British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 12(1): 1-15, 2016, Article no.BJPR.26782 ISSN: 2231-2919, NLM ID: 101631759 SCIENCEDOMAIN international www.sciencedomain.org Brazilian Myrtaceae Fruits: A Review of Anticancer Proprieties Nayara Simas Frauches 1* , Thuane Oliveira do Amaral 1, Caroline Bekman Diniz Largueza 1 and Anderson Junger Teodoro 1 1Nutritional Biochemistry Core, Laboratory of Food Function and Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Authors AJT, CBDL, NSF and TOA designed the study and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors NSF and CBDL managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/BJPR/2016/26782 Editor(s): (1) Dongdong Wang, Department of Pharmacogonosy, West China College of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, China. Reviewers: (1) Boguslaw Lipinski, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. (2) B. Ravishankar, SDM Centre for Research in Ayurveda and Allied Sciences, Udupi, India. Complete Peer review History: http://sciencedomain.org/review-history/14893 Received 1st May 2016 Accepted 27 th May 2016 Review Article Published 3rd June 2016 ABSTRACT The fruits belonging to Myrtaceae family are widely distributed throughout the Brazilian territory and are considered one of the most important families of the Brazilian flora, due to the high prevalence of species edible or used in traditional medicine. Medicinally, the fruits are reported to have antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antitumoral activity. Among these properties a lot of research has established that the dietary intake of this fruit has a positive and profound impact on human health and in chronic diseases. Evidences suggest that, rich diets with colored fruits, particularly belonging to Myrtaceae family, are highly chemoprotective because of their bioactive compounds. This review showed that the bioactive compounds presents in Myrtaceae fruits have anticancer properties and exhibit their chemoprevention effects, elucidating the importance of consuming these fruits. Keywords: Myrtaceae family; cancer; anticancer properties, antioxidant; anthocyanins. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Frauches et al.; BJPR, 12(1): 1-15, 2016; Article no.BJPR.26782 1. INTRODUCTION effects, including the anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and anti-cancer properties [8-10]. The etiology of various diseases has been associated with oxidative damage induced in Jabuticaba ( Myrciaria caulifora ), malay apple cells and tissues, including degenerative (Syzygium malaccensis ), jamun berry ( Eugenia diseases such as heart disease, atherosclerosis, jambolana ) stand out amidst the native species pulmonary disorders and certain types of cancer. Myrtaceae family in Brazil because of ease of Nutritional epidemiological studies show a planting and increased consumption. Because of reduction of these diseases in consumers of fruit the evidence that shows important roles in the and vegetables. Thus, an increase in the prevention and in the treatment of chronic consumption of tropical fruits due to nutritional, diseases such as cancer, this article discusses functional and therapeutic properties has been antioxidants and anti-cancer mechanisms observed worldwide [1]. attributed to these Myrtaceae family’s species. Foods rich in antioxidants reduce the incidence 2. Myrtaceae FAMILY and mortality from certain cancers. The fruits contain high levels of antioxidants such as polyphenols, phenolic acids, carotenoids, The Myrtaceae family is well defined, with about flavonoids and anthocyanins can lower the levels 140 genera and about 3500-5800 species, found of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the in tropical forests; it is the one of the predominant organisms of mammals and thus avoid damage groups in the Atlantic Forest and is considered to DNA and the initiation of mutations that one of the most important families of the prevent tumor progression [2,3]. Brazilian flora, due to the high prevalence of species edible or used in traditional medicine. The genus Eucalyptus , Malaleuca , Eugenia , Myrcia, Syzygium and Psidium belong to the All the Brazilian Myrtaceae is included in the tribe Myrtaceae family [4,5]. They are commonly of Myrteae , represented by 23 genera and 1000 found in tropical forests from the Amazon to the species. The main genera of these families are southern region of Brazil [6]. Among the Brazilian Eucalyptus (300 species), Malaleuca (100 native species, the Myrtaceae family stands out species), Eugenics (600 species), Myrcia (300 for presenting species that produce small fruit espécies), Syzygium (200 