Search Results (30)

The Acrocomia aculeata is a promising palm tree for biofuel production, but it faces challenges related to propagation, especially due to seed dormancy. This article presents an integrative review, supported by bibliometrics, of the sexual and asexual propagation methods of the species, conducted through searches in Scopus, SciELO, and Web of Science databases. The results indicate that sexual propagation is the predominant approach in the literature, although it faces significant challenges due to seed dormancy, such as the physical resistance to embryo protrusion imposed by the operculum. Asexual propagation demonstrates great potential through micropropagation techniques, which allow obtaining genetically uniform plants in relatively short periods. The non-deep physic dormancy exhibited by the seeds interferes with germination by constraining embryo growth potential and postponing the metabolic reactivation essential for successful germination. Despite the existence of promising methods for overcoming dormancy, additional studies are needed to understand the mechanisms involved in this process. This review maps the scientific literature to highlight areas of proven research success, identify critical gaps and underexplored topics, and indicate how future investigations can support the development of efficient propagation protocols and the establishment of commercial plantations. Full article

This research aimed to conduct a bibliometric review on Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart., popularly known as “macaúba”, a palm tree of the Arecaceae family with great potential to promote sustainable practices. The review focused on the applications associated with the oil, pulp, and almonds of the fruit, products that can be used in industries such as food, cosmetics, and bioenergy, contributing to the development of more ecological production chains with less environmental impact. Data were collected from the Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases for publications related to phytochemical and bioactive aspects, while only Web of Science was used for data on energy aspects. The documents found were analyzed in the VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20), allowing the creation of bibliometric networks (clusters) and tables on scientific production. The analyses included authors, co-authors, countries, institutions, journal sources, and keywords. For phytochemical and bioactive aspects, the search resulted in 1026 articles, of which 261 were selected after applying the exclusion criteria. For energy aspects, 99 publications were found. Based on the data, it was possible to analyze the existing research on A. aculeata, identifying the state of the research and possible gaps in studies related to this oilseed. The results highlight the importance of macaúba as a sustainable alternative for diversifying agricultural and bioindustrial products, promoting the bioeconomy and contributing to the mitigation of environmental impacts. In addition, the research allowed us to identify the universities and researchers most dedicated to this species, their main results and the areas that still require investment to advance research. Thus, A. aculeata emerges as a relevant option to strengthen sustainable practices in key sectors, integrating economic, social, and environmental benefits. Full article

Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) is a promising source of vegetable oils with distinct applications for its pulp and seed fractions. This study presents the first comprehensive quantitative analysis of eleven commercial macauba oils available in the Brazilian market, using validated methods of GC-FID and LC-HRMS. The analysis revealed significant variability among samples. Control pulp oils (PCCs) were characterized by the predominance of oleic acid (C18:1) and palmitic acid (C16:0) methyl esters, and TG 54:3 was the major lipid species, reaching up to 12.11 g 100 g oil⁻¹. For control seed oils (SCCs), the profile was dominated by lauric acid (C12:0) and oleic acid methyl ester; TG 36:0 was the most abundant lipid, which reached concentrations of 49.20 g 100 g oil⁻¹. Among commercial samples, PC3 followed the expected pulp oil profile, whereas PC4 showed deviations. Others commercial samples (PC2, PC5, SC3, SC4, SC5) deviated significantly from expected profiles, showing high levels of linoleic acid (C18:2), and predominance of TG 54:6, with concentrations reaching 61.74 g 100 g oil⁻¹. The integrated GC-FID and LC-HRMS approach provides robust, sensitive, and discriminative analysis of FAMEs and lipid composition of macauba oil samples. These methodologies are essential for quality control in the food and bioproduct sectors, ensuring the chemical integrity of macauba commercial oils. Full article

