Bioactive compounds and health benefits of exotic tropical red-black berries

Abstract

Tropical countries produce alarge amount of native and exotic fruit species which are potentially interested in the food industry . The nutritional and therapeutic values in this fruits are mainly due to the presence of bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols. The anthoc yanins belong to the flavonoid family and represent a group of pigments responsible for most of the colors in fruits, leaves, flowers, stems and roots of plants. Several in vestigations have focused on the health benefits of consumption of red–black fruit, claiming these as natural sources of bioactive compounds with highl y promising antioxi- dant and anti- inflammatory characteristics. Furthermore , the consumption of red–black berries brings a positive impact on several chronic conditions, such as obesity , diabetes, cancer , cardio vascular and neurode generative diseases. This article summarizes the fore- most bioactive compounds and the health properties of exotic tropical red–black berries, specifically Euterpeoleracea , Eugenia uniflora, Myrciaria cauliflor a, Myrciaria dubia , Syzygium cumini.