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martes, 5 de julio de 2011
Amazonía en la Cosmética: PASSION FRUIT-Oil
Amazonía en la Cosmética: PASSION FRUIT-Oil: "PASSION FRUIT-Oil - ( Passiflora edulis , Passifloraceae) HARVESTING PERIOD FATTY ACID COMPOSITIO..."
AÇAÍ-Oil
AÇAÍ-Oil - (Euterpe oleraceae, Arecaceae)
HARVESTING PERIOD
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA
The açaí oil represents a new cosmetic ingredient, originating from the Amazon forest, which provides many benefits for maintaining the cutaneous balance. Its structure is mainly composed of anthocyanins, phytosterols, and essential fatty acids (EFAs). The profile of fatty acids in açaí oil qualifies it as a special edible oil, mainly due to the presence of linoleic acid (Omega 6) and oleic acid (Omega 9), and is predominantly made of monounsaturated fatty acids (up to 61% ) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (up to 10.6%), both recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Among the phytosterols present in açaí oil are beta-sitosferol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, which are widely used by the cosmetic industry as a preventive for the aging of skin because they stimulate the metabolism of cells and reduce inflammation.
It is no coincidence that the color of the açaí is similar to that of red wine. Anthocyanins are responsible for the color and are an antioxidant substance that helps to fight cholesterol and free radicals. However the açaí has up to 33 times more anthocyanins than grapes.
POPULAR USES
The açaí fruit is used for the preparation of the regional beverage, “wine of açaí,” which is a reference to the red-purple color of red wine made with grapes, and is consumed in large quantities throughout the Amazon. It is estimated that the daily consumption reaches 180 thousand liters in Belém. Due to its high nutritional value (calorific content), the "wine-of-açaí" is part of the diet of the population and is the primary source of energetic food, having a superior calorific value and two times more lipids than milk.
Açaí as a food provides the following benefits to the human body (values for 100 g of fruit pulp):
- Total lipids (48 g) and Potassium (932 mg) for essential energy production;
- Proteins for the development of muscles (13.00 g);
- Fiber to help intestinal functions (3.15 g);
- Anthocyanins for the control of cholesterol, which are responsible for the purple color of açaí (926 mg);
- Iron for the oxygenation of blood cells (2.6 mg);
- Vitamin E (α-Tocopherol 45 mg), as an antioxidant for the prevention of cancer;
- Calcium for strengthening of bones and prevention against osteoporosis (386 mg);
- Vitamin B1 for the flexibility and maintenance of the skeleton (0.25 mg).
ECOLOGY
Açaí is found throughout the Amazon basin and is particularly abundant in the eastern region. It is one of the most common palms of the state of Pará, and dominates the landscape, sometimes in almost pure stands. Açaí prefers flooded and wetland areas and easily regenerates. There are two main species of açaí, E. oleracea, which occurs more frequently in the estuary of the Amazon River, and E. precatoria, which is common in the forests of western Amazonia (in the states of Amazonas, Acre, Rondônia, and Roraima). Euterpe oleracea develops multiple stems, up to 20 if it is not managed, forming what is called a "cluster." This undoubtedly makes this species an appropriate tree to cultivate for both palm hearts and fruits. Palm heart can be harvested by selecting only some of the stems, year after year, without killing the individual while it develops new shoots. The removal of older stems corresponds to a form of sustainable management for this palm. On the other hand, E. precatoria forms a solitary stem that inhibits individuals of this species from being used as a source of both palm heart and fruits.
In sustainable managed plantations, both in native açaí formations in the várzea and on terra firme, 400 clusters are recommended per hectare with a space of 5 m around each plant. Estimating a production of 50 kg of fruits per cluster, with 4 stems producing fruits, it is possible for these trees to produce 20 tons of fruit per hectare. In the floodplain the production is 30% higher than on terra firme. The extraction of the açaí oil corresponds to only 1% of the volume of the fruits, which is very low and corresponds to 200 liters per hectare.
REFERENCES
Açaí-solteiro (Euterpe precatoria), uma boa opção de exploração agrícola em Rondônia, http://ambientes.ambientebrasil.com.br/ agropecuario/artigo_agropecuario/acai-solteiro.html, (acessado 27/05/09).
CALVACANTE, P. B.: Frutas Comestíveis da Amazônia, 1996, 6a Ed , Edições Cejup - Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém.
MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.
NASCIMENTO, R. J. : Composição em ácidos graxos do óleo da polpa de açaí extraído com enzimas e com hexano. 2008, Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, Vol. 30, N° 02.
