The Brazilian Native Fruits Araçá, Guabijú, and Guabiroba: A Brief and Integrative Review on Their Phenolic Composition and Analytical Methods

Abstract

Brazil has one of the greatest biodiversities in the world, with emphasis on the fruit family Myrtaceae, to which the native fruits guabijú (Myrcianthes pungens (O.Berg) D.Legrand), guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Mart.) O.Berg), and araçá (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine) belong. These fruits are promising sources of phenolic compounds, mainly phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins, with high antioxidant capacity and potential health benefits. This integrative review aimed to gather and analyze data on the phenolic composition of these fruits, as well as the analytical methods used for their extraction and characterization. The reviewed literature reveals that there is still a lack of in-depth studies, although some studies have already characterized the phenolic compounds in different parts of the fruits. The efficient extraction of phenolics, especially bound ones, requires techniques such as acid or alkaline hydrolysis. For their identification and quantification, the use of liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) with mass analyzers such as triple quadrupole (QqQ) and quadrupole-time-of-flight (QToF), stands out. Knowledge of these fruits contributes to the development of functional ingredients and the conservation and appreciation of Brazilian biodiversity, thereby reinforcing the importance of expanding research on these fruits and exploring potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.