Antihypertensive Effects of Brazilian Fruits

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is a health problem that generates economic and social impacts worldwide and hypertension is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Currently, conventional medicine offers treatments that control and regulate blood pressure through medication, but the traditional medicines of different cultures have used plants and foods to treat and prevent this type of disease for many years. Brazilian flora has enormous potential due to its wide diversity; however, few studies have evaluated the effects of fruits for reducing or preventing hypertension. This literature review was intended to target current work with Brazilian fruits that sought evidence of species for which consumption could serve as an adjuvant to existing drugs for the control of hypertension. We found studies of five Brazilian fruits which some of them are popularly used to treat hypertension and the results of the research were compared and discussed. Schinus terebentifolius, Passiflora edulis, Euterpe oleracea and Insignis platonia demonstrated promising effects, while Myrciaria dubia did not show positive effects. Thus, we can conclude that Brazilian fruit has potential for use in the treatment of hypertension; however, further studies need to be conducted to explore these fruits in order to increase knowledge in this area. Thus, these fruits could be incorporated into food and used as adjuvants in the treatment of this chronic disease, which has negative impacts on the quality of life of the population.