ROGEZ, H. Açaí: Preparo, Composição e Melhoramento da Composição. 2000, Belém; EDFPA, pp. 313.
SHANLEY, P. et. al. : Frutíferas e plantas úteis na vida amazônica, 2005, CIFOR, IMAZON, Editora Supercores, Belém, p. 300.
RESIN of COPAÍBA
RESIN of COPAÍBA - (Copaifera spp., Leguminosae - Caesalpinoideae)
HARVESTING PERIOD
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA
The chemical composition of the oil-resin of copaíba is thought to have approximately 72 sesquiterpenes (hydrocarbons) and 28 diterpenes (carboxylic acids), and the oil is composed by 50% of each of these terpenes. Diterpenes are attributed in the majority for therapeutic applications, a scientifically proven fact. Sesquiterpenes are partially responsible for the aroma of the oil-resin and also have antiulcer, antiviral, and anti-rhinovirus properties. Researchers have found that the oil-resin of copaiba has anti-inflammatory action. This potential was shown to be two times higher than that found in the diclofenac sodium, one of the most widely used anti-inflammatory drugs in the market.
One of the main problems with selling copaíba oil-resin is that it is adulterated, usually with vegetable oil. One of the conventional methods used to test for this is to determine the acidity; less than 80 mg KOH/g of oil-resin indicates contamination. The lower the acidity value of the oil-resin means that there is a larger amount of vegetable oil mixed in. In turn the ester value of the oil-resin of copaíba can help determine the type of contaminant. If the ester value exceeds 23 mg KOH/g of oil-resin, it indicates that the contaminant is a compound comprised of fatty substances, such as vegetable oil or something of animal origin, and if it is less it indicates that the contaminant is not a fatty substance, for example mineral oil. Small workshops are used to teach communities how to use the volumetric test. The solutions used for these tests are prepared in laboratories and last up to a year. These simple tests, which do not require a complete laboratory analysis, can help associations and cooperatives avoid accepting and selling oil-resin that is contaminated.
POPULAR USES
In traditional medicine there are many uses for the oil-resin of copaíba, indicating a wide range of pharmacological properties. It is used to treat respiratory and urinary tract infections due to its healing and anti-inflammatory abilities. It is known as a natural antibiotic that is highly effective against gram-positive bacteria. In the industrial-cosmetic industry, it is used as a component of fragrance in perfumes and in cosmetics, such as soaps and creams, because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and emollient properties.
ECOLOGY
There are several species of copaíba but, medically and cosmetically, all are used in the same way. Species of copaíba are adapted to grow in a wide range of environments, occur on both terra firme and in flooded areas, can reach 25 to 40 meters in height, and can live up to 400 years. The extraction process of the oil-resin of copaíba is still rudimentary. A hole is drilled into the wood with an auger, 60 or 70 cm from the ground, until to the center of the trunk. Immediately after the hole is drilled, a tube is installed below the hole to collect the oil-resin into a container that is placed on the ground. The oil-resin is collected during 7 to 10 days and at the end of the harvest the hole is sealed with clay to prevent infestation by fungi or termites.
It is recommended to collect the oil-resin from tress older than 10 years and with a diameter reaching at least 40 cm, harvesting two to three times a year. This process is considered a sustainable extraction method. On average 0,5 to 2,0 liters of oil-resin can be collected from an adult tree every harvesting time.
Seed germination is rapid; however, the trees grow slowly (up to 50 cm per year.
REFERÊNCIAS UTILIZADAS
FERREIRA, F. H. (1999): Potencial de extração e comercialização do óleo-resina da copaíba (Copaífera spp.), um estudo de caso na Floresta Estadual do Antimarí, Acre. Dissertação (Mestrado em Ecologia e Manejo de Recursos Naturais), Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, 54 p.
http://odontologika.uol.com.br/copaiba.htm (acessado 11/11/2009)
MACIEL, M. A. M, et. al.: Plantas Medicinais: As Necessidades de Estudos Multidisciplinares. 2002, Química Nova, v. 25, n. 3, p. 429.
MORAIS, L. R. B.: Formas Simples de Capacitação de Comunidades Amazônicas, Cartilhas de Capacitação Amazon Velas – Curupira da Amazonia, material distribuído gratuitamente em cursos de capacitação em comunidades que fornecem produtos.
PASTORE Jr, F. (1997): Banco de Dados de Produtos Não-Madereiros da Amazônia. 1ªEdição. Unb, ITTO, FUNATURA. Brasília.
PAIVA, L. A., et al. “Anti-inflammatory effect of kaurenoic acid, a diterpene from Copaifera langsdorffi on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.” Vascul. Pharmacol. 2002 Dec; 39(6):303-7.
