Cupuaçu (theobroma Grandiflorum): A Multifunctional Amazonian Fruit with Extensive Benefits

The Amazon region is known for its continental dimensions, water abundance, and especially for the rich biodiversity that this biome hosts. Among thousands of plants species from the Amazon, many of them represent food sources. From those, cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) K.Schum.) stands out as an iconical fruit with exotic flavor, which is appreciated for its remarkable organoleptic properties. The present review aims the full description of its biology, agronomical uses, nutritional values, chemical compositions, medicinal properties, and industrial applications. The search based on scientific articles demonstrates T. grandiflorum as a valuable ingredient for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors. Data analysis demonstrates that cupuaçu cultivation and processing contribute to the strengthening of local production chains and promotes the development of small communities, and thus the bioeconomy in the Amazon region. In this sense, since the last decade, cultivar improvement has required multidisciplinary efforts, resulting in disease-resistant plants with better productivity. Regarding its chemical composition, T. grandiflorum is a conspicuous source of methylxanthine alkaloids, polyphenols, aroma compounds and lipids. The presence of these compounds corroborates to the use of cupuaçu in different products, and help us to understand the possible health benefits of its consumption. Through the integration of all collected information, key gaps in basic and applied sciences were observed, which highlights the need for more research to uncover novel applications and products of T. grandiflorum. This development of new products based on the biodiversity is fundamental to promote environmental and economical sustainability, key steps to the survival of the Amazon rain forest. Therefore, this work summarizes the knowledge on this source and shed light over a food source that is little known outside of the Amazon borders.