacaba

Oenocarpus bacaba Mart. is a palm tree native from Amazon with highlighted antioxidant activities. Its fruit (bacaba) processing dismisses the peel, which has nutrients that can collaborate for its antioxidant activity and preventing diseases. Thus, this study assessed the centesimal and mineral composition, physicochemical characterization (acidity, total soluble solids, pH, and color), total phenolics (Folin-Ciocalteu method), anthocyanins and antioxidant activity by DPPH (2,2 difenil-1-picril hidrazil) method in bacaba peels. For the centesimal composition, it was found 4.87, 1.42, 29.13, 1.08 and 63.32 g 100 g-1 for water content, ashes, lipids, proteins, and total carbohydrates, respectively. For the mineral composition, it was found 582.97, 79.00, 51.79, 0.625, 37.02, 2.37 and 77.12 mg 100g-1 contents for potassium, sodium, magnesium, copper, calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, respectively. The physicochemical characterization showed pH 5.66, titratable acidity 0.306% of citric acid, total soluble solids 9,75, and coordinates L* a* e b* of 19.03, 8.07 and 9.25, respectively. Phenolic contents were 42.07 mg EAG g-1. The antioxidant potential IC50 was 1.07 mg mL-1 and anthocyanins 37.31 mg 100 g-1. Results show that bacaba peels are an alternate source of nutrients suggesting their use in food as well cosmetic industries, especially for their antioxidant activity and mineral composition

Oenocarpus bacaba MART. (bacaba) é uma palmeira nativa da Amazônia que se destaca por suas propriedades antioxidantes. O processamento de seu fruto gera a casca como produto de descarte, que possui nutrientes que podem colaborar na ação antioxidante e na prevenção de doenças. Assim, o presente trabalho avaliou a composição centesimal e mineral, caracterização físico-química (acidez, sólidos solúveis totais, pH e cor), fenóis totais (método de Folin-Ciocalteu), antocianinas e potencial antioxidante pelo método do DPPH (2,2 difenil-1-picril hidrazil) em cascas de bacaba. Para a composição centesimal verificou-se teores (%) de 4.87, 1.42, 29.13, 1.08 e 63.32 para o teor de água, cinzas, lipídeos, proteínas e carboidratos totais, respectivamente. Para a composição mineral foi encontrado teores (mg100g-1) de 582.97, 79.00, 51.79, 0.625, 37.02, 2.37 e 77.12 para potássio, sódio, magnésio, cobre, cálcio, manganês e fósforo, respectivamente. A caracterização físico-química apresentou valores de pH de 5.66, acidez titulável de 0.306% de ácido cítrico, sólido solúveis totais de 9.75 e cor nas coordenadas L* a* e b* com valores de 19.03, 8.07 e 9.25 . Para o teor de fenóis foi encontrado 42.07 mg EAG.g-1. O EC50 para a potencial antioxidante foi de 1.07 mg.mL-1 e o teor de antocianinas foi de 37.31 mg.100g-1. Os resultados mostram que as cascas de bacaba são uma fonte alternativa de nutrientes sugerindo seu aproveitamento na indústria alimentícia e cosmética, principalmente pela sua potencial atividade antioxidante e composição em minerais.

Oenocarpus bacaba and Oenocarpus bataua Leaflets and Roots: A New Source of Antioxidant Compounds.

Native palm trees fruit from the Amazonian rainforest, Oenocarpus bacaba and Oenocarpus bataua, are very often used in the diet of local communities, but the biological activities of their roots and leaflets remain poorly known. Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of root and leaflet extracts from Oenocarpus bacaba and Oenocarpus bataua were assessed by using different chemical assays, the oxygèn radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), the 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging capacity and the ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). Cellular antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity were also measured in Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts. The polyphenolic composition of Oenocarpus extracts was investigated by LC-MS(n). Oenocarpus leaflet extracts were more antioxidant than root extracts, being at least as potent as Euterpe oleracea berries known as superfruit. Oenocarpus root extracts were characterized by hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeoylquinic and caffeoylshikimic acids), while leaflet extracts contained mainly caffeoylquinic acids and C-glycosyl flavones. These results suggest that leaflets of both Oenocarpus species could be valorized as a new non-cytotoxic source of antioxidants from Amazonia, containing hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids, in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic or agri-food industry.

Amazonian Native Palm Fruits as Sources of Antioxidant Bioactive Compounds.

The Amazon region has many sources of fruits, especially native ones not yet explored, but which have some potential for use, as is the case with certain palms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the content of bioactive compounds and total antioxidant capacities of fruits from native palms from the Brazilian Amazon. The fruits of five palm species (bacaba, buriti, inajá, pupunha, and tucumã) were evaluated for levels of ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, yellow flavonoids, total carotenoids, and total extractable polyphenols, as well as the total antioxidant capacities. The fruits had high contents of extractable total polyphenols, especially bacaba and tucumã (941.56 and 158.98 mg of galic acid·100g(-1)), total carotenoids in the case of tucumã and buriti (7.24 and 4.67 mg·100g(-1)), and anthocyanins in bacaba (80.76 mg·100g(-1)). As for the antioxidant capacity, bacaba had the highest total antioxidant activity by the Oxygen Radical Antioxidant Capacity (ORAC) (194.67 µM·Trolox·g(-1)), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (47.46 g·pulp·g(-1) DPPH), and ß-carotene/linoleic acid (92.17% Oxidation Inhibition (O.I) methods. Bacaba phenolic profile revealed the presence of cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and other flavonoids. The palm fruits studied can be considered good sources of bioactive compounds, some containing higher amounts than that of commonly consumed fruits. Total extractable polyphenols and anthocyanins were directly correlated to antioxidant activity in these fruits.

First record of Anastrepha parishi Stone (Diptera, Tephritidae) and its host in Brazil

Anastrepha parishi Stone, 1942 was reared in fruits of Oenocarpus bacaba Martius, 1823 (Arecaceae) collected in Pracuúba, State of Amapá. This is the first record of an Anastrepha species in a native species of Arecaceae.

Anastrepha parishi Stone, 1942 foi obtida de amostras de frutos de Oenocarpus bacaba Martius, 1823 (Arecaceae), coletadas em Pracuúba, estado do Amapá. Este é também o primeiro registro de uma espécie de Anastrepha obtida de uma espécie nativa de Arecaceae.