Camu Camu

1. Camu Camu Classification

Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Superdivision: Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtle Family)
Genus: Myrciaria
Species: Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh
Synonyms:

• Psidium dubium Kunth
• Eugenia divaricata Benth.
• Myrciaria phillyraeoides O. Berg
• Myrciaria divaricata (Benth.) O. Berg
• Myrciaria lanceolata O. Berg
• Myrciaria lanceolata var. angustifolia O. Berg
• Myrciaria lanceolata var. glomerata O. Berg
• Myrciaria lanceolata var. laxa O. Berg
• Myrciaria paraensis O. Berg
• Myrciaria spruceana O. Berg
• Myrciaria obscura O. Berg
• Myrciaria riedeliana O. Berg
• Eugenia grandiglandulosa Kiaersk.
• Myrciaria caurensis Steyerm.
• Marlierea macedoi D. Legrand

Related Species:

• Myrciaria cauliflora, “jaboticaba”
• Myrciaria floribunda, “camucamillo”

Common Names: “camu-camu”, “rumberry”, “guavaberry”. Castilian/Spanish: Peru “camu camu”, “camo-camo”. Others: “cacari”.

2. Camu Camu Description

Habit: A shrub or tree up to 13 meters high, with glabrous branches (without hairs).

Leaves: Opposite, ovate, or elliptic, often inequilateral, 5 centimeters to 12 centimeters long by 2 centimeters to 4.5 centimeters wide. They are 2 to 4 times as long as wide. The apex is acute or gradually acuminate; the base is rounded or fairly cuneate. The margins at the base are abruptly incurved into the petiole, forming a pair of slightly raised and usually subopposite auriculate appendages. The petiole is 3 millimeters to 9 millimeters long. Leaves are dull and browning in drying, Both surfaces are similar but the lower (the abaxial face) is paler. The midvein is broad and flat or convex on the upper surface (adaxial face), somewhat elevated on the lower (abaxial face). Lateral veins about 20 pairs, very slender, obscure in mature leaves, without evident differentiation in size. Glands apparent on both surfaces at least in young leaves, more elevated and conspicuous on the upper surface (adaxial face).

Flowers: The inflorescence is axillary and tiny (axis 1 millimeter to 1.5 millimeters long), disposed in racemosely arranged groups of generally 4 tiny flowers. The flowers are nearly sessile disposed in 2 decussate pairs. The bracts are rounded, ciliate, near 1.5 millimeters in long and broad. The pedicels are very stout for their length, up to 1.5 millimeters long and almost 1 mm wide. The bracteoles are persistent, broadly ovate and rounded at apex, united by their basal margins into a cuplike involucre, 2 millimeters to 3.5 millimeters long. The hypanthium is sessile, broadly obconic (as an inverted cone), 2.5 millimeters to 3 millimeters in length, markedly prolonged above the summit of the ovary (so that the stamens, petals and calyx-lobes appear to arise from the end of a short tube surrounding the summit of the ovary). The hypanthium is glabrous (without hairs) and circumscissile at base and deciduous (with the perianth and the stamens) from the summit of the ovary after anthesis (flower maturation).

The bracteoles, hypanthium, calyx-lobes, and corolla have dark raised glands. The calyx presents 4 lobes. The lobes are imbricated, broadly rounded, near 2 millimeters long and wide, and bright rufous-pubescent on the inner surface and the margins. The petals are white, ovate, ciliate, 3 millimeters to 4 millimeters in length. The stamens are numerous, about 125, up to 10 millimeters long. The ovary is inferior. The hypanthium is adnate to the ovary and prolonged. The stylus is simple. There are two ovules in each ovary locule.

Fruit: Fruits are 10 millimeters to 12 millimeters in diameter. They are fleshy, soft, red-brown or black-purple, and naked at apex. The fruits present a circular scar, 2 millimeters across, and about 2 seeds.

3. Camu Camu Origin, Distribution and Ecology

Origin: This fruit shrub or fruit tree is native to the low Amazonian rainforest in Peru. The particular centre of origin for Myrciaria dubia seems to be located between the lakes Sahua and Supay, both tributary of the river Ucayali on the right margin, very near to the locality of Jenaro Herrera.

