La Andiroba

Andiroba
Este especie es un árbol geotrópico que ocurre en la parte sur de América Central. En Brasil, se encuentra a partir del nivel del mar hasta 350 metros de elevación por toda la Cuenca Amazónica, tanto en la tierra firme como en zonas temporalmente inundada. El origen del nombre andiroba proviene de nhandi (aceite) y rob (amargo). Andiroba pertenece a la misma familia como la caoba y el cedro, y es muy demandada por los aserraderos porque es muy resistente a los ataques de insectos.
Los ejemplos individuales de la andiroba pueden llegar a los 30 metros de alto y crecen bien en los ambientes diferentes, tal como las zonas inundadas y la tierra firme.

El aceite de Andiroba es uno de los aceites médicos más vendidos en el Amazonas. Mezclado con la miel y copaiba, es una medicación anti-inflamatoria muy popular utilizada para combatir las infecciones de la garganta y la gripe. También fortalece y embellece el pelo, y cuándo se usa para fabricar el jabón funciona como remedio mágico contra el acné. Debido a su buena penetración a la piel, se usa a menudo en el masaje para aliviar los golpes, las dislocaciones, la artritis y el reumatismo, y actúa para calmar la superficie de la piel y para blanquear las manchas superficiales. También se usa para repeler a los mosquitos. De tradición se forma una torta de semillas oleaginosas de bolas y se quema, también mezclado con annatto (Bixa orellana) y formado en una pasta que se usa para proteger el cuerpo de las picaduras de los mosquitos.

La salud en la Amazonia

FRUTOS DE LA AMAZONIA
CUPUAÇU
El aceite extraído de las semillas del cupuaçu ofrece propiedades fantásticas para la industria cosmética. La mantequilla de cupuaçu es un triglicérido que tiene una composición equilibrada de ácidos grasos saturados e insaturados, con un bajo punto de fusión, penetra rápidamente cuándo esta en contacto con la piel. Se puede atribuir su capacidad a absorber grandes cantidades de agua a las crestas de hidrógeno formadas entre las moléculas de agua y los fitoesteroles. Se han utilizado los fitoesteroles para tratar el dermatitis u otros trastornos por estimular el proceso de curación. Más info... amabellenatur@gmail.com

El Pracaxi
Árbol muy conocida en la región amazónica, el pracaxi es muy utilizado entre las populaciones locales por su acción antihemorrágica y antibacteriana. El aceite extraído de sus semillas es un poderoso hidratante dermatológico, que auxilia en la renovación celular. Cuando usado en productos para los cabellos, el extracto proporciona un excelente efecto condicionante, aportando brillo y sedosidad, controla el volumen y protege de la humedad.

El origen de los Productos Ecológicos Amabelle Natur
Aceites, cremas y jabones ecológicos elaborados en Brasil con plantas originarias de la Amazonía Brasileña, que ofrecen propiedades terapéuticas como la antibiótica, antiinflamatoria, regenerativa, hidratante, relajante, antioxidante, etc. Con un olor muy particular a naturaleza y una textura muy agradable al contacto con la piel, siendo totalmente absorbida por esta, formando una capa invisible de protección.
Productos que unieron el conocimiento popular de los pueblos amazónicos de Brasil con la tecnología para ofrecer una alternativa sana al cuerpo y al medio ambiente. Productos tan naturales que es como sentir el toque de la naturaleza en la piel.

Colaboramos a crear esperanza
La materia prima de los cosméticos Amabelle Natur es abundante en la floresta amazónica, cogemos lo que ella ofrece sin agredirla ni modificarla, protegiendo y cuidando su medio natural.
Los Cosméticos ecológicos de Amabelle Natur colaboran a que más de 320 familias puedan complementar sus rentas gracias a su trabajo en la coleta de las semillas en la floresta amazónica Brasileña. Ellas están distribuidas en diversos pueblos de la Amazonía, están organizados en asociaciones que crearon 12 Polos Productivos para mejorar la extracción de las semillas, permitiendo así crear puestos de trabajo y mejorar la calidad de vida a los moradores de la Amazonía. La cooperación entre las asociaciones de extrativistas (personas que extraen el fruto de la floresta), la fábrica de los productos eco y los distribuidores es muy importante para la productividad, el desarrollo sostenible, el aprendizaje, la preservación de la floresta Amazónica, de la cultura indígena y la promoción del comercio justo.

