Treatment with tucumã oil (Astrocaryum vulgare) for diabetic mice prevents changes in seric enzymes of the purinergic system: Improvement of immune system

Amazonian palm tree fruits: From nutritional value to diversity of new food products

The rapid growth of the world population has increased the demand for new food sources, constituting a major challenge concerning the maximum use of existing food resources. The fruits of Amazonian palm trees have excellent nutritional composition and bioactive compounds. This review highlights four fruits of Amazonian palm trees that are still little explored by the food industry: açai (Euterpe oleracea), pupunha (Bactris gasipaes), buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), and tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum). This paper aims to inspire new ideas for researching and developing products for the food industry. It also explores the impacts of Amazonian palm fruits on health, highlighting their role in disease prevention through their nutritional effects.

Emerging Lipids from Arecaceae Palm Fruits in Brazil

Arecaceae palm tree fruits (APTFs) with pulp or kernel rich in oil are widely distributed in six Brazilian biomes. APTFs represent a great potential for the sustainable exploitation of products with high added value, but few literature studies have reported their properties and industrial applications. The lack of information leads to underutilization, low consumption, commercialization, and processing of these fruit species. This review presents and discusses the occurrence of 13 APTFs and the composition, physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, and potential applications of their 25 oils and fats. The reported studies showed that the species present different lipid profiles. Multivariate analysis based on principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated a correlation between the composition of pulp and kernel oils. Myristic, caprylic, capric, and lauric acids are the main saturated fatty acids, while oleic acid is the main unsaturated. Carotenoids and phenolic compounds are the main bioactive compounds in APTFs, contributing to their high oxidative stability. The APTFs oils have a potential for use as foods and ingredients in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and biofuel industries. However, more studies are still necessary to better understand and exploit these species.

Brazilian tucumã-do-Amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum) and tucumã-do-Pará (Astrocaryum vulgare) fruits: bioactive composition, health benefits, and technological potential

Latin America has a wide range of native plants spread through its territory. The palms of the Astrocaryum genus are examples of crops occurring in Central and South America, including the large plant life in Brazil. Although not very well known, the Astrocaryum spp. possess edible and non-edible fractions with potential technological and medicinal uses, as evidenced by recent research. Two native Brazilian fruits, tucumã-do-Amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum) and tucumã-do-Pará (Astrocaryum vulgare), typically found in the north and northeast of the country, respectively, stand out for their high antioxidant capacity and rich content in bioactive compounds, mainly carotenoids and phenolic compounds. Accordingly, experimental studies indicate their potential to prevent and treat inflammatory and oxidative stress-related conditions, including cancer. The tucumã plants have also been suggested as tools in the industry, for example for biofuel production, activated carbon technology, and as alternative packaging. Considering the importance of bringing light to underestimated yet culturally relevant native crops with potential benefits for small and large communities, this review aims to present and discuss the characteristics, bioactive composition, health effects, and technological potential of tucumã-do-Amazonas and tucumã-do-Pará fruits.

Amazon-derived nutraceuticals: Promises to mitigate chronic inflammatory states and neuroinflammation

Nutraceuticals have been the focus of numerous research in recent years and accumulating data support their use for promoting some health benefits. Several nutraceuticals have been widely studied as supplements due to their functional properties ameliorating symptoms associated with neurological disorders, such as oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory states. This seems to be the case of some fruits and seeds from the Amazon Biome consumed since the pre-Columbian period that could have potential beneficial impact on the human nervous system. The beneficial activities of these food sources are possibly related to a large number of bioactive molecules including polyphenols, carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and trace elements. In this context, this review compiled the research on six Amazonian fruits and seeds species and some of the major nutraceuticals found in their composition, presenting brief mechanisms related to their protagonist action in improving inflammatory responses and neuroinflammation.

Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum) Prevents Oxidative and DNA Damage to Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells

