Caracterização físico-química e citotóxica do óleo da castanha-de-cutia (Couepia edulis Prance) para elaboração de fitoterápico

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases is a practice that goes beyond generations, because of this, science has developed phytotherapy, which comprises the use of these plants, for the elaboration or as part of allopathy for the treatment and prevention of diseases, obtained from scientifically proven studies. In this sense, Brazil and the Amazon forest have a wealth of natural resources, whose application in the area of health is present among people. Therefore, studies focused on these actions have been taking up space in research. Couepia edulis Prance is a tree present in the central part of the Amazon that has fruits called agouti, the oil of its almond has potential in the fight against cardiovascular diseases, due to the presence of bioactive compounds such as tocopherols, essential fatty acids, phenolic compounds and unsaturated fatty acids. Such diseases have a high mortality rate worldwide and directly impair blood circulation, affecting the heart and other organs, such as the lungs, liver, kidneys and brain, which are important to ensure the proper functioning of the body. The objective was to test in vitro the almond oil from Couepia edulis Prance and to analyze its bioactive potential to treat cardiovascular diseases. The study aimed, in its methodology, to quantify and verify the nutritional characteristics, physical-chemical and bioactive properties, in addition to the cytotoxicity of agouti nut oil. The results showed that the almond has essential nutrients for humans, enabling its consumption. As for the oil, it has a significant amount of phenolic compounds, placing it as a potential treatment agent for cardiovascular diseases, in addition, it showed low toxicity. Therefore, it can be concluded that, in in vitro analyses, agouti nut oil has the potential to become a herbal medicine when its effects are also verified through in vivo studies.