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Review
. 2024 Sep;13(3):611-638.
doi: 10.1007/s13668-024-00553-9. Epub 2024 Jun 25.

Amazonian Fruits for Treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases

Ligia Soares Lima  1 , Marcia Ribeiro  1 , Ludmila F M F Cardozo  2   3   4 , Nara Xavier Moreira  2 , Anderson Junger Teodoro  2   3 , Peter Stenvinkel  5 , Denise Mafra  6   7   8
Affiliations
Review

Amazonian Fruits for Treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases

Ligia Soares Lima et al. Curr Nutr Rep. 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The Amazon region has a high biodiversity of flora, with an elevated variety of fruits, such as Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dúbia), Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum and Astrocaryum vulgare), Fruta-do-conde (Annona squamosa L.), Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum), Graviola (Annona muricata L.), Guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth var. sorbilis), and Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora), among many others, that are rich in phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins with prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

Recent findings: Studies evaluating the chemical composition of these fruits have observed a high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Such components are associated with significant biological effects in treating various non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related complications. Regular intake of these fruits from Amazonas emerges as a potential therapeutic approach to preventing and treating NCDs as a nutritional strategy to reduce the incidence or mitigate common complications in these patients, which are the leading global causes of death. As studies remain largely unexplored, this narrative review discusses the possible health-beneficial effects for patients with NCDs.

Keywords: Amazonian fruits; Biodiversity; Inflammation; Non-communicable diseases; Oxidative stress.

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References

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