HerbalGram 94 • 2012 May-July Camu-Camu Profile • Post-fermented Tea Benefits • Chocolate & Heart Disease • Cannabis Update Ginkgo Improves Cognition • Resveratrol Update • White Bean Extract & Weight Loss Sausage Tree: Versatile African Versatile Herb Tree: Sausage The Journal of the American Botanical Council Number 94 | May - July 2012 Benefits “Grapefruit SeedAdulteration • Extract” Tea • • Post-fermented Chocolate & Heart Disease • White Bean ExtractLoss Weight & Sausage Tree Versatile African Herb “Grapefruit Seed Extract” Adulteration US/CAN $6.95 www.herbalgram.org www.herbalgram.org M I S S I O N D R I V E N : Educate & Inspire Making Outstanding Extracts recognition of our work in the propagation and con- servation of endangered medicinal plants. Has Never Been Enough. It’s seen in our higher education scholarship fund, Excellence in herbal extraction is at the heart of what which provides financial assistance to students of we do. 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Herb Profile Camu-camu Myrciaria dubia Family: Myrtaceae INTRODUCTION a traditional herbal remedy for any condition in the Amazon region.1 In Iquitos, the fruit recently has become popular in Camu-camu, is a fruit-bearing shrub or small tree in 1,3,8 the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) that grows around semi- to juice drinks, liqueurs, and ice cream. Currently, in Peru, fully-flooded areas from Brazil to Peru, particularly around the juice is drunk straight or with water for flu, and stomach ox-bow lakes where there is not much current.1-3 In Brazil, its and intestinal conditions. Peruvians also make the bark into a geographical distribution ranges from the Atlantic coast in poultice for wounds and take a bark decoction with fruit juice and rum for rheumatism.8 Some Peruvians used it as fish bait the state of Pará through the states of Roraima, Amazonas, 4 Rondônia, and to the border with Peru.4 It grows approxi- and as a source of high-quality firewood. mately 6-9 feet (2-3 meters) tall and When its high vitamin C content was discovered, research- has small white flowers. The plant ers and product developers in coun- Camu camu Myrciaria dubia. Photo ©2012 DirecTrade tries around the world became inter- produces green fruit 1 inch (2-3 cm) 1 in diameter that turns reddish-purple ested in the plant. The vitamin C as it ripens during flooding or high- concentration of fresh camu-camu water seasons.1 The simple leaves fruit averages 2.4 to 3.0 grams of are elongated with pointed tips and ascorbic acid per 100 g of fresh pulp, which is roughly 30 times that are from 1.5 to 4 inches (4-10 cm) 1,3,5,8,9 long and 1 to 1.5 inches (2-4 cm) of an orange. Additionally, it wide.2 However, the variability in provides 10 times more iron, 3 times both leaf and fruit size can be much more niacin, twice as much ribofla- vin, and 50% more phosphorus than greater. For example, trees along the 1 Putumayo River, an Amazon tribu- oranges. The fruits also provide 711 tary which forms part of Colombia’s mg/kg of potassium, or 18 mEq border with Ecuador, were found to (milliequivalents) of potassium per have leaves more than 2.75 inches kg; the daily recommended amount is about 2,000 mg per day, or 51 (7 cm) wide and 5.5 inches (14 cm) 1,10 long and fruits over 2 inches (4 cm) mEq. Beta-carotene, calcium, in diameter.5 and thiamin are also found in the In Peru, 2 different species are fruit, as is the anthocyanin, cyan- idin 3-glucoside, and delphinidin referred to as camu-camu. “Camu- 11,12 camu arbustivo” (Myrciaria dubia) 3-glucoside. is widely distributed in the state Based on the vitamin C content, of Loreto in the river basins of the author and retired economic bota- Nanay, Napo, Ucayali, Marañon, nist, James A. Duke, PhD, suggests Tiger, Tapíche, Yarapa, Tahuayo, Pintuyacu, Itaya, Ampiyacu, that the fruit may be used for aging, arthritis, asthma, cardio- Maniti, Oroza, Putumayo, Yavari, and Curaray. “Camu-camu protection, the common cold, Crohn’s disease, eczema, flu, arbóreo” (M. floribunda) occurs throughout the southern part glaucoma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, osteo- 3,6 porosis, pain, and Parkinson’s, although research for most of of the Peruvian Amazon in the state of Ucayali. For the 8 purposes of this article, only M. dubia will be discussed. these theoretical