Eye diseases have a negative impact on the eyesight quality of the world population. The age-related macular degeneration (AMD) draws special attention since it is a chronic disorder characterized by oxidative and inflammatory damage to the retinal epithelial pigment, which triggers progressive vision loss. In the Brazilian Amazon, Astrocaryum aculeatum is an Amazonian fruit (Tucumã) used by riverside communities in traditional medicine to treat a number of ailments. These communities have recently shown to have increased longevity and reduced prevalence of age-related morbidity. Thus, the aim of this research was to chemically characterize and analyze the in vitro antioxidant effect and molecular damage prevention of the Tucumã ethanolic extract in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in a model for AMD. The extract was chemically characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode-array detection and mass spectrophotometry (HPLC-DAD-MS). In vitro protocols were performed, and the cytopreventive effect of Tucumã on RPE cells exposed to high concentrations of superoxide anion, an oxidant and genotoxic molecule, as well as the effect of Tucumã extract on oxidative and molecular makers were assessed. Biochemical and flow cytometry analyses were conducted in these protocols. The extract presents high concentrations of caffeic acid, gallic acid, catechin, luteolin, quercetin, and rutin. Treatment did not show cytotoxic effects in cells treated only with extract at 50 μg/mL. In fact, it improved cell viability and was able to prevent necrosis and apoptosis, and oxidative and molecular damage was significantly reduced. In summary, Tucumã is an important Amazon fruit, which seems to contribute significantly to improve human health conditions, as our findings suggest that its extract has a relevant chemical matrix rich in antioxidant molecules, and its consumption could improve eye health and contribute to prevention against oxidative stress through cytoprevention, reactive oxygen species reduction, and maintenance of DNA integrity in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.

Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum) prevents memory loss and oxidative imbalance in the brain of rats with hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia generates deposition of lipids, inflammation, and oxidative damage in cells and tissues, including those of the brain. Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum) fruits contain bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We evaluated the action of Tucumã extract on memory and brain cortex redox balance in hyperlipidemic rats. For 30 days, Wistar rats received Tucumã extract (250 mg/kg). Then, hyperlipidemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of Poloxamer-407. Twenty-four hours later, the object recognition index was measured. The animals were euthanized for sample collection 36 hr postinduction. Hyperlipidemic animals showed memory loss and an imbalance between reactive species and intrinsic antioxidants. We found that Tucumã prevented memory loss and protein and lipid oxidative damage and prompted a better antioxidant response in the cerebral cortex of rats with hyperlipidemia. These findings suggest a neuroprotective effect and nutraceutical potential of Tucumã. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In the present work, we demonstrated that induced hyperlipidemia in rats caused memory loss and redox unbalance, both factors prevented by the administration of Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum) extract. Two aims were fulfilled with these results. The first was to show that hyperlipidemia affected brain function through oxidative damage and concerned basic research. The second was to offer a therapy that prevented this harm and could be applied in the clinic. Tucumã has ethnopharmacological importance through the consumption of fruits or the administration of extracts and oils by a population that was shown to enjoy improved health and longevity. Here, we show evidence that Tucumã contributes to the maintenance of brain health by preventing memory loss and oxidative damage, a nutraceutical supplement that may aid the prevention of vascular, inflammatory, and brain diseases.

Tucumã Oil Shifted Ruminal Fermentation, Reducing Methane Production and Altering the Microbiome but Decreased Substrate Digestibility Within a RUSITEC Fed a Mixed Hay - Concentrate Diet

Tucumã oil is sourced from the fruit pulp of the tucumã tree and contains high concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids. Due to these properties it may have the potential to decrease enteric methane (CH4) from ruminants when included in the diet. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of oil mechanically extracted from the fruit pulp of tucumã on fermentation characteristics, CH4 production and the microbial community using the rumen stimulation technique. Treatments consisted of a control diet (forage:concentrate; 70:30), and tucumã oil included at 0.5 or 1.0% (v/v). Addition of tucumã oil linearly decreased (P < 0.01) dry matter disappearance. Total gas (mL/d) and carbon dioxide (CO2) production (mL/d, mL/g DM) were unaffected (P ≥ 0.36) to increasing addition of tucumã oil where 0.5% (v/v) of Tucumã oil numerically increased both variables. Acetate and butyrate percentages of total VFA were linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.01) and propionate and valerate percentages of total VFA were linearly increased (P < 0.01) by increasing concentrations of tucumã oil added to the substrate. The ratio of acetate to propionate was linearly decreased (P < 0.01) with increasing concentration of tucumã oil. Methane production (mL/d) was linearly decreased (P = 0.04) with increasing addition of tucumã oil to the substrate. Tucumã oil reduced the bacterial richness and diversity when included at 1.0% (v/v) in both solid- and liquid- associated microbes. The abundance of the genera Fibrobacter and Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group were decreased and Pyramidobacter, Megasphaera, Anaerovibrio, and Selenomonas were enriched by the addition of 1.0% tucumã oil. In conclusion, tucumã oil resulted in the favorable shift in fermentation products away from acetate toward propionate, decreasing the production of CH4 when tucumã oil was included at 1.0% (v/v), however, substrate digestibility was also inhibited. The rumen microbiota was also altered by the addition of tucumã oil.