Amazonian fruits: A systematic review of the literature and critical analysis of its trends

Abstract

The Amazon is rich in fruits that are primarily used by the local population for food purposes. In addition to their nutritional benefits, they are also important for the economic development of the region. In recent years, these fruits have attracted considerable attention from researchers due to their chemical composition, properties, and potential applications. The aim of this study was to analyze the research trends surrounding Amazonian fruits. The documents used in this review include 75 research articles (identified through the Ordinatio index) retrieved from Scopus, and 21 patents retrieved from Google Patents and Espacenet, focusing on the use of Amazonian fruits in food technology. Amazonian fruits have been explored for their content of phenolic compounds (especially anthocyanins), carotenoids, vitamins (mainly ascorbic acid), oils, and fibers, all of which are associated with various bioactivities. In addition to the pulp, the waste generated from these fruits also contains chemical constituents with high potential, although they are usually discarded. Therefore, there is a need for discussion among different industrial and governmental sectors to implement production chains, generate income, and provide appropriate disposal for the by-products generated during the processing of Amazonian fruits, thus contributing to sustainable economic development in the Amazon. However, in general, it is observed that although many interesting results have been published, much of the academic knowledge produced has yet to be converted into income generation, mainly through the patenting of products and processes. This may be linked to a lack of investment and/or interest/awareness from the researchers themselves.