Con la actividad de los pueblos amazónicos todos ganan:
• Protección de la selva Amazónica.
• Desarrollo personal y de los pueblos.
• Preservación de las tradiciones locales.
• Esperanza de una vida mejor.
• Una alternativa sana al cuidado e higiene personal.


Amabelle Natur es una apuesta por un comercio justo, por el desarrollo de los pueblos de la Amazonía, un medio ambiente saludable y una vida sana.

UCUÚBA-Butter - Baboonwood - (Virola surinamensis, Myristicaceae)
















HARVESTING PERIOD


FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA

The butter of ucuuba has a high-melting point (53 °C) and saponification value (220 mg KOH / g oil), which exceeds the values of beef tallow (which range from 43 to 45 °C and 200 mg KOH / g) and makes ucuuba butter an ideal raw material that could replace animal tallow in the production of fine soaps, as well as replace other fatty substances in the food and pharmaceutical industries that need a high melting point. The replacement of animal tallow with the vegetable butter of ucuuba solves the problem of product contamination from the use of animal tallow and even gives soap more consistency and durability. Its employment is perfectly feasible even though it is more expensive than animal tallow.

The seeds are rich in fat (60%–70%), and 70% of the fat is composed of trimyristin, a triglyceride of myristic acid which is an aromatic essential oil that is important to the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Currently, this essential oil is extracted from nutmeg, which has a concentration of about 80% of this triglyceride.



POPULAR USES

Commonly, the oil is used as an ingredient of candles and to burn for light, which spreads an aromatic odor. In home medicine, it has been successful at treating rheumatism, arthritis, colic, ulcers, and hemorrhoids. The butter of ucuuba, which is hard and yellow, can be used in combination with other ingredients for the production of candles and plant-based soaps, and is a substitute for paraffin, which is made with petroleum. Soaps and creams made with ucuuba show a proven anti-inflammatory effect, and have healing and anti-septic properties. A mature ucuuba tree can be sold for R$ 5.00, which is then transformed into broom handles that are sold for R$ 0.40 each in the fairs and ports of Belém. However the seeds, which are sold for R$ 0.50/kg, can generate an income of R$ 18.00 to R$ 25.00 per year, assuming a productivity of 30 to 50 kg of seeds per year. The fruits are collected along beaches and streams throughout the Amazon region, stored, and sold to make plant-based butter that replaces animal tallow when making soap.


ECOLOGY

Ucuuba is a native tree of the floodplains found throughout the Amazonian region, extending to the states of Maranhão and Pernambuco. The indigenous name of the tree means grease (ucu) and tree (yba). This species prefers flooded regions, and reaches a height of 25 to 35 m. A mature tree can produce between 30 to 50 kg of seeds per year. The seeds are rich in fats (60%–70%) and extracts of oil / tallow can reach 50% per kilo of seeds (dry weight). A plantation with 150 trees per hectare can yield up to 7 tons of seeds per year, which can be processed into 3500 kilos of fat per hectare. Trees can grow 3 m over the course of two years. The wood is of excellent quality and is used for particleboard and laminated wood. The extraction of trees for these uses is endangering the remaining forest resources.

REFERENCES

LORENZI, H : Arvores Brasileiras – vol, 01. 1992, Instituto Plantarum, Nova Odessa – SP 384 pp.

MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.

MORS, W.B. et. al.: Medicinal Plants of Brazil, 2000, Reference Publications, Inc Algonac, Michigan.

PESCE, C.: Oleaginosas da Amazônia, 1941, Oficinas Gráficas da Revista Veterinária, Belém/PA.

VAN DEN BERG, M.E.: Plantas Medicinais na Amazônia – Contribuição ao seu conhecimento sistemático, 1993, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém. 206 pp

MURUMURU-Butter - (Astrocaryum murumurú, Arecaceae)











HARVESTING PERIOD



FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA

Murumuru butter is rich in lauric, myristic and oleic acid. The fruit contains a white butter that is odorless and tasteless and has the advantage of not becoming rancid easily, because it is rich in saturated short-chain fatty acids such as lauric and myristic acid. The quality of murumuru butter is similar to the seed fat of the tucumã palm and coconut palm, but it has the advantage of providing greater consistency because of its melting point (33 C), which is superior to that of the tucumã palm (30 ºC) and coconut palm (22.7 ºC). The quality of murumuru butter makes it possible to mix it with other vegetable butters that have a lower melting point. It can also be used to partially substitute cocoa butter in chocolate, providing a firmer consistency in environments where the temperature is higher.

