Jaboticaba (Myrtaceae cauliflora) fruit and its by-products: Alternative sources for new foods and functional components

Background: There is a high demand for food and pharmaceutical products enriched with natural compounds to replace synthetic additives, contributing to human health and the immune system. The jaboticaba (family Myrtaceae) is a Brazilian berry, little known and scarcely used, but with high biological potential, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, cardioprotective, and antiproliferative. Its industrial by-product is composted by peel, seeds, and adhered pulp, with the same phytochemicals from fruit. Therefore, jaboticaba and its by-products are sources of compounds with health benefits and technological functions, being an emerging fruit with high potential applications in food, supplements, and pharmacological formulations. Scope and approach: This overview summarizes the characteristics of jaboticaba, phytochemicals, health benefits, technological functions, methods to obtain and protect the biological compounds, and application trends of jaboticaba fruit and by-product. Key findings and conclusions: The jaboticaba fruit and its by-products can be used to supplement or create novel products with health and technological benefits, by applying concepts such as circular economy and biorefinery. The jaboticaba processing takes the advantage of this raw material for the development of innovative and healthier products. Furthermore, the use of jaboticaba by-products can promote more efficient utilization of natural resources. However, the combination of specifics in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial assays must be performed to confirm the benefits to human health or attest these food ingredients as functional or nutraceutical.

Automated summary

Jaboticaba fruit and its by-products can be utilized for creating novel products with health and technological benefits, applying concepts like circular economy and biorefinery. The processing of jaboticaba takes advantage of the raw material for developing innovative and healthier products. Additionally, utilizing jaboticaba by-products can lead to a more efficient utilization of natural resources.