This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of the biochemical hydrogen production (BHP) potential of Acrocomia aculeata pulp waste, a residue abundantly generated during fruit processing in Latin America. The valorization of this underused biomass is essential to promote circular bioeconomy strategies and expand renewable energy sources in the region. The fermentative hydrogen potential of untreated pulp and of fractions obtained after subcritical water pretreatment was assessed under mesophilic conditions to quantify hydrogen yields and elucidate the energy distribution between solid and liquid phases. Pretreatments were performed at 150, 200, and 250 °C, and both fractions were individually tested. The untreated pulp achieved the highest BHP (125.1 NmL H₂/g VS fed), while pretreated solids showed decreasing values of 118.1, 71.6, and 41.6 NmL H₂/g VS fed at 150, 200, and 250 °C, respectively. The liquid fractions yielded 107.2, 79.4, and 76.0 NmL H₂/g COD fed, showing a similar decline with increasing severity. A mass-energy balance revealed that 1 ton of residual pulp could produce up to 104 m³ H₂, equivalent to 15 GJ/ha-year, while the combined solid plus liquid fractions from pretreatment at 150 °C recovered a comparable 14.5 GJ/ha-year, with 65% of hydrogen energy originating from the liquid phase. More severe conditions led to up to 40% lower total energy yields. These findings demonstrate that A. aculeata pulp waste inherently exhibits high fermentative hydrogen potential without requiring hydrothermal pretreatment, highlighting its direct applicability as a renewable substrate for sustainable biohydrogen production. Full article

Background: Diabetes and cancer are two of the most life-threatening disorders affecting individuals of all ages worldwide. This study aimed to develop a novel Acrocomia aculeata (bocaiuva) fruit pulp oil-loaded nanoemulsion and evaluate its inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase, as well as its antiglycant activity and cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Additionally, this study assessed the impact of both the oil and the nanoemulsion on blood cells. Methods: The pulp oil was extracted by cold pressing. The oil’s physicochemical properties were determined according to the AOAC and the Brazilian Pharmacopeia. The lipid profile was performed by GC-MS. The nanoemulsion was prepared by the phase inversion method using ultrasonic stirring for particle size reduction and for homogenization. Response Surface Methodology was used for optimizing nanoemulsion preparation. Enzyme inhibition tests were conducted using assay kits. Cytotoxicity in cancer cells was evaluated using the Sulforhodamine B assay. Results: Comprehensive physicochemical and chemical characterization of bocaiuva oil was performed, identifying oleic acid (71.25%) as the main component. The oil contains 23.04% saturated fatty acids, 73.79% monounsaturated acids, and 3.0% polyunsaturated fatty acids. The nanoemulsion (particle size 173.6 nm; zeta potential −14.10 mV) inhibited α-glucosidase (IC₅₀: 43.21 µg/mL) and pancreatic lipase (IC₅₀: 41.99 µg/mL), and revealed a potent antiglycation effect (oxidative IC₅0: 18.36 µg/mL; non-oxidative pathway IC₅₀: 16.33 µg/mL). The nanoemulsion demonstrated good cytotoxicity and selectivity against prostate cancer cells (IC₅₀: 19.13 µg/mL) and breast cancer cells (IC₅₀: 27.22 µg/mL), without inducing hemolysis, platelet aggregation, or anticoagulant effects. Conclusions: In this study, a comprehensive physical and chemical characterization of bocaiuva fruit pulp oil was conducted for the first time as a preliminary step toward its future standardization as an active ingredient in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations. The resulting nanoemulsion represents a novel alternative for managing diabetes and cancer. Although the nanoemulsion exhibited lower cytotoxicity compared to doxorubicin, it remains promising due to its composition of essential fatty acids, phenols, and carotenoids, which offer multiple health benefits. Further studies are needed to validate its efficacy and safety in clinical applications. Full article

