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| CAMU-CAMU |
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Myrciaria
Species: dubia
Ethnic names: Camu-camu, Rumberry |  |
DESCRIPTION |
Properties/Actions: |
Astringent, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Emollient,
Nutritive |
Phytochemicals: |
Ascorbic-acid, Beta-carotene, Calcium, Iron , Niacin,
Phosphorus, Protein, Riboflavin, Thiamin |
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Camu-camu is a low growing shrub found throughout the
Amazon Rainforest, mainly in swampy or flooded areas. It grows to a height of
about 2 to 3 meters and has large feathery leaves and bears round light orange
colored fruits which has recently come to world-wide attention. Camu-camu fruit
is one of the newest discoveries of the Rainforest and is now the highest
recorded source of Vitamin C known on the planet. Oranges provide 500 to 4,000
parts per million Vitamin C or ascorbic acid, while Acerola has assayed in a
range of 16,000 to 172,000 parts per million ascorbic acid. Camu-Camu is the
highest source of Vitamin C, providing 21,000 to 500,000 parts per million
ascorbic acid or 2-3 grams per kilogram. In comparison to oranges, camu-camu
provides 30 times more vitamin C, 10 times more iron, 3 times more niacin, twice
as much riboflavin, and fifty percent more phosphorus.
Because of its high vitamin C content, a market has been created for camu
camu fruit. It is still wild harvested throughout the Amazon region and some
groups are now beginning to determine cultivation methods for this important new
rainforest resouce. Ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin notes that "a forest stand of
camu-camu is worth twice the amount to be gained from cutting down the forest
and replacing it with cattle." and believes that it holds real economic promise
for local economies. Usually camu camu fruit is wild-harvested in the rainforest
in canoes because the fruits mature at high water or flooding seasons in the
Amazon. Usually camu camu fruit is wild-harvested in the rainforest in canoes
because the fruits mature at high water or flooding seasons in the Amazon. The
fruits are popular in Iquitos, Peru where they are made into drinks and ice
creams. |
| References/Footnotes: |
- Duke, J.A., Vasquez, R., 1994. Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary, CRC
Press.
- Duke, J.A., Phytochemical Database, Agricultural Research Service, USDA
- Plotkin, Mark, 1993, Tales of a Shaman's Appretice, Peguin Books.
- Smith, Nigel, et.al., 1992, Tropical Forests and their Crops, Comstock
Publishing, New York
The above text has been quoted from the book, Herbal Secrets of the
Rainforest
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