Distribution: Myrciaria dubia grows in the low rainforests of Peru. Its presence has been reported in the regions of Loreto and Ucayali. Myrciaria dubia concentrates mainly in the Peruvian zone of the Amazon rainforest, and in a lesser extent, in the Brazilian zone. Verbal information indicates that some wild specimens of Myrciaria dubia are also present in Colombia (river Putumayo).

Myrciaria dubia is also found dispersed in the Amazon watershed and its enormous tributaries, such as Ucayali and Marañón and the river Amazon itself. The fruits of Myrciaria dubia can also be found in the rivers Nanay, Tahuayo, near the locality of Tamshiyacu, and Napo (all of them tributaries of the Amazon River), in the river Tigre (tributary of the river Marañón) and the lake Supay (which supplies water to the river Ucayali).

An arboreal variant of Myrciaria dubia is found dispersed throughout all the Peruvian Amazonia, especially in the region of Pucallpa, in the river Ucayali.

Mc Vaugh (1963) has reported the existence of a species of the genus Myrciaria in the Orinoco watershed, in Venezuela. Cavalcante (1979) has reported the presence of a species within the genus Myrciaria in the Brazilian Amazonia.

Ecology: Vásquez (1980) has reported that in the natural centre of origin for Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh, among the lakes Sahua and Supay, this plant species is found in association with other species, Eugenia inundata, “fanache”, which behaves as a competitor species.

In the river Nanay, Myrciaria dubia has been found competing with a species within the genus Psidium known as “guayabilla”. The harvest of the fruits of Myrciaria dubia is done between September and January for the shrub-like species and between January and May, for the tree-like species.

The arboreal variety of Myrciaria dubia is found with a density of between 20 and 50 individuals per hectare, in association with other forestal species such as capirona, quinilla, shimbillo, among others. The shrubby variety customarily forms compact populations.

Myrciaria dubia is a species that develops well in floodable and marshy lands, and adapts well to acid soils.

4. Camu Camu History

Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh is a plant species whose fruit contains the highest amount of vitamin C in the whole world. This fruit shrub or fruit tree was practically unknown out of some localities in the Peruvian Amazonia until 1957, when the Instituto de Nutrición (Institute of Nutrition) of the Ministry of Public Health of Peru performed the first nutritional analysis of the fruit.

This analysis determined that the content of vitamin C of the fruit is the highest among all the other fruits in the world: 2 800 milligrams of ascorbic acid per 100 grams of pulp (contents of among 877 milligrams and 3 500 milligrams per 100 grams of pulp have been reported). Since then, Myrciaria dubia became an indispensable fruit in several countries around the world, such as Japan, the United States, Germany, France, etc.

There exist no ethnobotanical register showing that the fruit of Myrciaria dubia was traditionally used by the native populations of the Amazonia. It is even said that this fruit was never eaten by humans because of its extremely acid taste.

Because of its high content of vitamin C, Myrciaria dubia has an excellent future as an agricultural and industrial crop. In spite of that, the fact of being a nondomesticated plant species makes Myrciaria dubia a plant species with a high genetic variability. Hence, concentration of vitamin C is very variable from individual to individual. On the other hand, its high content of vitamin C turns the fruit of Myrciaria dubia an essential product in the market of natural health products in the whole world.

Recent studies have determined that the peel of the ripe fruit has a pretty good concentration of anthocyanins, a natural pigment ideal for the elaboration of healthy food colorants. Moreover, some recent analyses reveal the existence of several genotypes, especially those conferring an arboreal shape, that have a very high concentration of citric acid.

In Japan, Myrciaria dubia is being used as a component for multivitamins and energizing drinks for sportspersons. In order to use them in medicine, the fruits of Myrciaria dubia are peeled and made into a juice, which is then dehydrated. The resulting powder must not be heated, since it would loose appreciable quantities of vitamin C. This powder cannot be stored for more than one year because of the same reason.

5. Camu Camu Uses

Parts Used:

· Fruit: The fruit of Myrciaria dubia constitutes the most concentrated source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the whole world. In Iquitos, Peru, the fruits of Myrciaria dubia are nowadays very popular prepared into drinks and ice creams.

