Essential and fixed oils from Amazonian fruits: proprieties and applications

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2022;62(32):8842-8854. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1935702. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Abstract

The Amazon biome is rich in oilseed plant species, which have essential physical-chemical, nutritional and pharmacological properties, in addition to potential economic value for different biotechnological and industrial applications. In the extraction of fixed oils, some Amazon fruit that are oleaginous matrices are acquiring more prominence, such as tucumã (Astrocaryum vulgare), pupunha (Bactris gasipaes), buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba), patawa (Oenocarpus bataua), among others. These oilseed fruits have natural antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and good oxidative stability. The essential oils from these oilseed species have antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, in addition to the presence of natural antioxidants, such as carotenoids and tocopherols. Thus, Amazonian oilseed species are valuable resources. For these properties to be preserved during fruit processing, the process of extracting the oil is critical. More studies are needed on their properties and applications, seeking to add commercial value, and the optimization of oils and fats processing to obtain quality products. Therefore, this article aims to present Amazonian fruits' potential to obtain fixed and essential oils and possible application in the food industry.

Keywords: Amazon biome; biodiversity; exotic oilseeds; vegetable oils.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis
  • Arecaceae* / chemistry
  • Carotenoids / analysis
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile* / analysis
  • Plant Oils / chemistry

Substances

  • Carotenoids
  • Plant Oils
  • Antioxidants
  • Oils, Volatile