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Pharmaceutics
Volume 18
Issue 6
10.3390/pharmaceutics18060642
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Review

Exploring Copaiba and Andiroba Oils: A Comprehensive Review of Composition, Physicochemical Properties and Pharmacological Activities in Advanced Delivery Systems

by
Ana Luisa Pinto Magalhães
1,†,
Nayara Santana Peixoto Moura
1,†,
Janaína de Alcântara Lemos
1,
Carolina de Aguiar Ferreira
2,
Danyelle M. Townsend
3,
Juliana de Oliveira Silva
1,
Anna Eliza Maciel de Faria Mota Oliveira
4 and
André Luis Branco de Barros
5,*
1
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
2
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
3
Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, SC 29425, USA
4
Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá (UNIFAP), Macapá 68903-419, Amapá, Brazil
5
Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to the paper.
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(6), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18060642 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 11 April 2026 / Revised: 15 May 2026 / Accepted: 19 May 2026 / Published: 23 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Nanocarriers in Targeted Delivery of Bioactive Compounds)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The convergence of traditional medicinal practices in Brazil’s vast biodiversity has fueled pharmaceutical interest in advancing plant-derived formulation. Copaiba (Copaifera spp.) and andiroba (Carapa guianensis) are central to both the economic landscape and healing traditions of the Amazon rainforest. Derivatives from these species have diverse applications, with their oils representing important raw materials for therapeutic use. However, the poor aqueous solubility of oils remains a major barrier to developing formulations with optimal bioavailability. Nanotechnology offers a strategic approach to address this limitation, as nanosystems improve stability, solubility, and biological performance. Methods: This narrative review compiles and analyzes contemporary literature on the chemical composition, physicochemical properties, and pharmacological activities of copaiba and andiroba oils, with emphasis on studies involving nanoformulations, aiming to overcome the solubility limitations of these oils. Results: Evidence from the literature indicates that nanoencapsulation enhances the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing activity of the oils’ main constituents, such as beta-caryophyllene and limonoids. However, inconsistencies in reported chemical composition and physicochemical properties across studies highlight the lack of standardized characterization and extraction methods, potentially hindering the development of reproducible nanosystems. Conclusions: Nanoencapsulation represents a promising strategy to improve the therapeutic potential of Amazonian oils. Nevertheless, further efforts are required to standardize methodologies and expand clinical studies to confirm the efficacy and safety of nanosystems derived from these natural products.
Keywords: Copaifera spp.; Carapa guianensis; nanosystems; nanoemulsion; nanocarrier; oleoresin; bioavailability Copaifera spp.; Carapa guianensis; nanosystems; nanoemulsion; nanocarrier; oleoresin; bioavailability

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MDPI and ACS Style

Magalhães, A.L.P.; Moura, N.S.P.; de Alcântara Lemos, J.; Ferreira, C.d.A.; Townsend, D.M.; Silva, J.d.O.; Oliveira, A.E.M.d.F.M.; Barros, A.L.B.d. Exploring Copaiba and Andiroba Oils: A Comprehensive Review of Composition, Physicochemical Properties and Pharmacological Activities in Advanced Delivery Systems. Pharmaceutics 2026, 18, 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18060642

AMA Style

Magalhães ALP, Moura NSP, de Alcântara Lemos J, Ferreira CdA, Townsend DM, Silva JdO, Oliveira AEMdFM, Barros ALBd. Exploring Copaiba and Andiroba Oils: A Comprehensive Review of Composition, Physicochemical Properties and Pharmacological Activities in Advanced Delivery Systems. Pharmaceutics. 2026; 18(6):642. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18060642

Chicago/Turabian Style

Magalhães, Ana Luisa Pinto, Nayara Santana Peixoto Moura, Janaína de Alcântara Lemos, Carolina de Aguiar Ferreira, Danyelle M. Townsend, Juliana de Oliveira Silva, Anna Eliza Maciel de Faria Mota Oliveira, and André Luis Branco de Barros. 2026. "Exploring Copaiba and Andiroba Oils: A Comprehensive Review of Composition, Physicochemical Properties and Pharmacological Activities in Advanced Delivery Systems" Pharmaceutics 18, no. 6: 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18060642

APA Style

Magalhães, A. L. P., Moura, N. S. P., de Alcântara Lemos, J., Ferreira, C. d. A., Townsend, D. M., Silva, J. d. O., Oliveira, A. E. M. d. F. M., & Barros, A. L. B. d. (2026). Exploring Copaiba and Andiroba Oils: A Comprehensive Review of Composition, Physicochemical Properties and Pharmacological Activities in Advanced Delivery Systems. Pharmaceutics, 18(6), 642. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18060642

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