Properties:

Myrciaria dubia is used as/for:

• antioxidant
• astringent
• emollient
• natural source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• nutritive

The fruits of Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh are an excellent natural source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Compared with oranges, the fruits of Myrciaria dubia contain 30 times more vitamin C, 10 times more iron, 3 times more niacin, 2 times more riboflavin and 50% more phosphorus. The content of vitamin C for this fruit is between 21 000 and 500 000 ppm (approximately 2 grams per 100 grams of fruit pulp, although the genetic variability is considerable). The content of vitamin C in oranges is between 500 and 4 000 ppm; the content of vitamin C in haw is between 16 000 and 172 000 ppm.

The fruit of Myrciaria dubia is also a good source of potassium, since it provides 711 mg/kg, besides of containing a good rate of minerals and amino acids that can help the absorption of vitamin C.

In the Peruvian Amazonia, the fruits of Myrciaria dubia are made into delicious juices and ice creams. They are much appreciated.

As occurs with any other vitamin C-rich fruit, the time between the harvest and the eating is crucial. In a one-month storage, the fruit of Myrciaria dubia can lose up to ¼ its content of vitamin C, even if frozen; in spite of this fact, the fruit of Myrciaria dubia is still the best source of vitamin C.

In the United States, some companies are marketing extracts of Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh, both powdered and in tablets, in order to treat viral infections, colds, autoimmune diseases and even in order to lose weight. However, no one of these uses has been proved. These uses are based on general studies performed on vitamin C rather than studies performed on the fruits of Myrciaria dubia specifically.

The real benefit of the fruit is related to its high content of vitamin C and other natural vitamins, minerals and amino acids also present in the pulp. All of these additional substances could help to absorb more efficiently the vitamin C present in the pulp. Hence, the ingestion of the fruit of Myrciaria dubia may be better than just taking a commercial tablet of vitamin C produced by pharmaceuticals.

The only health benefit studied and confirmed scientifically is due to the high content of vitamin C present in this fruit. No other one of the many natural substances present in the fruit of Myrciaria dubia has proved, up to date, to have any beneficial property for health.

It has been said that in Peruvian folk medicine, Amazonians are accustomed to prepare an infusion with the bark or stem of Myrciaria dubia in order to use it as a remedy for diabetes; however, this has never been confirmed. Moreover, it seems that the fruit was never commonly eaten by natives, since it tastes extremely acid.

As occurs with vitamin C, the fruit of Myrciaria dubia is believed to help to prevent colds and other viral diseases. It may also shorten the duration of diseases caused by virus.

Phytochemicals:

• alpha-pinene
• ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• beta-carotene
• calcium
• delta-limonene
• iron
• leucine
• niacin
• phosphorus
• potassium
• protein
• riboflavin
• serine
• terpenes
• thiamine
• valine

6. Camu Camu Dosage and Contraindications

Doses:

The current dose is customarily equivalent to the quantity of vitamin C required by an individual according to age and health conditions. When taken as an extract, the ingested amount of the fruit of Myrciaria dubia will depend on the concentration of vitamin C present in the product, according to the manufacturer. Vitamin C is water soluble, so that the excessive intake is eliminated through urine and does not produces hypervitaminosis (as occurs with oil soluble vitamins).

Contraindications:

Contraindications have not been reported for the fruit of Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh. The excessive intake of vitamin C does not cause toxicity, so that it is thought that the ingestion of high quantities of this fruit does not represent risk for most individuals. However, the excessive intake of vitamin C (more than 2 000 milligrams per day) during prolonged periods of time is known to be able to produce gastrointestinal diseases and diarrhea.

Studies performed on this issue are not concluding; however, if you suffer or have suffered calculi (stones) of the urinary tract, eat the fruit of Myrciaria dubia cautiously. Some studies suggest that the intake of vitamin C in excess may produce, in certain predisposed individuals, formation of renal (kidney) and bladder calculi.

In very rare cases, vitamin C has caused a very uncommon disease known as sickle cell crisis; hence, individuals suffering this disease should not have this fruit.

