A line of research developed at the Faculty of Dentistry of Piracicaba (FOP) at Unicamp, in partnership with the “Luiz de Queiroz” Higher School of Agriculture (Esalq), at the University of São Paulo (USP), seeks to identify the bioactive potential of fruits Brazilian natives. To this end, the study analyzed both the antioxidant activity and the phenolic composition of five native fruit species. Are they: G. brasiliensis, E. leinii, E. involucrata, E. brasiliensis e E. myrcianthes, popularly known, respectively, as bacuparimirim, araçá-piranga, Rio Grande cherry, grumixama and ubajaí.

The results have already demonstrated the great antioxidant potential of native fruits, which highlights a possible positive effect on biological systems. In trials carried out in FOP, it is possible to state, for example, that the fruits grumixama, ubajaí and bacupari-mirim also have important anti-inflammatory activity. 

According to professor Pedro Luiz Rosalen, from the Area of ​​Pharmacology, Anesthesiology and Therapeutics at FOP, the difference in the research lies precisely in analyzing the pulp, seed, peel and leaf of very well-known fruits that are even available for sale, but never explored scientifically. “Some, unfortunately, are in the process of extinction”, laments the researcher, who worked in the study with the partnership of Professor Severino Matias de Alencar, from the Department of Agroindustry, at Esalq. 

Rosalen and Alencar attest that the information obtained in the study allows us to recommend frequent consumption of these fruits. Both for its safety and for the high antioxidant power and possible anti-inflammatory effects demonstrated in vivo. “Our role is to reinforce the rational consumption of fruits, stimulating their production and boosting the economy”, says Rosalen.

According to the researchers, Brazil has immense biological diversity, in which many bioactive compounds could be found and used for the benefit of society. The processes of environmental degradation and the introduction of exotic species, however, end up contributing to many native plants remaining forgotten. “This logically reflects the small number of studies on the chemical composition and biological potential of species”, attests Professor Rosalen. 

One of the first motivations when starting investigations was to help prevent the emergence of degenerative diseases and obtain a better quality of life through regular fruit consumption. The prevention of chronic diseases, including diabetes, oxidative stress and osteoporosis, is constantly associated with the consumption of foods rich in antioxidant activity of secondary metabolites of vegetables, mainly phenolics. The World Health Organization (WHO) even recommends regular consumption of fruits as a highly beneficial element to avoid these diseases.

NEXT STEP 

Once the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the fruits studied have been demonstrated, the researchers intend, in the near future, to develop studies that add value and, thus, have commercialization potential. “It is our intention to characterize them and try to awaken agronomic interest so that they become commercial plantations, as happened with açaí, a fruit now popular and found even in the United States”, highlights Severino Alencar.

Currently, the properties of the fruits allow their use as functional food, in the extraction of dyes and for the composition of cosmetics. Açaí agribusiness is an example of this vast use, as it brought development especially to an area where there was no commercial activity, protected lands, benefiting producers based there. They had no source of livelihood and, today, with the harvesting of açaí and its industrial use, communities are benefiting from economic activity. “Ten years ago they lived in absolute poverty and, thanks to the discovery of the properties of an exotic native Brazilian plant, they are staying in business. There was no knowledge, but, with scientific studies, it was suddenly discovered that açaí is an important source of phenolic compounds, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and coloring activities”, they explain.

METHODOLOGY 

In the first phase of the research, Professor Severino Alencar investigated the antioxidant activities of plants. From there, three plants with the greatest potential were selected and one of them, grumixama, showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, equivalent to the positive anti-inflammatory control, which are the drugs. In terms of antioxidant activity, all three demonstrated significant amounts, but grumixama stood out. Overall, the leaves presented very interesting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, very similar to or even superior to those of the fruits that are consumed. in natura. 

As the leaves are not ingested, one suggestion is that the input can be mixed with food. This would be interesting for the food or pharmaceutical industry. “People do not consume the antioxidant in raw form, but rather in medicines, cosmetics or hygiene products”, explains Rosalen. In the case of grumixama, ubajaí and bacupari, they were the ones that showed excellent anti-inflammatory results, with the highest concentration being found in the pulp. 

To reach the results presented, seven methodologies were used and in each one a different aspect was observed. According to Rosalen, it is difficult to determine all the properties of plants, since research is an evolutionary process. However, from the moment knowledge is generated, new products, publications and information for society emerge. 

The professor also highlighted the importance of the fruit having antioxidant capacity. “Normally we have many oxidation reactions in our body that cause aging and give rise to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis and hypertension, among other diseases”, he argues. They all involve an antioxidant process of cell death. This means that the person's body, over time, loses the ability to neutralize these oxidation reactions and the fact of eating fruit, as recommended by the WHO, prevents a series of diseases, such as those already mentioned.

It is known that fruits contain essential compounds for human nutrition. When you eat a fruit, your body absorbs vitamins, oils, trace elements and amino acids, which are important for a balanced diet. However, the fruits that were studied have other compounds, such as phenolics, which do not have a dietary activity, but a protective one. A food with this protective characteristic, that is, maintaining your health status, is called functional food, one of the major research topics around the world. “These are foods that can increase the quality of life, not only nourish, but protect. Therefore, we want to add commercial value to these native fruits. Once the biological quality is proven, it gains food status”, argues Rosalen.

COOPERATION

The cooperation work between FOP and Esalq began in 2003 with the main objective of developing research with propolis. Professor Severino Alencar seeks to identify chemical compounds, natural products and their isolation, while professor Pedro Rosalen evaluates some of their biological properties. 

The research also includes the participation of researchers Massararo Ikegaki, from the Federal University of Alfenas, Ramiro Murata, from the University of Southern California, and Jonas Paschoal, from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto at USP. Also participating are postgraduate students Juliana Infante (Esalq/USP), Adna Massarioli (Esalq/USP), Jackeline Cintra Soares (Esalq/USP), Josy Goldoni Lazarini, Marcelo Franchin (FOP) and Carina Denny. 

The University of La Frontera, in Chile, also collaborates in the project, developing a line of research in which they study fruits and edible mushrooms native to the country. “We are exchanging knowledge. The agreement allowed us to recently receive a visit from Professor Fernando Gonzalo Romero Nejía for studies in our laboratory”, explains Rosalen. This exchange with Chile also has bilateral support from Fapesp. In addition, the funding agency also supports Professor Severino Alencar with a research grant, to increase a series of studies with native Brazilian fruit plants. Fapesp also authorized two scholarships, intended for each professor's advisees.

The plants researched come from two sites located in the interior of São Paulo: “Estância das Frutas” (Rio Claro) and “Frutas Raras” (Campina do Monte Alegre). The two properties sell the plants and have, as their objectives, the preservation of the collection. The producer from Campina do Monte Alegre has the largest collection of native fruits in Brazil, totaling three thousand seedlings planted.