Paul Altaffer03.01.05
As one might expect, South America, by its sheer biodiversity alone, offers tremendous opportunities on the antioxidant front. Some of these antioxidants are well known staple ingredients to natural product formulators; others are new and exciting and just now being presented to the consumer. What follows is an overview of old and new antioxidant ingredients from South America.
Established Antioxidants
Acerola (Malpighi glabra): The Caribbean Cherry, as it is also known, has long been used as a rich and abundant natural source of vitamin C. Few products in the natural products industry have as much development invested in them as acerola. Acerola is now planted (including certified organic) in the southern U.S., Central America, and especially Brazil. Its cultivation and development is considered highly sustainable and promotes farming in some disadvantaged areas. In addition to vitamin C, acerola contains a small amount of bioflavonoids and is often used in Brazil as a mixture with orange juice.
Rosehips (Rosa moschata, R. rubiginosa, R. canina):Known in Chile-where it is has been adapted-as Rosa Mosqueta, the pod of this shrub also delivers a high content of vitamin C. Rosehips are commonly used in teas and dietary supplements as a natural source of vitamin C. Also broadly cultivated in the Americas, Europe and Africa, rosehips are considered a sustainable natural product. The seeds of Rosa Mosqueta are also popularly used as a topical antioxidant. The seed contains essential fatty acids, vitamin E and a form of retinol; therefore rosehips contain both oil and water soluble antioxidants.
Quercetin and Rutin (derived from Fava d'Anta pods Dimorphandra gardneriana & D. mollis): Rutin and quercetin are two powerful antioxidants that come from the pod of a tree indigenous to South America. This class of compounds is found in many common foods, but the pure compounds are often times extracted from the Fava d'Anta pod. Rutin has wonderful circulatory properties and is commonly used in Europe in topical formulations for varicose veins. Quercetin is used in allergy remedies and immune support products. Both compounds offer a tremendous amount of potential for formulators. A word of caution however, the Fava d'Anta pods are said to be over-harvested and as a result, efforts are being carried out by a few manufacturers to promote the species in the wild, under cultivation and in developing alternate sources for these compounds.
Grape Seed and Grape Skin Extracts (Vitis vinifera): Many people may not know this but South America has become a major producer of grapes and wine. In fact, Chile is now recognized as a premium wine producer. An even bigger player in the wine market is Argentina, which dwarfs the Chilean wine business manyfold. Also making its mark is Brazil, which has become a major producer of table grapes and has an emerging wine industry as well. Needless to say, the raw materials necessary to make premium grape seed and grape skin extracts are available in South America. The active ingredients (such as OPCs, resveratrol and polyphenols) found in these compounds are highly appreciated and used by formulators in the industry.
While antioxidants are important for human nutrition, formulating products that continue to pique the public's interest is challenging. With antioxidants especially, consumers do not feel immediate or even long-term effects when taking them, making the health benefits a difficult selling point. Also, the market for antioxidants is a crowded space with few exciting alternatives for the consuming public. This is precisely why South America is an exciting new region to explore due to its cellar of opportunities. Many of the new antioxidant products being developed out of the region are new, fresh and exotic, and have flavor, color and plenty of story. What follows is a short synopsis of the up-and-coming antioxidants.
Chocolate or Cocoa Extracts (Theobroma cacau): There are few products in the world that get the consuming public's attention more quickly than chocolate. Unfortunately, most people view chocolate as indulgent and bad. The truth is, chocolate contains a high content of polyphenols, similar in type to what is found in grape seed and grape skin extracts. There is a growing body of research looking at the cardiovascular benefits associated with the consumption of dark, polyphenol-rich cocoa extracts and chocolate. And the antioxidant benefits are only tip of the iceberg-chocolate is a fabulous functional food.
