Acerola (Malpighia glabra)

Pharmacology:

• Constituents: The average content of vitamin C is about 1,790mg per 100g of acerola pulp⁴, with a range of 1,000-2,330mg. The main constituents of green or ripe acerola (Malpighia punicifolia) include ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, and diketogulonic acids⁵. Acerola fruit also contains vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. In some cases, acerola also has shown significant amounts of yeast growing on the surface of the berry.⁶
• Malpighia glabra L. contains the enzyme pectin methylesterase identified during purification and filtration.³
• Two anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-alpha-O-rhamnoside (C3R) and pelargonidin-3-alpha-O-rhamnoside (P3R), and quercitrin (quercetin-3-alpha-O-rhamnoside), were isolated from acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) fruit. These polyphenols are determined to act as radical scavengers and possess inhibitory activity on alpha-glucosidase and an advanced glycation end product, which are functional properties associated with diabetes mellitus or its complications.¹
• Antioxidant effects: As an antioxidant, acerola cherry extract acts synergistically with other antioxidants. This synergism is due to the "peroxidolitic" action of ascorbic acid, which facilitates the copper-dependent decomposition of LDL peroxides to non-radical products.²

Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics:

• Insufficient available evidence.

1. Hanamura, T., Hagiwara, T., and Kawagishi, H. Structural and functional characterization of polyphenols isolated from acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) fruit. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem  2005;69(2):280-286. 15725651
2. Hwang, J., Hodis, H. N., and Sevanian, A. Soy and alfalfa phytoestrogen extracts become potent low-density lipoprotein antioxidants in the presence of acerola cherry extract. J Agric Food Chem  2001;49(1):308-314. 11170593
3. de Assis, S. A., Martins, A. B., Guaglianoni, D. G., and Faria Oliveira, O. M. Partial purification and characterization of pectin methylesterase from acerola (Malpighia glabra L.). J Agric Food Chem  7-3-2002;50(14):4103-4107. 12083891
4. Visentainer, J. V., Vieira, O. A., Matsushita, M., and de Souza, N. E. [Physico-chemical characterization of acerola (Malpighia glabra L.) produced in Maringa, Parana State, Brazil]. Arch Latinoam Nutr  1997;47(1):70-72. 9429646
5. de Medeiros, R. B. [Proportion of ascorbic, dehydroascorbic and diketogulonic acids in green or ripe acerola(Malpighia punicifolia)]. Rev Bras Med  1969;26(7):398-400. 5347015
6. Trindade, R. C., Resende, M. A., Silva, C. M., and Rosa, C. A. Yeasts associated with fresh and frozen pulps of Brazilian tropical fruits.
   Syst Appl Microbiol  2002;25(2):294-300. 12353886

back to Plant Profiler
back to top