SHANLEY, P. et. al. : Frutíferas e plantas úteis na vida amazônica, 2005, CIFOR, IMAZON, Editora Supercores, Belém, p. 300.
TINCUSI, B. M., et al. “Antimicrobial terpenoids from the oleoresin of the Peruvian medicinal plant Copaifera paupera." Planta Med. 2002; 68(9): 808–12.
VASCONCELOS A. F. F. et. al.: Uso de Métodos Analíticos Convencionais no Estudo da Autenticidade do Óleo de Copaíba, 2002, Química Nova, v, 25, n.6B, 1057-1060.
VEIGA JUNIOR, V. F. et. al.:: O GÊNERO Copaifera L., 2002, Quim. Nova, Vol. 25, No. 2, 273-286.
WILKINS, M., et al. “Characterization of the bactericidal activity of the natural diterpene kaurenoic acid.” Planta Med. 2002 68(5): 452–54.
UCUÚBA-Butter
UCUÚBA-Butter - Baboonwood - (Virola surinamensis, Myristicaceae)
HARVESTING PERIOD
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA
The butter of ucuuba has a high-melting point (53 °C) and saponification value (220 mg KOH / g oil), which exceeds the values of beef tallow (which range from 43 to 45 °C and 200 mg KOH / g) and makes ucuuba butter an ideal raw material that could replace animal tallow in the production of fine soaps, as well as replace other fatty substances in the food and pharmaceutical industries that need a high melting point. The replacement of animal tallow with the vegetable butter of ucuuba solves the problem of product contamination from the use of animal tallow and even gives soap more consistency and durability. Its employment is perfectly feasible even though it is more expensive than animal tallow.
The seeds are rich in fat (60%–70%), and 70% of the fat is composed of trimyristin, a triglyceride of myristic acid which is an aromatic essential oil that is important to the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Currently, this essential oil is extracted from nutmeg, which has a concentration of about 80% of this triglyceride.
POPULAR USES
Commonly, the oil is used as an ingredient of candles and to burn for light, which spreads an aromatic odor. In home medicine, it has been successful at treating rheumatism, arthritis, colic, ulcers, and hemorrhoids. The butter of ucuuba, which is hard and yellow, can be used in combination with other ingredients for the production of candles and plant-based soaps, and is a substitute for paraffin, which is made with petroleum. Soaps and creams made with ucuuba show a proven anti-inflammatory effect, and have healing and anti-septic properties. A mature ucuuba tree can be sold for R$ 5.00, which is then transformed into broom handles that are sold for R$ 0.40 each in the fairs and ports of Belém. However the seeds, which are sold for R$ 0.50/kg, can generate an income of R$ 18.00 to R$ 25.00 per year, assuming a productivity of 30 to 50 kg of seeds per year. The fruits are collected along beaches and streams throughout the Amazon region, stored, and sold to make plant-based butter that replaces animal tallow when making soap.
ECOLOGY
Ucuuba is a native tree of the floodplains found throughout the Amazonian region, extending to the states of Maranhão and Pernambuco. The indigenous name of the tree means grease (ucu) and tree (yba). This species prefers flooded regions, and reaches a height of 25 to 35 m. A mature tree can produce between 30 to 50 kg of seeds per year. The seeds are rich in fats (60%–70%) and extracts of oil / tallow can reach 50% per kilo of seeds (dry weight). A plantation with 150 trees per hectare can yield up to 7 tons of seeds per year, which can be processed into 3500 kilos of fat per hectare. Trees can grow 3 m over the course of two years. The wood is of excellent quality and is used for particleboard and laminated wood. The extraction of trees for these uses is endangering the remaining forest resources.
REFERENCES
LORENZI, H : Arvores Brasileiras – vol, 01. 1992, Instituto Plantarum, Nova Odessa – SP 384 pp.
MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.
MORS, W.B. et. al.: Medicinal Plants of Brazil, 2000, Reference Publications, Inc Algonac, Michigan.
PESCE, C.: Oleaginosas da Amazônia, 1941, Oficinas Gráficas da Revista Veterinária, Belém/PA.
VAN DEN BERG, M.E.: Plantas Medicinais na Amazônia – Contribuição ao seu conhecimento sistemático, 1993, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém. 206 pp.
