Anti-Allergic Effects of Myrciaria dubia (Camu-Camu) Fruit Extract by Inhibiting Histamine H1 and H4 Receptors and Histidine Decarboxylase in RBL-2H3 Cells

Although Myrciaria dubia (camu-camu) has been shown to exert anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies, its use in allergic responses has not been elucidated. In the present study, the anti-allergic effect of 70% ethanol camu-camu fruit extract was tested on calcium ionophore (A23187)-induced allergies in RBL-2H3 cells. The RBL-2H3 cells were induced with 100 nM A23187 for 6 h, followed by a 1 h camu-camu fruit extract treatment. A23187 sanitization exacerbated mast cell degranulation; however, camu-camu fruit extract decreased the release of histamine and β-hexosaminidase, which are considered as key biomarkers in cell degranulation. Camu-camu fruit extract inhibited cell exocytosis by regulating the calcium/nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) signaling. By downregulating the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, camu-camu fruit extract hindered the activation of both histamine H1 and H4 receptors and inhibited histidine decarboxylase (HDC) expression by mediating its transcription factors KLF4/SP1 and GATA2/MITF. In A23187-induced ROS overproduction, camu-camu fruit extract activated nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to protect mast cells against A23187-induced oxidative stress. These findings indicate that camu-camu fruit extract can be developed to act as a mast cell stabilizer and an anti-histamine. This work also “opens the door” to new investigations using natural products to achieve breakthroughs in allergic disorder treatment.

Yeasts with Fermentative Potential Associated with Fruits of Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dubia, Kunth) from North of Brazilian Amazon

Considering the high biotechnological potential of yeasts associated to edible fruits, a screening for these microorganisms, capable of alcoholic fermentation, was performed in ripe fruits of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia, Kunth). The fruits were collected from north of Brazilian Amazon, in the floodplain of the Cauamé River. Yeasts were isolated, and fermentation capability was evaluated using Durham tubes. Quantitative assays were performed to calculate ethanol yield (g g−1), specific growth rate (h−1), and ethanol productivity (g L−1·h−1). Taxonomic identification was performed by ribosomal gene nucleotide sequence analysis by alignment using BLASTN. A total of fifteen yeast colonies were isolated, and three of them presented promising ability to ferment glucose to ethanol. These isolates were identified as Candida orthopsilosis, Pichia kudriavzevii, and Meyerozyma caribbica. When cultured in broth containing 180 g·L−1 of glucose, M. caribbica CC003 reached 91.7 percent of the maximum theoretical ethanol concentration (84.4 g·L−1), presenting an ethanol yield and productivity of 0.4688 g·g−1 and 0.781 g·L−1·h−1, respectively. These results indicate a promising potential of this isolate for bioprocess applications. This paper is a rare report of C. orthopsilosis with endophytic habit because most of the references indicate it as a human pathogen. Besides this, M. caribbica is a promising fermenter for alcoholic beverages due to its osmotolerance and high ethanol yield. This is the first paper reporting endophytic yeasts associated with fruits of Myrciaria dubia.

Some wild fruits from amazon biodiversity: composition, bioactive compounds, and characteristics

Brazil is one of the countries that share a part of the Amazon region that has been called Legal Amazon. Amazon forest offers the most extraordinary biodiversity of flora and fauna on the planet and, on its surface, can cohabit 50% of the total existing living species. According to some botanists, it would contain about 16-20% of the species that exist today. This region has native fruits with antioxidants and antiproliferative activities already reported by some authors. Consumption of these fruits would be an alternative because they are good sources of nutritional constituents, such as minerals, fibre, vitamins, water, and caloric content. However, the number of scientific studies related to their health benefits is still low. Eugenia stipitata, Myrciaria dubia H. B. K. (Mcvough), Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrecasas, Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) D.C and Garcinia madruno. Among the main compounds reported are the most interesting groups: phenolic compounds, unsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, phytosterols, and tocopherols, flavonoids, vitamin B, vitamin A, and vitamin C, and carotenoids. The main beneficial effect of the Amazon fruits is the antioxidant effect; other functional properties as medicinal, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic, antigenotoxic, and antiinflammatory, antinociceptive, antidiabetic, and gastroprotective, are also reported. Therefore, these fruits can be considered a valuable source of functional foods due to their phytochemical compositions and their corresponding antioxidant activities.