Murumuru butter has the great advantage of having a low acidity value (4% to 5%), especially when made from fresh seeds, which reduces the cost of refinement. The use of murumuru butter can benefit the skin and hair. Murumuru butter is a highly nourishing emollient and moisturizer for hair, and helps the skin recover to its natural moisture content and elasticity. Murumuru butter is used in small proportions in shampoos (0.5% to 1%) and formulas for conditioners, creams and lotions, soaps, lipsticks and deodorants (0.5% to 8%).



ECOLOGY

The murumuru palm (Astrocaryum murumuru) is abundant in the Brazilian Amazon, extending to the borders of Bolivia and Peru. It prefers to grow in periodically flooded areas, especially on islands and in lowlands along the rivers throughout the Amazon River estuary and its tributaries, in dense or semi-open forests. It is also frequently found in the lowlands of Marajo Island. The stem, leaves and stalk of fruits are covered with black, hard and tough spines that can reach over 20 cm in length, which makes harvesting the fruits difficult.

When the fruit is ripe, the inflorescence falls to the ground. The fruit contains a yellow flesh that is highly appreciated by rodents as food, which leave the seeds clean. The seed has a hard shell and only in its dry state is it possible to separate the shell from the kernel of the seed. In general, 100 kg of dry seeds (12%–15% water) yields 27 kg to 29 kg of kernels that must be further dried until they contain 5% to 6% water, which prevents their deterioration during storage. From these kernels, 40% to 42% oil can be obtained. One single murumuru palm produces about 11 kg of dry seeds. Hydraulic extraction can produce 35% oil relative to the dry weight of the kernel, which is equivalent to about 3.8 liters of oil per murumuru palm. The kernals must be ground using grinding discs, before the hydraulic extraction process occurs, because they are hard.

A kilogram of fruit pulp contains approximately 50 seeds. Seed germination is moderate and growth in the field is slow.

REFERENCES

PESCE, C.: Oleaginosas da Amazônia, 1941, Oficinas Gráficas da Revista Veterinária, Belém/PA

MORAIS, L. R. Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado

PINTO, G.P.; Características físico-químicas e outras informações sobre as principais oleaginosas do Brasil. Recife: Instituto de Pesquisas e Experimentação Agropecuárias do Nordeste, Boletim Técnico18, 1963.

CUPUAÇU-Butter - (Theobroma grandiflorum, Malvaceae)













HARVESTING PERIOD



FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA

The extracted oil from cupuaçu seeds offers fantastic properties for the cosmetic industry. The cupuaçu butter is a triglyceride that has a balanced composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, which gives the product a low melting point (approximately 30 °C) and an appearance of a soft solid that penetrates quickly when in contact with skin. Cupuaçu butter posses a high capacity to absorb water, approximately 120% higher than that of lanolin, and can act as a plant-based substitute for it. It contains phytosterols (especially beta-sitosterol) that operate at the cellular level to regulate water balance and the activity of lipids in the superficial layer of the skin. Its ability to absorb large amounts of water can be attributed to the hydrogen bridges formed between the water molecules and phytosterols. Phytosterols have been used to treat dermatitis and disorders by stimulating the healing process.




POPULAR USES

For the most part, only the fruit pulp of cupuaçu is commonly consumed, in the form of juices, ice creams, creams, and sweets. The removal of the pulp from the seeds is rather laborious and performed with scissors. In some regions the seeds are fermented, dried in the sun, roasted, ground in a mortar, and used as chocolate (also called cupulate). In general, seeds are a byproduct of processing the pulp and are underutilized and thrown away. However, because there is a growing interest of the pharmaceutical industry to acquire the butter of cupuaçu, the fruit pulp industries and cooperatives are beginning to separate and process the seeds in larger quantities.


