Brazilian native fruits identified with high antioxidant potential

A scientific review published in the journal ‘Antioxidants’ has identified 19 native Brazilian fruit species with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Researchers from the University of São Paulo and the Autonomous University of Chile analyzed species spanning the Amazon, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes.

The study highlights a diverse nutritional profile across these species, including phenolic compounds, carotenoids, vitamins, minerals, fibers, and monounsaturated fats. While popular fruits like jabuticaba, açaí, and guaraná are well-known, the research also emphasizes less common species such as cambuci, cereja-do-rio-grande, marolo, and macaúba.

Specific findings include the concentration of phenolic compounds in jabuticaba skins, procianidins in açaí seeds, and the presence of epicatechin in cereja-do-rio-grande. Scientists are particularly interested in how these polyphenols may interact with gut microbiota and support cardiovascular health. However, researchers cautioned that these fruits are not medicines, noting that more controlled clinical trials are required to fully understand how these compounds are absorbed and metabolized in humans.