Aai (Euterpe oleracea): Aai is the new sensation product of the natural products industry. This exciting palm fruit comes from Brazil (and the Northern Amazon) and is known as one of the sources for the extraction of hearts of palm. Local residents have long used the palm fruit as a rich supplement to their diet due to its high content of polyphenols, essential fatty acids and dietary minerals. It has a deep purple color attributed to the high content of anthocyanins and its flavor is exotic and tropical. Aai has become very popular in Brazil, mixed with guarana, as an energy tonic. The more savvy users understand that this fruit is more than just about the energy; as mentioned, it is a rich source of antioxidants (both water and oil soluble) and essential fatty acids, and its exotic flavor makes it a perfect addition to many new formulations.
Buriti (Mauritia vinifera, M. flexuosa): Buriti is also a palm fruit found in Brazil. It produces a fruit with deep red, thick, scaly skin, reminiscent of certain snakes. Almost the entire fruit is useful and edible, and the pulp contains a high content of carotenoids. Buriti grows in the Brazilian West and is highly appreciated by natives. Research has been ongoing to determine whether Buriti can be developed as a viable and delicious source of antioxidants.
Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora): Also known as Surinam Cherry, Pitanga is a beautiful small fruit and tree that produces a sweet and mild juice, which is highly appreciated in Brazil. Pitanga is particularly interesting because its pulp and juice provide a wonderful balance of antioxidants and other important nutrients. It is also known for delivering an interesting blend of carotenoids and is a good source of vitamin C. In addition to these antioxidants, it also provides some B vitamins and dietary minerals, especially magnesium. Pitanga is a great thing waiting to happen. Once people taste pitanga and learn of its balanced nutritional profile, they find it difficult to formulate without it.
Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora or M. trunciflora): Jaboticaba is a tree that grows throughout much of South America. The flower and fruit of the jaboticaba are peculiar in that they grow directly from the trunk of the tree. The fruit of the jaboticaba is round and deep purple in color, indicating its high content of polyphenols, especially anthocyanins. The fruit is sweet, often compared to grape flavor
In terms of antioxidants in South America, this is just the beginning. As new fruits and flavors are tested and brought to market, the potential for discovering and developing novel antioxidants will multiply. The results from these tests should bring good news to product developers and formulators.NW
Established Antioxidants
Acerola (Malpighi glabra): The Caribbean Cherry, as it is also known, has long been used as a rich and abundant natural source of vitamin C. Few products in the natural products industry have as much development invested in them as acerola. Acerola is now planted (including certified organic) in the southern U.S., Central America, and especially Brazil. Its cultivation and development is considered highly sustainable and promotes farming in some disadvantaged areas. In addition to vitamin C, acerola contains a small amount of bioflavonoids and is often used in Brazil as a mixture with orange juice.
Rosehips (Rosa moschata, R. rubiginosa, R. canina):Known in Chile-where it is has been adapted-as Rosa Mosqueta, the pod of this shrub also delivers a high content of vitamin C. Rosehips are commonly used in teas and dietary supplements as a natural source of vitamin C. Also broadly cultivated in the Americas, Europe and Africa, rosehips are considered a sustainable natural product. The seeds of Rosa Mosqueta are also popularly used as a topical antioxidant. The seed contains essential fatty acids, vitamin E and a form of retinol; therefore rosehips contain both oil and water soluble antioxidants.
Quercetin and Rutin (derived from Fava d'Anta pods Dimorphandra gardneriana & D. mollis): Rutin and quercetin are two powerful antioxidants that come from the pod of a tree indigenous to South America. This class of compounds is found in many common foods, but the pure compounds are often times extracted from the Fava d'Anta pod. Rutin has wonderful circulatory properties and is commonly used in Europe in topical formulations for varicose veins. Quercetin is used in allergy remedies and immune support products. Both compounds offer a tremendous amount of potential for formulators. A word of caution however, the Fava d'Anta pods are said to be over-harvested and as a result, efforts are being carried out by a few manufacturers to promote the species in the wild, under cultivation and in developing alternate sources for these compounds.
