A pre-Columbian staple, Bactris gasipaes Kunth. is a palm tree domesticated around 4000 years ago, so appreciated that a Spanish chronicler wrote in 1545, “only their wives and children were held in higher regard” by the Mesoamerican natives. The peach palm is an integral part of the foodways and gastronomy of Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, and other tropical American countries; meanwhile, it is almost unknown in the rest of the world, except for hearts of palm. Although abundant, the species faces anthropogenic threats. The purpose of this study is to describe and summarize the physicochemical, nutritional, and bioactive characteristics of the peach palm and its two main alimentary products: hearts of palm and fruits, highlighting the functional and antioxidant potential of the latter, showing both ancestral and modern uses. There is active research on peach palm products and coproducts that aim for better, more sustainable uses of its traditional and recently found properties. The review and presentation of studies on this strategically relevant species can motivate the protection of endangered populations and stimulate new lines of research to advance development in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, with fair trade, sustainable development goals, and adaptation to climate change in mind.

Tragia L. is a genus of plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family with worldwide intertropical distribution, composed of more than 150 species. In this literature review, 26 species of the genus used as medicinal plants were found, mainly in East Africa and the Indian subcontinent, with a variety of uses among which antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and reproductive health are most common. Research has been done on a few of the species, mostly those of the Old World, with emphasis on four of them: Tragia involucrata Linn., Tragia spathulata Benth., Tragia benthamii Baker and Tragia plukenetii Radcl.-Sm., confirming several ethnomedicinal claims. Moreover, a variety of active phytochemicals have been isolated, mainly ethers, hydrocarbons, flavonoids and sterols. There is ample field for the evaluation of the activity of Tragia extracts and essential oils and the identification of their active compounds, particularly of the New World species, for which there is still very little research.

Although the western discovery of borojó [Alibertia patinoi Cuatrec. (Delprete & C.H.Perss.)] is as recent as 1948, its several traditional uses in gastronomy and medicine, and its fame as an aphrodisiac are long standing and strong: the “love juice” extracted from it is very appreciated in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama. Its medicinal potential, though, is far wider. This literature review aims to summarize the knowledge about the fruit, its ethnomedical uses, its biological activity and phytochemical composition, to validate ethnomedical claims and to help envision future lines of research. Borojó extracts have confirmed antimicrobial and antioxidant, and potential anticancer activities, which can be at least partially explained by its phytochemical composition -compounds isolated and identified through Gas Chromatography, High Performance Liquid Chromatography and spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques- rich in phenolic compounds, some of which, for example oleuropein, chlorogenic acid and rutin, possess proven biological activity. There is potential for borojó products as a source of bioactive natural products, which have not been exhaustively identified despite phytochemical screenings that show the presence of unstudied compound families: terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids; and functional alimentary products. Although its aphrodisiac properties have not been confirmed, several compounds with confirmed aphrodisiac activity in other species, mainly flavonoids, are also found in borojó. These, coupled with its nutritional profile and perhaps compounds yet unidentified, could validate the claim. Graphical abstract

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Xylosma G. Forst. is a genus of plants belonging to the Salicaceae family with intertropical distribution in America, Asia, and Oceania. Of the 100 accepted species, 22 are under some level of conservation risk. In this review, around 13 species of the genus used as medicinal plants were found, mainly in Central and South America, with a variety of uses, among which antimicrobial is the most common. There is published research in chemistry and pharmacological activity on around 15 of the genus species, centering in their antibacterial and fungicidal activity. Additionally, a variety of active phytochemicals have been isolated, the most representative of which are atraric acid, xylosmine and its derivatives, and velutinic acid. There is still ample field for the validation and evaluation of the activity of Xylosma extracts, particularly in species not yet studied, and concerning uses other than antimicrobial and for the identification and evaluation of their active compounds.