CUPUAÇU-Butter
CUPUAÇU-Butter - (Theobroma grandiflorum, Malvaceae)
HARVESTING PERIOD
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA
The extracted oil from cupuaçu seeds offers fantastic properties for the cosmetic industry. The cupuaçu butter is a triglyceride that has a balanced composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, which gives the product a low melting point (approximately 30 °C) and an appearance of a soft solid that penetrates quickly when in contact with skin. Cupuaçu butter posses a high capacity to absorb water, approximately 120% higher than that of lanolin, and can act as a plant-based substitute for it. It contains phytosterols (especially beta-sitosterol) that operate at the cellular level to regulate water balance and the activity of lipids in the superficial layer of the skin. Its ability to absorb large amounts of water can be attributed to the hydrogen bridges formed between the water molecules and phytosterols. Phytosterols have been used to treat dermatitis and disorders by stimulating the healing process.
POPULAR USES
For the most part, only the fruit pulp of cupuaçu is commonly consumed, in the form of juices, ice creams, creams, and sweets. The removal of the pulp from the seeds is rather laborious and performed with scissors. In some regions the seeds are fermented, dried in the sun, roasted, ground in a mortar, and used as chocolate (also called cupulate). In general, seeds are a byproduct of processing the pulp and are underutilized and thrown away. However, because there is a growing interest of the pharmaceutical industry to acquire the butter of cupuaçu, the fruit pulp industries and cooperatives are beginning to separate and process the seeds in larger quantities.
ECOLOGY
Cupuaçu, a native of Amazonia, is a small tree that is 4 to 8 meters (when cultivated) or up to 18 m high (in growing in the wild). It belongs to the same family as cacao. The fruit is very large, cylinder-shaped with rounded ends, up to 30 cm long, and has an average weight of 1.2 kilograms. At maturity the fruits fall, without the stalk, when they start releasing a characteristic odor, which indicates that they are ripe. The fruit contains a juicy and creamy pulp, with a characteristic flavor, which surrounds 20 to 30 large oval seeds. The butter of cupuaçu, similar to the "butter" of cacao but superior in quality, is extracted from the seeds and contains approximately 45% oil. On commercial plantations fruit production begins in the 3rd year and trees produce an average of 12 fruits per tree, per year, when mature. It is recommended that 180 trees be planted per hectare, which produces approximately 2148 fruits per year, 990 kg of pulp, and 443 kg of seeds (an average fruit is composed of 38.4% pulp, 17.2% seeds, and 44.4% skin). In general, 1000 kg of fresh seeds will produce 135 kg of cupuaçu butter.
REFERENCES
CHLEBAROV, S. 1990: "Die Kosmetichen Eigenschaften der Phytosterole"1 TW Dermatologie.
MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.
MÜLLER, C. H. et. al. : A cultura do cupuaçu. 1995, Embrapa-CPATU, coleção plantar 24, p.61.
WINKLER, A. 1977: Experimental studies of effect of water content of upper layers of human skin. Arztl. Kosmetologie,7 , 65-77.
BACURI-Butter
BACURI-Butter - (Platonia insignis, Clusiaceae)
HARVESTING PERIOD
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA
The grease of the bacuri oil has a high absorption rate, due to its high level of tripalmitin (50% to 55%), which penetrates the skin quickly. The high amount of fatty palmitoleic acid (5%), compared to other oils (less than or equal to 0.5 to 1.5%), makes the bacuri oil a fantastic emollient, which can also be used as a moisturizing agent.
The bioactive ingredient tripalmitin is used in pills to slow the diffusion of drugs into an organism; releasing the proper quantity of a drug reduces the side effects of strong medicines that are absorbed by the organism according to pharmacokinetics. The current source of tripalmitin is from a plant commonly called Japanese wax tree (Rhus succedanea), which is originally from Japan.
POPULAR USES
The bacuri fruit is highly demanded in the markets of Belém and used for the preparation of sweets, cakes, jams, juices, and ice creams. Its seeds are not used and are discarded. The caboclos of the central region of the Marajó island have great difficulty removing the oil from the seed, because the seeds have to be soaked in water for over a year. They are then boiled and the oil is skimmed off the surface of the boiling water. The oil has phytotherapeutic applications and is popularly used on Marajó as a remedy against spider and snakes bites, as a treatment for skin problems and ear aches, and is considered to be a miraculous remedy against rheumatism and arthritis. The butter of bacuri gives a golden tone to the skin. It is absorbed a few minutes after it is applied and the skin becomes velvety to the touch; it also removes spots and reduces scarring.