ECOLOGY

Cupuaçu, a native of Amazonia, is a small tree that is 4 to 8 meters (when cultivated) or up to 18 m high (in growing in the wild). It belongs to the same family as cacao. The fruit is very large, cylinder-shaped with rounded ends, up to 30 cm long, and has an average weight of 1.2 kilograms. At maturity the fruits fall, without the stalk, when they start releasing a characteristic odor, which indicates that they are ripe. The fruit contains a juicy and creamy pulp, with a characteristic flavor, which surrounds 20 to 30 large oval seeds. The butter of cupuaçu, similar to the "butter" of cacao but superior in quality, is extracted from the seeds and contains approximately 45% oil. On commercial plantations fruit production begins in the 3rd year and trees produce an average of 12 fruits per tree, per year, when mature. It is recommended that 180 trees be planted per hectare, which produces approximately 2148 fruits per year, 990 kg of pulp, and 443 kg of seeds (an average fruit is composed of 38.4% pulp, 17.2% seeds, and 44.4% skin). In general, 1000 kg of fresh seeds will produce 135 kg of cupuaçu butter.



REFERENCES

CHLEBAROV, S. 1990: "Die Kosmetichen Eigenschaften der Phytosterole"1 TW Dermatologie.

MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.

MÜLLER, C. H. et. al. : A cultura do cupuaçu. 1995, Embrapa-CPATU, coleção plantar 24, p.61.

WINKLER, A. 1977: Experimental studies of effect of water content of upper layers of human skin. Arztl. Kosmetologie,7 , 65-77.

BRASILNUT-Oil - (Bertholletia excelsa, Lecythidaceae)







HARVESTING PERIOD



FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA

The seed oil is highly nutritious, containing 75% unsaturated fatty acids composed mainly of palmitic, oleic, and linolenic acids, as well as the phytosterol sistosterol, and the fat-soluble vitamins A and E. Extra-virgin oil can be obtained during the first pressing of the seeds, which can be used as a substitute for olive oil because of its mild and pleasant flavor.

The seeds are also rich in magnesium, thiamine, and have the highest known concentrations of selenium (126 ppm) of any seed in the world, which has antioxidant properties. Some studies indicate that the consumption of selenium is associated with a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer and recommend the consumption of these seeds as a preventive measure.

The proteins in the seeds are very rich in sulfur amino acids, such as cysteine (8%) and methionine (18%); the presence of methionine enhances the adsorption of selenium and other minerals.

Due to its anti-free radical, antioxidant, and moisturizing properties, the cosmetic industry uses the seed oil from this tree in anti-aging skin products. It is also considered one of the best conditioners for damaged and dehydrated hair


POPULAR USES

The seed is widely used as an ingredient in cooking and in making cookies and ice cream. It is 18% protein, which is quite significant; the consumption of two seeds has the same amount of protein that is in one egg. The fresh seeds, similar to fresh coconut, are used in the preparation of typical regional dishes. The seed oil is applied to hair and, when exposed to the sun, the hair becomes brighter. The oil is also used by teenagers and women to prevent cellulite. A tea is prepared by leaving water in the fruit for a few hours, and is considered an excellent remedy for hepatitis, anemia, and intestinal problems. The oil from the seeds can be used for cooking (e.g, in salads and when braising food).


ECOLOGY

Castanha do Pará, more recently renamed the Brazil nut, is one of the most important species of Amazonian trees that produces a commodity. This tree plays a key role in the socio-economic organization of large forested regions. It is a very large tree, leafy and majestic, often reaching a height of 50 meters and can be more than 2 meters in diameter. The fruit of the Brazil nut is a large capsule containing 10 to 25 seeds (nuts). To remove the seeds the capsule needs to be broken, which has a very hard and woody shell that has an opening (when mature) that is small and does not allow the seeds to fall out.

ts wood is of excellent quality for construction and shipbuilding. Currently, it is prohibited by law to log native Brazil-nut trees, but this does not prevent people from planting them in order to reforest either in pure stands or in mixed plantations. In mixed plantations with perennial and / or semi-permanent crops, it is recommend that the trees are spaced 12 m apart, which corresponds to 69 trees per hectare. The seeds of this species germinate in 12 to 18 months and start producing fruits in their 12th year.

A mature tree produces an average 125 liters of seeds (at an average 45 seeds per liter). The peeled seed is approximately 70% oil. An oil press can extract (without the use of solvents) 40% of the oil, which means each tree can produce up to 50 liters of oil per year.



REFERENCES

CHUNHIENG, T. et. al: Study of selenium distribution in the protein fractions of the Brazil nut, Bertholletia excels; 2004,J. Agric. Food Chem. 52(13):4318-22.

KLEIN, E. A. et. al. "SELECT: the next prostate cancer prevention trial. Selenum and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial.", 2001, J. Urol. 166(4):1311-5.

MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.

MÜLLER, C. H. et. al.: A cultura da castanha-do-brasil, 1995, Embrapa-CPATU, Coleção plantar, 23, p.65.

SHANLEY, P. et. al. : Frutíferas e plantas úteis na vida amazônica, 2005, CIFOR, IMAZON, Editora Supercores, Belém, p. 300.

SUN. S.S.et. al.: Properties, biosynthesis and processing of a sulfur-rich protein in Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.). 1987, Eur. J. Biochem. 162(3):477-83

PRACACHY-Oil - Oil bean tree - (Pentaclethra macroloba, Leguminosae-Mimosoideae)












HARVESTING PERIOD



FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA

At 19%, pracachy oil has the highest known concentration of Behenic acid, 6 times higher than that of peanut oil that is extracted and used by the cosmetic industry, in makeup and hair products, due to its excellent moisturizing properties . Studies have reported about the insecticidal ability of pracachy oil, specifically against the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which is the vector of yellow fever and dengue. Fractions isolated from the oil have important bioactive compounds with anti-hemorrhagic activity, which can be used in the treatment of snakebites, or possibly as a new drug for the treatment of other diseases.



POPULAR USES

The oil of pracachy is extracted in a rudimentary way through cooking the dry mass of the seeds, which are first macerated in a mortar. It is often used to treat erysipelas, a skin infection usually caused by bacteria, as well as for treating hair, which makes it brighter, easier to comb, and helps to avoid hair loss. In the city of Belém, it was commonly used to treat stretch marks of young-adults and pregnant women (with good results). The inhabitants of the Amazon region use the bark of the stem to combat the effects of poison from snake and scorpion bites. For this, the bark is soaked and applied in the form of a plaster on the site of the bite. Today the seeds are collected (along rivers, streams, and beaches), dried in the sun, and stored for selling.


ECOLOGY

This species is distributed throughout northern Brazil, Guyana, Trinidad, and some regions of Central America. The tree is medium in size (8–14 m), found in flooded areas, and forms half-moon shaped fruit pods, 20 to 25 cm long, containing 4 to 8 seeds. Approximately 35 fruits are needed to obtain one kilo of seeds, which contain approximately 30% oil (when the seeds are dry). Seed germination takes 30 to 40 days and the germination rate is relatively high; the plants grow fast in floodplains. On terra firme the plants tolerate selective pruning and are nitrogen-fixing pioneer species that show great potential for forest regeneration and restoration of degraded areas.

REFERENCES

PESCE, C.: Oleaginosas da Amazônia, 1941, Oficinas Gráficas da Revista Veterinária, Belém/PA.

MORAIS, L.R.: Produção de óleo de duas espécies amazônicas por prensagem: Bacuri Platonia insignis (Mart.) e Pracachy Pentaclethra macroloba (Willd), 2005, Monografia em Curso de Mestrado Em Química Orgânica, Universidade Federal do Pará,Centro de Ciências Exatas e Naturais 76pp. Não publicada.

SANTIAGO, G. M. P et. al.: Avaliação da atividade larvicida de saponinas triterpênicas isoladas de Pentaclethra macroloba (Willd.) Kuntze (Fabaceae) e Cordia piauhiensis Fresen (Boraginaceae) sobre Aedes aegypti. 2005, Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. vol.1 5 no.3 João Pessoa.

MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.

DA SILVA, J. O. et al.: Triterpenoid saponins, new metalloprotease snake venom inhibitors isolated from Pentaclethra macroloba. 2007, Toxicon. 50(2):283-91. Epub.

LORENZI, H. :Árvores Brasileiras, 2002. Vol. 2, 2ª edição, Instituto Plantarum, Nova Odessa, SP, PP.368.

PASSION FRUIT-Oil - (Passiflora edulis, Passifloraceae)











HARVESTING PERIOD



FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA

Passion fruit oil is yellow, has a pleasant taste and odor, and has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. It has a relaxing aromatic substance (passiflorin) that reduces anxiety, improves sleep, and reduces stress and fatigue. Passion fruit oil is rich in linoleic acid, which acts to aid in the restoration of the lipid layer of the skin and provides moisturizing and emollient properties that increase the silkiness of the skin. The creams and soaps, which include this oil, derived from the seeds of the passion fruit, provide a relaxing and anti-stress sensation


POPULAR USES

Passion fruits are primarily used for food, in the form of juices, jams, jellies, ice cream and liqueurs. It is known for its sedative property, but its attractive aroma and flavor make the passion fruit an important product for the industry. The leaves and juice contain passiflorin, a natural sedative, and tea prepared with leaves has a diuretic effect. It also shows purgative, sedative and anti-inflammatory properties. The seeds act as antihelminthics. Due to these characteristics, it is included in the monograph of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. It is popularly believed that the tea leaves, besides acting as a sedative, are also an effective antipyretic and help to treat skin inflammation, but these two uses are based on popular beliefs and have not been scientifically proven to work.