The automated detection and classification of immature macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) fruits is critical for improving post-harvest processing and quality control. In this study, we present a comparative evaluation of two state-of-the-art YOLO architectures, YOLOv11x and YOLOv12x, trained on the newly constructed VIC01 dataset comprising 1600 annotated images captured under both background-free and natural background conditions. Both models were implemented in PyTorch and trained until the convergence of box regression, classification, and distribution-focal losses. Under an IoU (intersection over union) threshold of 0.50, YOLOv11x and YOLOv12x achieved an identical mean average precision (mAP₅₀) of 0.995 with perfect precision and recall or TPR (true positive rate). Averaged over IoU thresholds from 0.50 to 0.95, YOLOv11x demonstrated superior spatial localization performance (mAP_50–95 = 0.973), while YOLOv12x exhibited robust performance in complex background scenarios, achieving a competitive mAP_50–95. Inference throughput averaged 3.9 ms per image for YOLOv11x and 6.7 ms for YOLOv12x, highlighting a trade-off between speed and architectural complexity. Fused model representations revealed optimized layer fusion and reduced computational overhead (GFLOPs), facilitating efficient deployment. Confusion-matrix analyses confirmed YOLOv11x’s ability to reject background clutter more effectively than YOLOv12x, whereas precision–recall and F1-score curves indicated both models maintain near-perfect detection balance across thresholds. The public release of the VIC01 dataset and trained weights ensures reproducibility and supports future research. Our results underscore the importance of selecting architectures based on application-specific requirements, balancing detection accuracy, background discrimination, and computational constraints. Future work will extend this framework to additional maturation stages, sensor fusion modalities, and lightweight edge-deployment variants. By facilitating precise immature fruit identification, this work contributes to sustainable production and value addition in macauba processing. Full article

The interest in new sources of bioactive compounds has been driven by the search for natural antioxidants capable of attenuating the toxicity of reactive oxygen species, as well as the emergence of pathogens resistant to antimicrobials. In this sense, we explored the potential of the macaúba epicarp. Compounds such as piceatannol, 3,4,5,3′,5′-penta-hydroxy-trans-stilbene (PHS), and in lower amounts, resveratrol were identified in extracts through techniques such as medium-pressure liquid chromatography, HPLC-MS, and imaging mass spectrometry (IMS), which confirmed the exclusive localization of PHS and piceatannol in the outer epicarp. Extraction with aqueous acetone (Me₂CO:H₂O) and its EtOAC fraction showed the highest yields of stilbenes and, moreover, it efficiently increased the tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to oxidative stress. Additionally, the Me₂CO:H₂O extract presented antibacterial and anti-cryptococcal activity, with piceatannol and resveratrol increasing survival rates of Galleria mellonella subjected to fungal infection. In silico ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) analysis indicates low toxicity for piceatannol, PHS, and resveratrol, in addition to pharmacokinetic parameters that allow their use. These findings indicate the use of macaúba epicarp as a source of bioactive compounds valuable for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Full article

Capsicum chacoense (wild red pepper) and Acrocomia aculeata almond (Paraguayan coconut) are fruits native to Paraguay which are little-used and can be sources of important bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the use of Paraguayan coconut kernel oil as a green solvent for the extraction of carotenoids and capsaicinoids from wild red pepper. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was performed (solvent ratio; 0.7 g/mL, amplitude 80%, for 17 min). The freeze-dried red pepper fruit, coconut oil, and coconut+red pepper oil were characterized by total carotenoids, total capsaicinoids, total phenolic compounds (TPCs), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), fatty acid (FA) profile, and color. It was possible to extract 46.7% of the carotenoids and 42.5% of the capsaicinoids present in the red pepper. However, only about 7% of TCP and TAC were maintained in the coconut+red pepper oil obtained. In the FA profile of red pepper oil, oleic acid and palmitic acid were observed as the main FAs. Conversely, in coconut oil, lauric acid and oleic acid were observed as the main components. In coconut+red pepper oil, the same main FAs were found, but in a lower percentage of lauric acid and higher percentage of oleic acid. Based on the results, coconut oil is a green solvent for the extraction of lipophilic secondary metabolites such as carotenoids and capsaicinoids. These can provide sensory characteristics such as color and flavor to coconut oil from Capsicum chacoense. In the oil obtained (coconut+red pepper), a significant difference in the FA profile was also seen, where the majority FA was oleic acid. Full article