applications has not been conducted. HISTORY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE CURRENT AUTHORIZED USES IN COSMETICS, FOODS, AND MEDICINES Myrciaria dubia (syn: M. paraensis, Psidium dubium) has numerous common names in addition to camu-camu, includ- In a February 2012 draft revision of the Codex Alimen- ing camo camo (Peru); araza de agua (Spanish); camu-camu tarius Commission classification of foods and animal feeds, negro (Peru); guapuro blanco (Bolivia); rumberry (English); it is proposed that “Rumberry” (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) cacari, azedinha, miraúba, or muraúba (Brazil); algracia, guaya- McVaugh) be listed within commodity sub-group 005A billo blanco guayabito limoncillo 5,7 “Assorted tropical and sub-tropical fruits – edible peel – , , and (Venezuela). 13 The fruit was first sold in Iquitos, Peru as one of a multi- small”. In the European Union (EU), camu-camu fruit and tude of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) extracted from pulp are presently classified as “novel” foods with status “FS,” the wild, but until its promotion as an edible fruit in the meaning “According to information available to Member States 1970s, there was no significant international market for it as an competent authorities this product was used only as or in food NTFP.5 There is very little published folklore on camu-camu supplements (FS) before 15 May 1997. Any other food uses of 5 this product have to be authorised pursuant to the Novel Food as an edible fruit. Rarely was the sour, acidic fruit eaten by 14 the people of the rainforest and it has not been documented as Regulation.” As such, the oral use of camu-camu in the EU Continued on page 2 www.herbalgram.org • 2012 • I SSUE 94 • 1 presently is authorized only as a component of food supplement camu-camu fruit, but also other antioxidant/anti-inflammatory period. However, farmers cultivating the trees products,15 for example as a source of vitamin C.16 Through the components and/or substances that help increase the rate of were concerned that the yields from the World Trade Organization (WTO) process, the government of absorption of vitamin C. planted stock were not as high as from wild Peru is proposing that “traditional products” such as camu-camu In a 2002 study evaluating the effects of camu-camu fruit trees. Based on the variations in phenology that have a history of safe consumption in the country of origin extract with açaí (Euterpe oleracea, Arecaceae) fruit juice as (season and climactic effects on plants) and and other parts of the world, barring the EU, be excluded from sources of vitamin C and iron in preschoolers with mild anemia, morphology of cultivated trees, there is also the scope of Regulation 258/97 of the European Parliament and 85 children (2 to 6 years old of both sexes) were randomly concern that the vitamin C content from the of the Council concerning novel foods and novel food ingredi- divided into 5 groups to take (once daily with lunch) 150 mL fruit of these trees may not be as substantial ents.17 açaí juice (standardized to 2 mg iron), or 150 mL açaí juice (2 mg as from those in the wild, although there are Concerning the use of camu-camu in cosmetic products in the iron) with camu-camu extract (40 mg vitamin C), or iron amino no published reports of analysis of vitamin C EU, the European Commission Health and Consumers Direc- acid chelate 1 mg, or iron amino acid chelate 2 mg, or deionized levels to substantiate this concern.5 torate lists both “Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract” and “Myrciaria water for 120 days.25 Regardless of the source of iron, no signifi- Now that widespread commercialization Dubia Seed Extract” for use as a skin-conditioning (maintains cant differences in hemoglobin concentrations were observed, is taking place, a better understanding of the skin in good condition) ingredient. “Myrciaria Dubia Fruit although there was a better recovery of anemic children in the 2 the genetic variation is necessary to improve Juice” (the juice expressed from the fruit) is listed for both anti- mg iron amino acid chelate group. Significant weight gain was the productivity and vitamin C content of oxidant (inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding observed in both the açaí and açaí plus camu-camu groups.