ECOLOGY

The passion fruit originated in tropical America, prefers hot and humid climates and is cultivated in all tropical countries. Currently Brazil is the world's leading producer of passion fruits. In the state of Pará, there is a long tradition of cultivating passion fruit, especially in the Bragança region, where 33,000 tons of fruit were produced in 2008.

Passion fruits are climbing plants that need a support structure to grow on, because the stems of this plant are semi-woody and do not allow it to stand on its own. The support structure for passion fruit is built with wooden stakes and smooth wire. A good support system allows the branches to have enough space to grow, which allows productive branches to receive the proper amount of light. Commercial production starts ten months after planting. The yield of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is estimated to be approximately 10 tons/ha/year. The production cycle usually last about 2 to 3 years.

The peel of passion fruit, which represents 40% to 50% of the fruit weight, is considered industrial waste, as well as the seeds, which represent about 6% to 12% of the total fruit weight. Oil can be extracted from the seeds for industrial use. The oil yield from the dry seeds of passion fruit reaches about 25%. One hectare can produce approximately 480 kg of dry seed, which equals 96 kg of oil when using cold extraction.



REFERENCES

CALVACANTE, P. B. (1996): Frutas comestíveis da Amazônia, 6ª edição, CNPq/Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém/PA, p. 279.

http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br (acessed on 11/11/2009)

MORAIS, L. R. Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado

TOCCHINI, R. P. (1994): Processamento: produtos, caracterização e utilização. In: Maracujá: cultura, matéria-prima e aspectos econômicos. Campinas: ITAL, p. 161-175.

BURITI-Oil - Moriche Palm (Mauritia flexuosa, Arecaceae)













HARVESTING PERIOD (every 2 years)

FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA

The buriti oil is very rich in oleic acid (72.5%), a type of mono-unsaturated fatty acid that is abundant in olive oil and is associated with lowering the risk of coronary heart disease. Furthermore, it is considered to be the richest natural source in beta-carotene (30 milligrams/100 g pulp), exceeding 5 times what is found in carrots (6,6 milligrams/100 g pulp). In the buriti oil the concentration is even higher with 118 milligrams/100 g of oil. Beta-carotene is one of the most powerful antioxidants, known for its ability to renew cells, and serves as an excellent natural skin exfoliator. Due to its ability to absorb radiation in the range of visible and ultraviolet light, the oil is used by the cosmetic industry as a solar filter that reduces the dryness of the skin. IIn anti-aging formulas this oil increases the elasticity of the skin.

POPULAR USES

The buriti is a palm with multiple uses. New leaves and their stalks are frequently employed in crafts, such as baskets, and the fruit pulp is processed into a juice called “wine” and sweets, which are a popular food in the Amazon region. The buriti oil, which is edible, is used in frying and applied to skin to treat sunburns, which causes immediate relief and helps the skin to heal. Due to its powerful ability to detoxify and combat allergic reactions, the caboclos treat snake and scorpion bites by applying the oil to the wound. The oil is also used to treat asthma by ingesting half a spoon of oil per day, which reduces coughing and relieves breathing. Currently, the fruit pulp is commercialized in local markets, in the countryside, for the production of “wine” that replaces açaí during the rainy period, which is from January to June and is the low production period for açaí. There are companies that sell the fresh fruit pulp for the extraction of oil; others prefer the dry pulp, called buriti flour, because the pulp is very perishable.


ECOLOGY

Buriti is a palm tree (Mauritia vinifera and M. flexuosa), which dominates expansive areas and covers nearly all of central Brazil and the lowlands of southern Amazonia, where there are streams. It is an elegant tree that can reach 35 meters and forms large leaves with a rounded crown. The flowers are yellowish, and appear from December to April. Its fruits are ellipsoidal, chestnut colored, and have a surface coated with shiny scales. The fruits have a yellow flesh that covers a hard oval seed, which is edible. The trees fruit from December to June. The buriti palm naturally occurs alone or in communities, and requires an abundant supply of water.