ECOLOGY
Bacuri is native to the state of Pará, where the highest concentrations are found in the Salgado, Bragantina, and the Marajó island regions. This tree can reach 25 m in height and 1.5 m in diameter. It grows on terra firme and the timber is yellow, compact, resistant to rotting, and therefore is used in the construction of boats. The fruit of this species, which weighs 250 g on average, is oval and covered by a shell, which is 0.7 to 1.6 cm thick and 75% of the weight of the fruit. The edible part of the fruit is the endocarp, and represents 13% of the weight of the fruit. It is white, with a strong aroma and sweet taste.
The fruit usually has 4 oily seeds, and when dried (moisture content of 20%) they contain 72% fat, which is resinous and dark brown to almost black. The fat has an unpleasant smell and filtration is difficult. Pressing the seeds extracts approximately 40% of the oil. It is estimated that an average tree will produce 400 fruits per year. The number of fruits produced per year varies. A year of high fruit production is succeeded by one, two, or three years of low production. Propagation is possible via seeds, roots, and by grafting. Plants propagated by seeds mature12 to 15 years after they are planted while it only takes five to six years using the grafting method.
REFERENCES
CARVALHO, J. E. U. et. al.: Métodos de propagação do bacurizeiro,(Platonia insignis Mart.), 2002, Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, Circular Técnica 30, p. 12.
MORAIS, L. R. Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado
SHANLEY, P. et. al. : Frutíferas e plantas úteis na vida amazônica, 2005, CIFOR, IMAZON, Editora Supercores, Belém, p. 300.
PRACACHY-Oil
PRACACHY-Oil - Oil bean tree - (Pentaclethra macroloba, Leguminosae-Mimosoideae)
HARVESTING PERIOD
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA
At 19%, pracachy oil has the highest known concentration of Behenic acid, 6 times higher than that of peanut oil that is extracted and used by the cosmetic industry, in makeup and hair products, due to its excellent moisturizing properties . Studies have reported about the insecticidal ability of pracachy oil, specifically against the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which is the vector of yellow fever and dengue. Fractions isolated from the oil have important bioactive compounds with anti-hemorrhagic activity, which can be used in the treatment of snakebites, or possibly as a new drug for the treatment of other diseases.
POPULAR USES
The oil of pracachy is extracted in a rudimentary way through cooking the dry mass of the seeds, which are first macerated in a mortar. It is often used to treat erysipelas, a skin infection usually caused by bacteria, as well as for treating hair, which makes it brighter, easier to comb, and helps to avoid hair loss. In the city of Belém, it was commonly used to treat stretch marks of young-adults and pregnant women (with good results). The inhabitants of the Amazon region use the bark of the stem to combat the effects of poison from snake and scorpion bites. For this, the bark is soaked and applied in the form of a plaster on the site of the bite. Today the seeds are collected (along rivers, streams, and beaches), dried in the sun, and stored for selling.
ECOLOGY
This species is distributed throughout northern Brazil, Guyana, Trinidad, and some regions of Central America. The tree is medium in size (8–14 m), found in flooded areas, and forms half-moon shaped fruit pods, 20 to 25 cm long, containing 4 to 8 seeds. Approximately 35 fruits are needed to obtain one kilo of seeds, which contain approximately 30% oil (when the seeds are dry). Seed germination takes 30 to 40 days and the germination rate is relatively high; the plants grow fast in floodplains. On terra firme the plants tolerate selective pruning and are nitrogen-fixing pioneer species that show great potential for forest regeneration and restoration of degraded areas.
REFERENCES
PESCE, C.: Oleaginosas da Amazônia, 1941, Oficinas Gráficas da Revista Veterinária, Belém/PA.
MORAIS, L.R.: Produção de óleo de duas espécies amazônicas por prensagem: Bacuri Platonia insignis (Mart.) e Pracachy Pentaclethra macroloba (Willd), 2005, Monografia em Curso de Mestrado Em Química Orgânica, Universidade Federal do Pará,Centro de Ciências Exatas e Naturais 76pp. Não publicada.
SANTIAGO, G. M. P et. al.: Avaliação da atividade larvicida de saponinas triterpênicas isoladas de Pentaclethra macroloba (Willd.) Kuntze (Fabaceae) e Cordia piauhiensis Fresen (Boraginaceae) sobre Aedes aegypti. 2005, Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. vol.1 5 no.3 João Pessoa.
MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.
DA SILVA, J. O. et al.: Triterpenoid saponins, new metalloprotease snake venom inhibitors isolated from Pentaclethra macroloba. 2007, Toxicon. 50(2):283-91. Epub.
LORENZI, H. :Árvores Brasileiras, 2002. Vol. 2, 2ª edição, Instituto Plantarum, Nova Odessa, SP, PP.368.