This study describes the production of solketal esters from used soybean cooking oil (USCO) via enzymatic hydroesterification. This process consists of the complete hydrolysis of USCO into free fatty acids (FFAs) catalyzed by crude lipase extract from Candida rugosa (CRL). The resulting FFAs were recovered and utilized as the raw material for an esterification reaction with solketal, which was achieved via an open reaction. For this purpose, lipase Eversa^® Transform 2.0 (ET2.0) was immobilized via physical adsorption on treated epicarp particles from Acrocomia aculeata (macauba), a lignocellulosic residue. A protein loading of 25.2 ± 1.3 mg g⁻¹ with a support and immobilization yield of 64.8 ± 2.5% was achieved using an initial protein loading of 40 mg g⁻¹ of support. The influence of certain parameters on the esterification reaction was evaluated using a central composite rotatable design (CCRD). Under optimal conditions, a FFAs conversion of 72.5 ± 0.8% was obtained after 150 min of reaction at 46 °C using a biocatalyst concentration of 20% wt. and a FFAs–solketal molar ratio of 1:1.6. The biocatalyst retained 70% of its original activity after ten esterification batches. This paper shows the conversion of two agro-industrial waste into valuable materials (enzyme immobilization support and solketal esters). Full article

Twenty-four ewes (eight fistulated in the rumen) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design. The treatments included the pasture grazed (natural mixed swards—NMS or cultivated monophytic (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) swards—CMS) and the level of supplementation: without supplement or with a 1% supplement (dry matter (DM)/live weight). The supplement included one-third endosperm expeller (ENE) and two-thirds mesocarp expeller (ME) from Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart. In sacco rumen degradation of ENE, ME, NMS, and CMS was assessed in fistulated sheep, as were rumen fermentation variables. Average daily gain (ADG) was assessed in non-fistulated animals during a 7-week period. Potential degradability of the DM and crude protein of the expellers was not affected by the type of pasture grazed or the level of supplementation (p > 0.05), but the fractional rate of degradation (c) of DM was three times faster (p < 0.01) for ME than for ENE. The potential degradability of neutral detergent fiber was 34% higher (p < 0.0001) for ENE, with no differences in c (p > 0.1). Supplementation slowed down the c of the DM of the pastures, especially in animals grazing NMS (24% lower). Treatments affected rumen pH, concentration of volatile fatty acids, and proportion of valerate, in different ways. The use of the supplement increased ADG of sheep (six-fold in sheep grazing NMS and 40% in those grazing CMS). The use of a mixture of one-third ENE plus two-thirds ME as a protein supplement in sheep grazing either multi-species natural pastures or monophytic swards of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu slows down the fractional rate of degradation of the pastures, the effect of which is more intense in animals grazing natural swards. This supplementation also increases average daily gain, more substantially with multi-species natural pastures. Full article

The objective of this work was to evaluate the properties of beverages formulated with Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl) and bocaiuva almonds (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. Ex Mart.). Five beverages were developed with Brazil nut, bocaiuva almond, and water (m/m/v), as follows: (i) NB, nut:water, 1:10; (ii) AB, almond:water, 1:10; (iii) NAB1, 1:0.1:10, nut:almond:water; (iv) NAB5, nut:almond:water, 1:0.5:10; and (v) NAB10, nut:almond:water, 1:1:10. The physicochemical, chemical, technological, and microbiological parameters were evaluated. After heat treatment (HT) and enrichment with minerals, the beverages that demonstrated stability in these characteristics were tested in a biological assay. The physical and biochemical parameters of male Wistar rats were evaluated after administering beverages for 28 days. HT decreased the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity; however, it guaranteed microbiological safety. Mineral supplementation changed the colors and increased the pH values of the beverages. After the beverages were administered, the Wistar rats in the (i) NB group showed decreases in retroperitoneal adipose tissue, total cholesterol, and triglycerides; (ii) those in the AB group exhibited decreased triglycerides contents; and (iii) those in the NAB10-group presented decreased liver weights. The beverages evaluated in this study demonstrate a protective effect against risk factors such as fat accumulation in the liver, retroperitoneal adipose tissue, and hypercholesterolemia. Full article

