Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia), a fruit from Peru, contains vitamin C and anthocyanins, antioxidants. The seeds have not been well-studied, but their main ingredient is betulinic acid. Anti-inflammatory activity was found in those seed extracts.
Paw swelling (edema) was induced in mice by an inflammatory agent to test camu-camu. One control group was treated with distilled water, another was pretreated with a camu-camu seed extract, and a third was treated by an anti-inflammatory hormone (dexamethasone). The paw edema was “perfectly” prevented by dexamethasone. Pretreatment with camu-camu extract “significantly” reduced the paw edema.
The cellular production of nitric oxide (NO) with camu-camu treatment was studied in cells. NO production was inhibited by camu-camu extract. The active ingredient was found to be betulinic acid, a triterpene chemical. The fruit pulp of camu-camu has not been found to be anti-inflammatory and does not contain betulinic acid. (The fruit pulp does contain ellagic acid.)
CONCLUSION: The seeds of camu-camu should be a good food material with anti-inflammatory effects. “Camu-camu seed may be an important source of health food.”
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PMID: 21512298.
Summary #577.