PASSION FRUIT-Oil
PASSION FRUIT-Oil - (Passiflora edulis, Passifloraceae)
HARVESTING PERIOD
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA
Passion fruit oil is yellow, has a pleasant taste and odor, and has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. It has a relaxing aromatic substance (passiflorin) that reduces anxiety, improves sleep, and reduces stress and fatigue. Passion fruit oil is rich in linoleic acid, which acts to aid in the restoration of the lipid layer of the skin and provides moisturizing and emollient properties that increase the silkiness of the skin. The creams and soaps, which include this oil, derived from the seeds of the passion fruit, provide a relaxing and anti-stress sensation.
POPULAR USES
Passion fruits are primarily used for food, in the form of juices, jams, jellies, ice cream and liqueurs. It is known for its sedative property, but its attractive aroma and flavor make the passion fruit an important product for the industry. The leaves and juice contain passiflorin, a natural sedative, and tea prepared with leaves has a diuretic effect. It also shows purgative, sedative and anti-inflammatory properties. The seeds act as antihelminthics. Due to these characteristics, it is included in the monograph of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. It is popularly believed that the tea leaves, besides acting as a sedative, are also an effective antipyretic and help to treat skin inflammation, but these two uses are based on popular beliefs and have not been scientifically proven to work.
ECOLOGY
The passion fruit originated in tropical America, prefers hot and humid climates and is cultivated in all tropical countries. Currently Brazil is the world's leading producer of passion fruits. In the state of Pará, there is a long tradition of cultivating passion fruit, especially in the Bragança region, where 33,000 tons of fruit were produced in 2008.
Passion fruits are climbing plants that need a support structure to grow on, because the stems of this plant are semi-woody and do not allow it to stand on its own. The support structure for passion fruit is built with wooden stakes and smooth wire. A good support system allows the branches to have enough space to grow, which allows productive branches to receive the proper amount of light. Commercial production starts ten months after planting. The yield of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is estimated to be approximately 10 tons/ha/year. The production cycle usually last about 2 to 3 years.
The peel of passion fruit, which represents 40% to 50% of the fruit weight, is considered industrial waste, as well as the seeds, which represent about 6% to 12% of the total fruit weight. Oil can be extracted from the seeds for industrial use. The oil yield from the dry seeds of passion fruit reaches about 25%. One hectare can produce approximately 480 kg of dry seed, which equals 96 kg of oil when using cold extraction.
REFERENCES
CALVACANTE, P. B. (1996): Frutas comestíveis da Amazônia, 6ª edição, CNPq/Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém/PA, p. 279.
http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br (acessed on 11/11/2009)
MORAIS, L. R. Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado
TOCCHINI, R. P. (1994): Processamento: produtos, caracterização e utilização. In: Maracujá: cultura, matéria-prima e aspectos econômicos. Campinas: ITAL, p. 161-175.
BRASILNUT-Oil
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BURITI-Oil
BURITI-Oil - Moriche Palm (Mauritia flexuosa, Arecaceae)
HARVESTING PERIOD (every 2 years)
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA
The buriti oil is very rich in oleic acid (72.5%), a type of mono-unsaturated fatty acid that is abundant in olive oil and is associated with lowering the risk of coronary heart disease. Furthermore, it is considered to be the richest natural source in beta-carotene (30 milligrams/100 g pulp), exceeding 5 times what is found in carrots (6,6 milligrams/100 g pulp). In the buriti oil the concentration is even higher with 118 milligrams/100 g of oil. Beta-carotene is one of the most powerful antioxidants, known for its ability to renew cells, and serves as an excellent natural skin exfoliator. Due to its ability to absorb radiation in the range of visible and ultraviolet light, the oil is used by the cosmetic industry as a solar filter that reduces the dryness of the skin. IIn anti-aging formulas this oil increases the elasticity of the skin.
POPULAR USES
The buriti is a palm with multiple uses. New leaves and their stalks are frequently employed in crafts, such as baskets, and the fruit pulp is processed into a juice called “wine” and sweets, which are a popular food in the Amazon region. The buriti oil, which is edible, is used in frying and applied to skin to treat sunburns, which causes immediate relief and helps the skin to heal. Due to its powerful ability to detoxify and combat allergic reactions, the caboclos treat snake and scorpion bites by applying the oil to the wound. The oil is also used to treat asthma by ingesting half a spoon of oil per day, which reduces coughing and relieves breathing. Currently, the fruit pulp is commercialized in local markets, in the countryside, for the production of “wine” that replaces açaí during the rainy period, which is from January to June and is the low production period for açaí. There are companies that sell the fresh fruit pulp for the extraction of oil; others prefer the dry pulp, called buriti flour, because the pulp is very perishable.