Grape Seed and Grape Skin Extracts (Vitis vinifera): Many people may not know this but South America has become a major producer of grapes and wine. In fact, Chile is now recognized as a premium wine producer. An even bigger player in the wine market is Argentina, which dwarfs the Chilean wine business manyfold. Also making its mark is Brazil, which has become a major producer of table grapes and has an emerging wine industry as well. Needless to say, the raw materials necessary to make premium grape seed and grape skin extracts are available in South America. The active ingredients (such as OPCs, resveratrol and polyphenols) found in these compounds are highly appreciated and used by formulators in the industry.
Emerging Antioxidants
While antioxidants are important for human nutrition, formulating products that continue to pique the public's interest is challenging. With antioxidants especially, consumers do not feel immediate or even long-term effects when taking them, making the health benefits a difficult selling point. Also, the market for antioxidants is a crowded space with few exciting alternatives for the consuming public. This is precisely why South America is an exciting new region to explore due to its cellar of opportunities. Many of the new antioxidant products being developed out of the region are new, fresh and exotic, and have flavor, color and plenty of story. What follows is a short synopsis of the up-and-coming antioxidants.
Chocolate or Cocoa Extracts (Theobroma cacau): There are few products in the world that get the consuming public's attention more quickly than chocolate. Unfortunately, most people view chocolate as indulgent and bad. The truth is, chocolate contains a high content of polyphenols, similar in type to what is found in grape seed and grape skin extracts. There is a growing body of research looking at the cardiovascular benefits associated with the consumption of dark, polyphenol-rich cocoa extracts and chocolate. And the antioxidant benefits are only tip of the iceberg-chocolate is a fabulous functional food.
Aai (Euterpe oleracea): Aai is the new sensation product of the natural products industry. This exciting palm fruit comes from Brazil (and the Northern Amazon) and is known as one of the sources for the extraction of hearts of palm. Local residents have long used the palm fruit as a rich supplement to their diet due to its high content of polyphenols, essential fatty acids and dietary minerals. It has a deep purple color attributed to the high content of anthocyanins and its flavor is exotic and tropical. Aai has become very popular in Brazil, mixed with guarana, as an energy tonic. The more savvy users understand that this fruit is more than just about the energy; as mentioned, it is a rich source of antioxidants (both water and oil soluble) and essential fatty acids, and its exotic flavor makes it a perfect addition to many new formulations.
Buriti (Mauritia vinifera, M. flexuosa): Buriti is also a palm fruit found in Brazil. It produces a fruit with deep red, thick, scaly skin, reminiscent of certain snakes. Almost the entire fruit is useful and edible, and the pulp contains a high content of carotenoids. Buriti grows in the Brazilian West and is highly appreciated by natives. Research has been ongoing to determine whether Buriti can be developed as a viable and delicious source of antioxidants.
Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora): Also known as Surinam Cherry, Pitanga is a beautiful small fruit and tree that produces a sweet and mild juice, which is highly appreciated in Brazil. Pitanga is particularly interesting because its pulp and juice provide a wonderful balance of antioxidants and other important nutrients. It is also known for delivering an interesting blend of carotenoids and is a good source of vitamin C. In addition to these antioxidants, it also provides some B vitamins and dietary minerals, especially magnesium. Pitanga is a great thing waiting to happen. Once people taste pitanga and learn of its balanced nutritional profile, they find it difficult to formulate without it.
Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora or M. trunciflora): Jaboticaba is a tree that grows throughout much of South America. The flower and fruit of the jaboticaba are peculiar in that they grow directly from the trunk of the tree. The fruit of the jaboticaba is round and deep purple in color, indicating its high content of polyphenols, especially anthocyanins. The fruit is sweet, often compared to grape flavor
In terms of antioxidants in South America, this is just the beginning. As new fruits and flavors are tested and brought to market, the potential for discovering and developing novel antioxidants will multiply. The results from these tests should bring good news to product developers and formulators.NW