Phenology and fruit set comparison of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) in a natural population and a plantation in the central Amazon, Brazil

ABSTRACT Myrciaria dubia (Myrtaceae) is a shrub that produces fruits with high concentrations of ascorbic acid (1380 to 1490 mg 100 g-1 of pulp and 2050 mg 100 g-1 of peel), 20 times more than acerola and 100 times more than lemon. Native to the Amazon region, it occurs naturally on the seasonally-flooded banks of lakes and rivers, but also has been cultivated commercially in terra firme. In this study, phenological observations and fruit yield evaluations were carried out in a natural population of camu-camu in a floodplain habitat and a plantation in terra firme in central Amazonia. Biweekly visits were made over one year to collect data on flowering, fruiting and leaf phenology. At the height of flowering, flower buds were marked and tracked until fruit matured and were harvested for biometrics and seed counting. Fruits varied from 1.01 to 2.73 cm in diameter and 1.14 to 10.87 g in weight and fruit production was higher in the wild stand. Phenology differed between habitats and phenophase synchrony was higher in the natural population. Despite being native to flooplain forests, fruit production in terra firme occurred throughout the year, suggesting that there are few restrictions on fruit development in cultivated plantation.

Evaluación de la estabilidad por pruebas aceleradas, de la cáscara de camu camu (Myrciaria dubia Mc Vaugh) secada por aire caliente

En el presente estudio se evaluó la estabilidad mediante pruebas aceleradas, de la cáscara de camu camu (<em>Myrciaria dubia</em> Mc Vaugh) secado con aire caliente a 50 °C con una velocidad de 2.5 m/s. La cáscara seca del camu camu fue almacenada a 40, 50 y 60 °C, durante 45 días y cada 5 días se evaluó el contenido de vitamina C, polifenoles totales por el método de folin-Ciocalteu y la capacidad antioxidante por el método de Brand–Williams. Los datos experimentales obtenidos fueron ajustados a los modelos de cinética de orden de reacción 0, 1 y 2 para determinar la constante de velocidad de reacción (<em>K</em>) y a la ecuación de Arrhenius para determinar la energía de activación (<em>Ea</em>) del deterioro de los compuestos bioactivos; también se determinó el tiempo de vida media. Los compuestos biactivos de la cáscara seca de camu camu de mejor conservaron durante 45 días a la menor temperatura de almacenamiento (40 °C). La cinética de deterioro de vitamina C, polifenoles totales y capacidad antioxidante de la cáscara de camu camu, mostraron mejores ajustes a un orden de reacción uno, con coeficientes de determinación (R²)superior a 0.94. La <em>Ea</em> para la vitamina C, polifenoles totales y capacidad antioxidante variaron entre 8.8466 y 26.5149 kJ/mol y fue menor para polifenoles totales y mayor para la capacidad antioxidante. La vida útil de todos los compuestos bioactivos evaluados se redujo con el incremento de la temperatura de almacenamiento.

Yeasts with Fermentative Potential Associated with Fruits of Camu-Camu (Myrciaria Dubia, Kunth) from North of Brazilian Amazon

PurposeConsidering the high biotechnological potential of yeasts associated to edible fruits, a screening for these microbes able to alcoholic fermentation was performed in ripe fruits of camu-camu.MethodsFruits of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia, Kunth) were collected in north of brazilian Amazon, in floodplain of Cauamé river. Yeasts were isolated, and fermentation capability was evaluated using Durham tubes. Quantitative assays were performed to calculate ethanol yield (g.g–1), specific growth rate (h–1) and ethanol productivity (g.L–1.h–1). Taxonomic identification was performed by ribosomal genes nucleotides sequences analysis by alignment using BLASTn.ResultsA total of fifteen yeasts colonies were isolated, and eight of them presented the ability to ferment glucose to ethanol. Six of them were identified as three different species: Candida orthopsilosis, Pichia kudriavzevii and Meyerozyma caribbica. When cultured in broth containing 180 g.L–1 of glucose, M. caribbica reaches 91.7 percent of the maximum theoretical ethanol concentration (84.4 g.L–1), presenting ethanol yield and productivity of 0.4688 g.g–1 and 0.781 g.L–1.h–1, respectively.ConclusionsThe endophytic microbiota of camu-camu includes C. orthopsilosis, P. kudriavzevii and M. caribbica. This paper is a rare report of C. orthopsilosis with endophytic habit, because most of the references indicate it as human pathogenic. Besides this, M. caribbica is a promising fermenter for alcoholic beverages, due to its osmotolerance and high ethanol yield. This is the first paper reporting endophytic yeasts associated with fruits of Myrciaria dubia.