ECOLOGY
Buriti is a palm tree (Mauritia vinifera and M. flexuosa), which dominates expansive areas and covers nearly all of central Brazil and the lowlands of southern Amazonia, where there are streams. It is an elegant tree that can reach 35 meters and forms large leaves with a rounded crown. The flowers are yellowish, and appear from December to April. Its fruits are ellipsoidal, chestnut colored, and have a surface coated with shiny scales. The fruits have a yellow flesh that covers a hard oval seed, which is edible. The trees fruit from December to June. The buriti palm naturally occurs alone or in communities, and requires an abundant supply of water.
For this reason, they dominate floodplains and swamps where the soil is soft and moist. The location where they grow is the result of the their seeds being dispersed by water when an area is inundated. This species is dioecious; plants have only male or female flowers. Only individuals with female flowers form fruits.
Approximately 60 female and 80 male buriti palms occur in one hectare. An adult palm can produce up to 200 kg of fruit, which can be processed into 30 kg of flour or 5 to 6 liters of finally extracted oil (the flour contains 22% oil). Assuming an average of 60 buriti palms per hectare, 300 to 360 liters of oil can be extracted per hectare. The reproductive cycle occurs every two years, but there are communities that mange their natural buriti groves by cutting and removing the small and dried infructescences (the stalks with fruits) and removing natural competitors, and thus have a year of low productivity followed by a year of high productivity.
REFERENCES
LIMA, M.C.C.: Atividade de Vitamina A do Doce de Buriti e Seu Efeito no Tratamento e Prevenção da Hipovitaminose em crianças. 1987, Dissertação de mestrado, Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 125 pp. (citado por SHANLEY, 2005).
Ao óleo de buriti ao filtro solar: Pesquisadores vêem utilidade do óleo de buriti na confecção de óculos e películas solares. Diário do Pará, Belém (16.07.2006).
PIO CORREA, A. M.: Dicionário de Plantas Úteis do Brasil; 1926, Imprensa Nacional, Rio de Janeiro , p. 339.
SHANLEY, P. et. al. : Frutíferas e plantas úteis na vida amazônica, 2005, CIFOR, IMAZON, Editora Supercores, Belém, p. 300.
MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.
Andiroba - Oil
ANDIROBA-Oil - Crabwood (Carapa guianensis, Meliáceae)
HARVESTING PERIOD
FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA
Andiroba oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids, including oleic, palmitic, myristic and linoleic acids, and contains no fatty components such as triterpenes, tannins, and alkaloids, which are isolated as Andirobina and Carapina. The bitter taste of the oil is attributed to a group of terpene chemicals called meliacins, which are very similar to the bitter antimalarial chemicals. Recently, one of these meliacins, called gedunin, was documented to have pest control properties and antimalarial effects equal to that of quinine. A chemical analysis of andiroba oil identified the anti-inflammatory named andirobina, which has healing and insect repelling properties that are attributed to the presence of limonoids. The interest in using andiroba oil in cosmetics has increased significantly, especially after the patenting of a cream by Yves Rocher, from France, that has moisturizing and anticellulite properties based on this oil.
Andiroba candles are used as an effective repellent of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a vector of yellow fever and dengue. When burned the candles release an agent that inhibits the hunger of the mosquitoes, therefore reducing its need to bite. Research has shown this method is 100% effective as a mosquito repellent, a result that is not found in any other product on the market designed to repel these insects. In addition to this property, the candle is completely non-toxic, produces no smoke, and does not contain perfume.
POPULAR USES
Andiroba oil is one of the most commonly sold medicinal oils in the Amazon. Mixed with honey and copaiba, it is a very popular anti-inflammatory medication used to combat throat infections and influenza. It also strengthens and embellishes hair, and when used in soap it acts as a magic remedy for acne. Due to its good skin penetration, it is often used in massages to relieve bruises, dislocations, arthritis and rheumatism, and acts to sooth the surface of the skin and to bleach superficial stains. It is also used to repel mosquitoes. Traditionally, an oilseed cake is formed into balls and burned and also mixed with annatto (Bixa orellana) and formed into a paste that is used to protect the body from mosquito bites.
ECOLOGY
This species is a neotropical tree that occurs in southern Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, and the Caribbean islands. In Brazil, it is found from sea level to 350 m elevation, throughout the Amazon basin, both in terra firme forests and on land that is temporarily flooded, along rivers and streams and near the mangroves. The seeds float and can be dispersed by water. However, in forests, most fruits and seeds are found under the parent tree. The seeds are eaten by rodents, armadillos, peccaries, pacas, deer, cotias, etc. The origin of the name andiroba is from nhandi (oil) and rob (bitter). Andiroba belongs to the same family as the mahogany and cedar tree, and is highly demanded by sawmills because it is very resistant to insect attacks.