species) and Psidium and use in traditional medicine. In addition to (100 species) [1-3]. their use as food, many of these fruits have been used in traditional medical practices due to their They consist of trees or shrubs aromatic and are important bioactive potential [4]. characterized by having simple, opposite leaves and aromatic glands. The flowers are The protective effect exerted by the fruit has regular, hermaphrodite, solitary or aggregated in been attributed to the presence of polyphenols, flowering and fruits usually present in the form of which are the most abundant natural dietary soft or capsule [4]. antioxidants. The polyphenol antioxidant capacity may be attributed to the reducing power of the aromatic hydroxyl group responsible for the These fruits are mostly red to purple drupes, with reduction of reactive free radicals, this activity 2–4 cm in diameter, although some species has been influenced by the number and the produce larger or less pigmented fruit. In the position of the OH groups [7]. tropics, these species are often cultivated in home gardens, small-scale agricultural plots, or Among the polyphenols present in foods, there wild-harvested. are anthocyanins, which phenolic compounds are belonging to the group of flavonoids that are The family has great economic importance, since responsible for the color of bright red to violet several species are used in the food they are fruits. Although currently not considered as a primarily eaten fresh or used to make jams, nutrient, anthocyanins have received much desserts, wines, liquors, and vinegars, and can attention because of their biological activity. be found in local markets. In addition to their use Studies suggest that plant food containing as food, many of these fruits have been used in secondary metabolic compounds, when often divergent traditional medical practices for a ingested through the diet, show antioxidant ability variety of illnesses and conditions. The most in capturing free radicals. This antioxidant action used parts are leaves, bark and also the fruits is responsible for conferring beneficial health that are commonly consumed [5]. 2 Frauches et al.; BJPR, 12(1): 1-15, 2016; Article no.BJPR.26782 3. MYRTACEAE FRUITS color has great visual impact [13]. Fruiting in Brazil occurs in the period from January to May. 3.1 Jabuticaba The chemical composition of different parts of The jabuticaba is the result of jabuticabeira fruit these plants contains several active constituents tree that belongs to the Myrtaceae family. Its such as flavonoids, gallic acid, ellagic acid and distribution occurs naturally in tropical areas of tannins, these bioactive compounds have been Brazil and is originally from the Atlantic Forest considered to possess several medicines and can be found from the state of Pará of Rio properties in the traditional system of medicine, Grande do Sul, with the highest production of this the powdered seeds are a well known Indian folk fruit in the Southeast. Among the currently known medicine for treatment of diabetes mellitus [17]. species, we highlight the Myrciaria cauliflora They also have anti-diarrheal, anti-bacterial and (DC) Berg and Myrciaria jabuticaba (Vell) Berg , anti-inflammatory activities [18]. The pulp and the the main varieties jabuticaba sabará and São seeds of jambolan contain in their composition Paulo jabuticaba [11]. high content of anthocyanins and phenolics that exhibit anticarcinogenic proprieties such as The jabuticabeira bears fruit in two periods inhibition of the tumor growth [19,20]. throughout the year, between August and September and January and February. It is a 3.3 Malay Apple medium-sized tree, whose leaves are lance- shaped, the flowers are white, the globular fruits The jambeiro ( Syzygium malaccense L. Merr & that have bark color ranging from red to black Perry .) belongs to Mytarceae family, with and whitish pulp that is both sweet and sour time approximately 3,000 species of trees and shrubs, and quite tasty [12]. The fruits often have only widely distributed in Brazilian forests and tropical one seed, but may contain up to four [13]. and subtropical regions of the world [21,22]. Despite being originally from Southeast Asia, the The fruit has a sweet and sub acid taste probably jambeiro, can be easily found in the northern, due to its sugar, organic acid and terpene northeastern and southeastern Brazil [23,24]. contents [14-15]. Jabuticaba peels are a source The fruits of jambeiro are piriform and feature of anthocyanins, the flavonoids responsible for dark red color, slightly sweet, exuding aroma of the dark color of the fruit. These pigments roses. The natural pigment present in the peel of