For this reason, they dominate floodplains and swamps where the soil is soft and moist. The location where they grow is the result of the their seeds being dispersed by water when an area is inundated. This species is dioecious; plants have only male or female flowers. Only individuals with female flowers form fruits.

Approximately 60 female and 80 male buriti palms occur in one hectare. An adult palm can produce up to 200 kg of fruit, which can be processed into 30 kg of flour or 5 to 6 liters of finally extracted oil (the flour contains 22% oil). Assuming an average of 60 buriti palms per hectare, 300 to 360 liters of oil can be extracted per hectare. The reproductive cycle occurs every two years, but there are communities that mange their natural buriti groves by cutting and removing the small and dried infructescences (the stalks with fruits) and removing natural competitors, and thus have a year of low productivity followed by a year of high productivity.

REFERENCES

LIMA, M.C.C.: Atividade de Vitamina A do Doce de Buriti e Seu Efeito no Tratamento e Prevenção da Hipovitaminose em crianças. 1987, Dissertação de mestrado, Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 125 pp. (citado por SHANLEY, 2005).

Ao óleo de buriti ao filtro solar: Pesquisadores vêem utilidade do óleo de buriti na confecção de óculos e películas solares. Diário do Pará, Belém (16.07.2006).

PIO CORREA, A. M.: Dicionário de Plantas Úteis do Brasil; 1926, Imprensa Nacional, Rio de Janeiro , p. 339.

SHANLEY, P. et. al. : Frutíferas e plantas úteis na vida amazônica, 2005, CIFOR, IMAZON, Editora Supercores, Belém, p. 300.

MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.

ANDIROBA-Oil - Crabwood (Carapa guianensis, Meliáceae)

HARVESTING PERIOD

FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL DATA

Andiroba oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids, including oleic, palmitic, myristic and linoleic acids, and contains no fatty components such as triterpenes, tannins, and alkaloids, which are isolated as Andirobina and Carapina. The bitter taste of the oil is attributed to a group of terpene chemicals called meliacins, which are very similar to the bitter antimalarial chemicals. Recently, one of these meliacins, called gedunin, was documented to have pest control properties and antimalarial effects equal to that of quinine. A chemical analysis of andiroba oil identified the anti-inflammatory named andirobina, which has healing and insect repelling properties that are attributed to the presence of limonoids. The interest in using andiroba oil in cosmetics has increased significantly, especially after the patenting of a cream by Yves Rocher, from France, that has moisturizing and anticellulite properties based on this oil.

Andiroba candles are used as an effective repellent of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a vector of yellow fever and dengue. When burned the candles release an agent that inhibits the hunger of the mosquitoes, therefore reducing its need to bite. Research has shown this method is 100% effective as a mosquito repellent, a result that is not found in any other product on the market designed to repel these insects. In addition to this property, the candle is completely non-toxic, produces no smoke, and does not contain perfume.

POPULAR USES

Andiroba oil is one of the most commonly sold medicinal oils in the Amazon. Mixed with honey and copaiba, it is a very popular anti-inflammatory medication used to combat throat infections and influenza. It also strengthens and embellishes hair, and when used in soap it acts as a magic remedy for acne. Due to its good skin penetration, it is often used in massages to relieve bruises, dislocations, arthritis and rheumatism, and acts to sooth the surface of the skin and to bleach superficial stains. It is also used to repel mosquitoes. Traditionally, an oilseed cake is formed into balls and burned and also mixed with annatto (Bixa orellana) and formed into a paste that is used to protect the body from mosquito bites.


ECOLOGY

This species is a neotropical tree that occurs in southern Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, and the Caribbean islands. In Brazil, it is found from sea level to 350 m elevation, throughout the Amazon basin, both in terra firme forests and on land that is temporarily flooded, along rivers and streams and near the mangroves. The seeds float and can be dispersed by water. However, in forests, most fruits and seeds are found under the parent tree. The seeds are eaten by rodents, armadillos, peccaries, pacas, deer, cotias, etc. The origin of the name andiroba is from nhandi (oil) and rob (bitter). Andiroba belongs to the same family as the mahogany and cedar tree, and is highly demanded by sawmills because it is very resistant to insect attacks.