The study aimed to evaluate the antithrombotic action of Acrocomia aculeata pulp oil (AAPO) in natura, in an in vitro experimental model. AAPO was obtained by solvent extraction, and its chemical characterization was performed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). In vitro toxicity was evaluated with the Trypan Blue exclusion test and in vivo by the Galleria mellonella model. ADP/epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation after treatment with AAPO (50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 μg/mL) was evaluated by turbidimetry, and coagulation was determined by prothrombin activity time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Platelet activation was measured by expression of P-selectin on the platelet surface by flow cytometry and intraplatelet content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by fluorimetry. The results showed that AAPO has as major components such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, and squalene. AAPO showed no toxicity in vitro or in vivo. Platelet aggregation decreased against agonists using treatment with different concentrations of AAPO. Oil did not interfere in PT and aPTT. Moreover, it expressively decreased ROS-induced platelet activation and P-selectin expression. Therefore, AAPO showed antiplatelet action since it decreased platelet activation verified by the decrease in P-selectin expression as well as in ROS production. Full article

Enzymatic biodiesel production is a potential eco-friendly alternative to the conventional chemical route which requires extensive study to reduce the costs associated with the application of commercial enzymes. Thus, this study aimed to develop a bioprocess using residues from macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) as raw material for lipase production in solid-state fermentation (SSF) by Yarrowia lipolytica. Then, the product obtained was used as a biocatalyst for the conversion (hydrolysis/esterification) of macauba acidic oil to biodiesel esters. Firstly, different SSF parameters (inoculum concentration, initial moisture content, and carbon and nitrogen levels) were investigated in a factorial design approach, using the cake from macauba fruit. Afterwards, moisture and urea concentration were shown to be statistically significant variables for lipase production. Lipase productnivities were 12.6 ± 0.6 U g⁻¹ h⁻¹ (at 24 h) for macauba fruit cake and 11.6 ± 1 U g⁻¹ h⁻¹ (at 20 h) for macauba pulp and peel cake. The solid enzymatic preparation (biocatalyst) showed optimized values at pH 6–7 at 37 °C, remaining stable (>70% retention) for 90 days at room temperature. Finally, enzymatic hydrolysis of the acidic oil from macauba reached 96% conversion (72 h) to fatty acids, and esterification of fatty acids reached 72% (biodiesel yield of 67%). The bioprocess described is a promising alternative for an integral and self-sufficient valorization of the macauba products. Full article

In the context of the so-called lignocellulose bio-refinery, the coconut shell (S) and pulp (P) of Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae) are interesting agro-industrial wastes that can be used as feedstock for the production of high value-added products. The aim of this work was to evaluate these lignocellulosic residues S and P, to obtain the microcrystal (MCC) and microfiber (MFC) of cellulose, and to characterize them to propose possible applications. First, cellulose content in the raw materials was determined, being 39.69% and 45.42% for both (S and P)) respectively, respectively. Then, the purification of residues was carried out via alkaline and bleaching treatments. Next, in order to obtain MCC and MFC from the purified cellulose, a chemical treatment with HCl (for MCC) and a mechanical treatment with a blender (for MFC) were performed. The size and morphology were observed via MEB, and properties were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTG). Full article

This study discusses the bioactive composition, supercritical extraction, and biological activity of Acrocomia aculeata in publications in the last ten years. Numerous compounds have been identified in A. aculeata, which include fatty acids, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and tocopherols, discussed in this article. Although there are several studies with the fruit using conventional extraction to obtain oil, there are only a few involving extraction at high pressures. Therefore, this article emphasized the potential of extraction with supercritical fluid (SFC) to obtain oil due to its good selectivity, fractions distributed in terms of mass yield, and chemical composition of the obtained extracts, which provides a solvent-free product, making it safe for application in the food industry. The biological activity of A. aculeata extracts was also discussed, including antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and photoprotective effects, which can produce effects on human health. This review produces important results that can act as a basis for future studies related to obtaining bioactive compounds from A. aculeata with a high degree of purity and good quality in its applications. Full article