Camu-camu

Common Names

Camu-camu
Cacari
Camu Berry
Zamu

How It Works
Camu-camu has not been shown to prevent or treat cancer in humans.
Camu-camu is a small plant that grows in South America. Laboratory studies and a small study in humans have shown that the fruits have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. More research is needed. Because camu-camu has high amounts of vitamin C, it can interfere with certain chemo drugs.
Purported Uses
- Immunostimulation
  There is no scientific evidence to support this use.
- Atherosclerosis
  A small study in smokers showed that camu-camu may protect again atherosclerosis. More studies are needed.
- Arthritis
  This claim is not backed by scientific research.
Do Not Take If
You are taking chemotherapy drugs (camu-camu has high amounts of vitamin C, which can interfere with their activity).
Scientific Name
Myrciaria dubia
Clinical Summary
Camu-camu is a shrub native to the Amazon region of South America. Due to its sour taste, it is not generally consumed as food. However, following recent reports of high vitamin C content in the fruit, camu-camu is being marketed as a dietary supplement for many purported uses including diabetes and cancer.
Camu-camu fruits have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects ⁽⁵⁾ ⁽⁶⁾ ⁽⁷⁾. Pharmacological activity is exhibited by the leaves as well ⁽⁴⁾. Large scale clinical studies have not been conducted to study these effects in humans.
Due to it high vitamin C content, camu-camu may interfere with certain chemotherapy drugs; however, the vitamin C content in frozen camu-camu pulp was shown to decrease progressively ⁽¹⁾.
Purported Uses
Immunostimulation
Depression
Atherosclerosis
Arthritis
Emphysema
Mechanism of Action
The compounds isolated from the leaves of camu-camu, ellagic acid, 4-O-methylellagic acid and 4-(alpha-rhamnopyranosyl) ellagic acid, were found to exhibit noncompetitive inhibition of aldose-reductase, a possible target for diabetes mellitus ⁽⁴⁾. Camu-camu juice decreases inflammatory and oxidative stress markers such as 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, total reactive oxygen species, C reactive protein, IL-6, and IL-8 in smokers ⁽⁵⁾.
Herb-Drug Interactions
- Camu-camu has a high amount of Vitamin C which is an antioxidant. It may interact with certain chemotherapy drugs that rely on the generation of free radicals for their cytotoxic effects.
References
1. Justi KC, Visentainer JV, Evelazio de Souza N, Matsushita M. Nutritional composition and vitamin C stability in stored camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) pulp. Arch Latinoam Nutr. Dec 2000;50(4):405-408.
2. Bradfield RB, Roca A. Camu-Camu—A Fruit High in Ascorbic Acid.J Am Diet Assoc. Jan 1964;44:28-30.
3. Zanatta CF, Cuevas E, Bobbio FO, et al. Determination of anthocyanins from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) by HPLC-PDA, HPLC-MS, and NMR. J Agric Food Chem. Nov 30 2005;53(24):9531-9535.
4. Ueda H, Kuroiwa E, Tachibana Y, et al. Aldose reductase inhibitors from the leaves of Myrciaria dubia (H. B. & K.) McVaugh. Phytomedicine. Nov 2004;11(7-8):652-656.
5. Inoue T, Komoda H, Uchida T, Node K. Tropical fruit camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. J Cardiol. Oct 2008;52(2):127-132.
6. Yazawa K, Suga K, Honma A, Shirosaki M, Koyama T. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Seeds of the Tropical Fruit Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dubia). J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2011;57(1):104-7.
7. Langley PC, Pergolizzi JV Jr, Taylor R Jr, Ridgway C. Antioxidant and associated capacities of Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia): a systematic review. J Altern Complement Med. 2015 Jan;21(1):8-14.