Mother Nature is a reliable source of an array of phytoceuticals and nutraceuticals. Camu camu (<i>Myrciaria dubia</i>) is an indigenous shrub found in the lowland region of the Amazon rain forest. Camu camu fruits are a good source of vitamin C (about 2-3% of fresh weight), minerals, and antioxidant flavonoids. The fruits are available in the local market while processed fruit powder can be found in the global market as a dietary supplement. Besides the fruit, systematic phytochemical investigation of the rest of the plant materials has not been broadly conducted. Following the law of nature, leaves are transformed into humus by the action of soil microorganisms. As a part of our ongoing research on exploring neglected botanicals and food/agricultural waste, we have carried out a bio-activity guided phytochemical investigation of the water extract made from the Camu camu leaves. During this investigation, we have detected a series of drugs and drug precursors including a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, an antiviral drug; commercial drugs that are used in treating insomnia, basal cell carcinoma and genital warts, hypertension, sclerosant, and bacterial infections. Representatives from the major natural drug classes such as alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids are present in the leaves. Amazingly, the leaves also host a therapeutic agent that is used in photodynamic therapy to treat certain skin ailments such as vitiligo and psoriasis. Apart from these phytoceuticals, we have also identified the presence of several nutraceuticals, food flavoring agents, and food ingredients in the extract. Examples include ellagic acid  (antioxidant), gingerol (anticancer), pyroglutamic acid (humectant), 4-pyridoxic acid (a catabolite of vitamin B6), fragransol C (food flavoring agent), ethyl 2-mercaptopropionate (wine ingredient), food ingredients such as pubescenol, aspidospermine, 5-(methylthio)-2-[(methylthio)methyl]-2-pentenal, 1-phenyl-1,3-nonadecanedione and many others. In summary, our investigation indicates that Camu camu leaves can be used as a potential source of many drugs and medicinally privileged molecules.

Camu camu leaf: Just an agricultural waste or a natural micropharmacy?

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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