Author(s): Sandra M Barbalho, Vanessa Vieira dos Santos, Rakesh Kumar Joshi, Elen Landgraf Guiguer, Adriano Cressoni Araújo, Marie Oshiiwa, Adriana M Ragassi Fiorini, Alda M Bueno Ottoboni and Claudia Cristina T Nicolau

Abstract: Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) belongs to the Myrtaceae family and is a shrub native to the Amazon rainforest, with fruit that has a potent antioxidant capacity due to its high content of vitamin C and total phenolics. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, antigenotoxic effects, and improves the biochemical profile. It can be used as a functional dietary supplement to delay aging and control chronic diseases associated with diabetes, obesity, and cancer. For these reasons, this study aims to perform a systematic review regarding the effects of Camu-camu on human health. Databases such as PUBMED, EMBASE, and Scielo were searched following the PRISMA guidelines. After the literature search and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria described above, we included 12 studies. The growing interest in Camu-camu occurs due to its high ascorbic acid content (200 to 700 mg/5 g) associated with other antioxidant compounds and the alleged effects, culminated in several dried products that are found in the international market for a premium price. In health, this plant's use both in humans and in animal models has shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic actions. It also prevents visceral and liver fat deposition due to brown adipose tissue activation and increased expenditure of energy. Moreover, the use of Camu-camu can lead to flow-mediated vasodilation responses and blood pressure modifications. The studies found in the literature show that this plant can be used as a nutraceutical once it exhibits impressive amounts of bioactive compounds that can produce antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions and, for these reasons, could be considered to prevent several pathological conditions such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.