Biomes of Brazil Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds

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Biomes of Brazil

Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds

Roberto de Paula do Nascimento | Ana Paula da Fonseca Machado

Technology & Engineering / Food Science / General

Brazil is home to some of the most biodiverse biomes in the world. The country has a total of six well-defined geographical communities, known as Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa, and Pantanal. Many native and non-native plants, including edible fruits and vegetables, are naturally found in these regions, providing food for animals, as well as income and sustenance for local populations. Examples of native species include açaí (Euterpe oleracea) and Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) from the Amazon, jaboticaba (Plinia spp.) and juçara (Euterpe edulis) from the Atlantic Forest, cashew (Anacardium occidentale) and umbu (Spondias tuberosa) from Caatinga, baru nut (Dipteryx alata) and pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) from Cerrado, butiá (Butia spp.) and guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa) from Pampa, and arroz-do-campo (Oryza latifolia) and tarumã (Vitex cymosa) from Pantanal. Recently, a growing amount of research has been dedicated to investigating the chemical composition of these crops, as well as their industrial utilization and potential as functional foods. Many of Brazil's native foods are rich sources of dietary fibers and bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, polyphenols, and terpenes, which may contribute to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative activities. In this regard, experimental studies have shown that some of these products and their molecules may help mitigate the consequences of several chronic diseases, such as asthma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, depression, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, and steatosis. Despite these promising findings, the knowledge about most Brazilian plants is still limited to local communities, which underscores the need to promote their value and potential. Therefore, this book aims to present and organize information about Brazil's six biomes by describing their main geographic characteristics, the fruits and vegetables found in each region, as well as their bioactive composition and health effects. In addition, the book will highlight the importance of valuing Brazil's food byproducts, as a way of promoting a circular economy and the development of novel food products. Information regarding the urgency of preserving forests, with attention to data on deforestation and species extinction, will also be presented. This book will be of particular interest to researchers, educators, and students in food and health sciences, as well as professionals working in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.

Roberto de Paula do Nascimento, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher
Nutritionist with a Master’s in Sciences (2018) and PhD in Food and Nutrition (2024). Currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas-Brazil, with a scholarship from the São Paulo Research Foundation. Roberto Nascimento has international experience, having completed an undergraduate internship (2013) at Hanyang University-South Korea and two doctoral research internships at the University of Granada-Spain (2021) and Cardiff University-Wales (2023). Roberto’s research encompasses in vitro, animal, and human studies, with current work focusing on the effects of jaboticaba-based products on inflammatory bowel diseases. In particular, he has more than 10 years of experience with natural plant products applied to animal experimentation. The researcher has worked with many crops and Brazilian fruits, including açaí (Euterpe oleracea), extra-virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha), juçara (Euterpe edulis), and jaboticaba (Plinia jaboticaba). Roberto Nascimento has published (2011-2026) 28 articles, 11 book chapters, and 2 edited books, which have contributed to more than 650 citations in literature (Google Scholar). Dr. Roberto Nascimento's main research interests include the following themes: animal experimentation, native Brazilian fruits, bioactive compounds, inflammatory bowel diseases, and colorectal cancer.
 
Ana Paula da Fonseca Machado, PhD, Professor, Researcher
Food engineer with a Master’s (2014) and PhD (2018) in Food Engineering. Completed a postdoctoral fellowship (2017-2022) at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas-Brazil, with a scholarship from the São Paulo Research Foundation, and worked as a visiting professor (2022-2024) at the Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados-Brazil. Currently working as a visiting professor at the Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia. Ana Paula Machado has international experience as she accomplished a doctoral research internship at the Universidad de Valladolid-Spain (2017) and a research internship at the Universidad de Cádiz-Spain (2019-2021). The researcher has more than 14 years of experience working with plant products and polyphenol-rich extracts, mainly for industrial and technological purposes. Ana Paula has worked with many crops and Brazilian fruits, including blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), grape and orange by-products, hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha), jaboticaba (Plinia jaboticaba), and tucumã-do-Amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum). Additionally, the researcher has worked with animal experimentation by treating colitic rodents with plant extracts. Ana Paula Machado has published (2011-2026) 29 articles, 8 book chapters, and 2 edited books, which have contributed to more than 2,500 citations in literature (Google Scholar). Dr. Ana Paula Machado's main research interests include the following themes: pressurized fluids, extraction and encapsulation of bioactive compounds, agro-industrial residues, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Publication Date: 14 October 2026
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland
Imprint: Springer
ISBN-13: 9783032338150
Format: Hardback

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