IIndividuals of andiroba can reach 30 meters in height and grow well to different environments, such as flooded areas and terra firme. A mature tree can produce up to 120 kg of seeds per year (average 50 kg / year and tree). The seeds contain 43% fat. To produce a liter of oil, using rudimentary methods, 12 kg of seeds are needed. To extract the same amount, a mechanical press requires only 4 kg of dry seeds and only 3 kg of seeds are needed when using chemical solvents. The amount of oil that can be produced from the seeds of one andiroba tree can reach 10 liters per year, using rudimentary methods, and up to 30 liters using industrial techniques.

Due to its ability to grow rapidly and because of its valuable timber, andiroba is used in intercropped and agroforestry systems. Plantations in monoculture are compromised by Hypsipyla grandella, which attacks the terminal bud of the tree and inhibits further growth. This insect is a major pest of species of Meliaceae in the Amazon region. Although this has consequences when cultivating the tree for its wood, fruit production remains the same for individuals that survive an attack, which is not as intense as attacks on mahogany.

REFERENCES

FERRAZ, I. D. K. et. al.: Andiroba Carapa guianensis e Carapa procera, 2003, Manual de sementes da Amazõnia, Fascíiculo I.

GILBERT, B., et al. "Activities of the Pharmaceutical Technology Institute of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation with medicinal, insecticidal and insect repellent plants." An. Acad. Bras. Cienc. 1999; 71(2): 265-71.

MACKINNON, S., et al. “Antimalarial activity of tropical Meliaceae extracts and gedunin derivatives.” J. Nat. Prod. 1997; 60(4): 336-41.

MORAIS, L. R. : Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado.

MORTON, J. F.: Atlas of Medicinal Plants of Middle America, 1981.

PESCE, C.: Oleaginosas da Amazônia, 1941, Oficinas Gráficas da Revista Veterinária, Belém/PA.

ROY, A., et al. “Limonoids: overview of significant bioactive triterpenes distributed in plants kingdom. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2006; 29(2): 191-201.

SOUZA, C. R. et. al.: Andiroba Carapa guianensis, 2006, Embrapa Ocidental, Manaus, Documento 48, p. 12.

Jabón Esfoliante con Esponja Vegetal
Saludables y ecológicas realizan un peeling natural: limpia y suaviza la piel dejando un ligero perfume. La combinación de la esponja con el jabón le confere una característica especial ya que favorece un peeling tonificante, limpia en profundidad los poros de la piel eliminando las celulas muertas, activa la circulación, combate la celulitis ye hidrata al mismo tiempo. Una excelente elección a la hora de proteger y cuidar la piel.

Cremas Ecológicas Amabelle Natur
100% Orgánica y Vegetal

Fabricadas siguiendo un rigoroso proceso de higienización y purificación. Hidratan en profundidad, devolviéndole a la piel su humedad y elasticidad natural. Promueven la regeneración celular de la dermis, devolviéndole a la piel suavidad y luminosidad. Cremas ideadas para hidratar, reparar, proteger, estimular y reafirmar. Combaten problemas como el envejecimiento, la celulitis, manchas, espinillas, acnés, cicatrices, sequedad corporal y irritaciones provocadas por el frío o calor, cuidando el cuerpo en cada detalle.




Aceites Ecológicos Amabelle Natur 100% Orgánico y Vegetal
Extraídos de semillas originarias de la selva amazónica, poseen principios que limpian y revitalizan la superficie corporal, combatiendo el envejecimiento precoz así como otros problemas propios de la piel. Además pueden ser usados en el masaje terapéutico gracias a sus propiedades como relajantes musculares. Son excelentes hidratantes y cicatrizantes, dejando sobre la piel una sensación sedosa y saludable.





Jabones Eológicos Amabelle Natur 100% Orgánico y Vegetal
Elaborados artesanalmente a partir de aceites naturales, por lo que no contienen grasas de origen animal. Están levemente aromatizados con esencias propias de la selva amazónica. No solo limpian e hidratan la piel, sino que también poseen propiedades terapéuticas. Muy eficaces en el cuidado diario de la piel, proporcionándole vida y luminosidad.

Amabelle Natur cuenta con la colaboración de Ivone de Almeida, Terapeuta, quiromasajista y Fisioterapeuta, con años de experiencia en la manipulación y aplicación de Cosmética Natural elaborada con plantas de la Amazonia.