On the other hand, the excessive intake of vitamin C is known to cause in some people a series of side effects, such as:

• headache
• heartburn
• insomnia
• nausea

Drug Interactions:

Drug interactions have not been reported for the fruit of Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh. However, very high doses of vitamin C are believed to increase the effectiveness of warfarin, an anticoagulant agent. As a consequence, blood may not clot properly and an uncontrolled bleeding may occur. It is advisable not to eat the fruit of Myrciaria dubia while you are taking warfarin.

The ingestion of vitamin C along with iron may produce an increasing in the absorption of the latter. The excessive absorption of iron does not causes any serious problem, although some blood diseases such as hemochromatosis or thalassemia could be aggravated by increased blood levels of iron. Individuals suffering these blood diseases should avoid eating this fruit.

Vitamin C may also increase the amount of aluminum absorbed from antacids containing aluminum. The effects of an excessive absorption of aluminum are not known.

In general, if you are taking any prescription medicine, ask always your doctor before taking any plant medicine.

7. Camu Camu Cultivation

The fruits of Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh are directly harvested from the wild Amazon rainforest, in canoes, although several efforts are being carried out in order to cultivate this plant species (in Ucayali, several plantations with plants obtained from seeds have been established). The shrubby variety grows up fast; the arboreal one grows up slowly. The fruits get ripe during the flood season.

In order to have a population of Myrciaria dubia that can yield fruits of a uniform commercial quality, it is necessary to have a plantation constituted by clones or varieties with a very similar agronomical performance. This can generally be obtained through cloning (individuals genetically similar) of individuals with the mentioned agronomical characteristics. Cloning can be obtained through grafting, cuttings, scions or plant tissue culture (micropropagation and somatic embryos), that permit a major availability of the selected material.

Annual yields oscillating between 3 kg and 25.4 kg of fresh fruits per plant have been registered.

8. Camu Camu Bibliography and References

1. Beckstrom-Sternberg, S., y J. A. Duke. Ethnobotany and Phytochemical Databases, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
2. Dib Taxi CM, de Menezes HC, Santos AB, Grosso CR. Study of the microencapsulation of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) juice. Journal of Microencapsulation. 2003;20(4):443-448.
3. Franco MR, Shibamoto T. Volatile composition of some Brazilian fruits: umbu-caja (Spondias citherea), camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia), araca-boi (Eugenia stipitala), and cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflorum). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2000;48(4):1263-1265.
4. Gorton HC, Jarvis K. The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections. Journal of Manipulative Physiologic Therapy. 1999;22(8):530-533.
5. Imán, S. 2000. Cultivo de camu camu Myrciaria dubia HBK en la región Loreto. INIA, Serie Manual 01-00. 32 pp.
6. Justi KC, Visentainer JV, Evelazio de Souza N, Matsushita M. Nutritional composition and vitamin C stability in stored camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) pulp. Archives of Latin-American Nutrition. 2000;50(4):405-408.
7. López, A. 2000. Dinámica poblacional y caracterización biofísica de camu camu árbol (Myrciaria spp.) en Ucayali. IIAP-PET. Informe 2000.
8. McVaugh, R. 1958. Myrtaceae. In: J. F. Macbride, Flora of Peru. Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series 13(4/2): 569-818.
9. Morton JF. Fruits of Warm Climates. Miami, FL. Julia F. Morton Press. 1987.
10. Penn J. Camu camu: a conservation and development issue in Peru. The Rainforest Conservation Fund. No date given. Available at: http://www.rainforestconservation.org/articles/camu-camu.html. Accessed September 4, 2003.
11. Riva, R. & Gonzáles, I. 1997, Tecnología del Cultivo de camu camu (Myrciaria dubia HBK) en la Amazonía Peruana. Informe técnico. INIA-CTARU. Pucallpa. 45 pp.
12. Sobral, M. 1993. Sinopse de Myrciaria (Myrtaceae). Napaea. Revista de botânica 9: 13-41.
13. Taylor L. Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest, 2nd edition. Roseville, California. Prima Publishing, Inc. 2002.
14. Vásquez, A. 2000. El camu camu: cultivo, manejo e investigaciones. 218 pp.
15. Zapata, S. M., et al. "Camu-camu Myrciaria dubia (HBK) McVaugh: chemical composition of fruit." J. Sci. Food Agric., 1993; 61(3); 349-51.