IIndividuals of andiroba can reach 30 meters in height and grow well to different environments, such as flooded areas and terra firme. A mature tree can produce up to 120 kg of seeds per year (average 50 kg / year and tree). The seeds contain 43% fat. To produce a liter of oil, using rudimentary methods, 12 kg of seeds are needed. To extract the same amount, a mechanical press requires only 4 kg of dry seeds and only 3 kg of seeds are needed when using chemical solvents. The amount of oil that can be produced from the seeds of one andiroba tree can reach 10 liters per year, using rudimentary methods, and up to 30 liters using industrial techniques.
Due to its ability to grow rapidly and because of its valuable timber, andiroba is used in intercropped and agroforestry systems. Plantations in monoculture are compromised by Hypsipyla grandella, which attacks the terminal bud of the tree and inhibits further growth. This insect is a major pest of species of Meliaceae in the Amazon region. Although this has consequences when cultivating the tree for its wood, fruit production remains the same for individuals that survive an attack, which is not as intense as attacks on mahogany.
REFERENCES
FERRAZ, I. D. K. et. al.: Andiroba Carapa guianensis e Carapa procera, 2003, Manual de sementes da Amazõnia, Fascíiculo I.
GILBERT, B., et al. "Activities of the Pharmaceutical Technology Institute of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation with medicinal, insecticidal and insect repellent plants." An. Acad. Bras. Cienc. 1999; 71(2): 265-71.
MACKINNON, S., et al. “Antimalarial activity of tropical Meliaceae extracts and gedunin derivatives.” J. Nat. Prod. 1997; 60(4): 336-41.
MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.
MORTON, J. F.: Atlas of Medicinal Plants of Middle America, 1981.
PESCE, C.: Oleaginosas da Amazônia, 1941, Oficinas Gráficas da Revista Veterinária, Belém/PA.
ROY, A., et al. “Limonoids: overview of significant bioactive triterpenes distributed in plants kingdom. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2006; 29(2): 191-201.
SOUZA, C. R. et. al.: Andiroba Carapa guianensis, 2006, Embrapa Ocidental, Manaus, Documento 48, p. 12.
RAIN FOREST PRODUCTS
The Amazonian flora is extremely rich and diverse in oilseed plants and therefore it is incomparable and unique. The seeds vary in size, shape and in the quality of the oil they contain. Amazonian oils have a fantastic potential to be used by various cosmetic, pharmaceutical, textile and foods industries.
The table below lists the different characters that specific Amazonian oils have. Additional information on the fatty acid composition and physical-chemical properties of each oil, which defines their applications for various purposes, is available in the individual descriptions of Rain Forest Products.
Amazonian oilseed species
Characteristics
Andiroba - Carapa guianensis
Contains limonoids (andirobina) and terpenes (meliacins), acts as a repellent, fungicide and bactericide.
Cupuaçu - Theobroma grandiflorum
Possesses a high capacity to absorb water, 120% higher that than of lanolin, phytosterols (beta-sitosterol), excellent emollient.
Açaí - Euterpe oleraceae
High concentration of the antioxidant anthocyanin, up to 33 times more than grapes, rich in essential fatty acids.
Buriti - Mauritia flexuosa
Contains oleic acid (70%), the beta-carotene concentration (118 mg/100 g of oil) is 20 times more than what is found in carrots.
Bacuri - Platonia insignis
Contains the bioactive tripalmitin (50% to 55%) and palmitoleic acid (5%).
Pracachy - Pentaclethra macroloba
Contains behenic acid (19%), six times higher than that of peanut oil.
Copaíba - Copaifera spp.
Contains 72 sesquiterpenes (hydrocarbons) and 28 diterpenes (carboxylic acids), is a natural anti-inflammatory, is twice as active against inflammation than Diclofenac Sodium.
Ucuuba - Virola surinamensis
Melting point (53°C), replacement of animal tallow, contains 70% of trimeristin, contains 74% myristic acid.
Brazilnut - Bertholletia excelsa
Contains selenium (126 ppm), with antioxidant properties, contains 75% unsaturated fatty acids.
Murumuru - Astrocaryum murumurú
Rich in lauric acid (47%) and myristic acid (26%), melting point (32.5ºC).
Passion fruit - Passiflora edulis
Rich in linoleic acid (62%).
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