Common names | Acerola, Barbados cherry
Scientific name | Malpighia glabra
Used part | Fruit
Known active compounds | ascorbic acid, rutin, quercetin, catechin, β-carotene 

Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, skin brightening
Product name | Acerola-ANB

 

 

Plant Story

Malpighia glabra, commonly known as acerola or Barbados cherry, is a fruit-bearing small tree native to tropical regions of South America. The fruit is popularly consumed fresh or in processed foods, such as juices, jams, sauces, wines, or purees. Acerola fruit has also been used for medicinal purposes to treat coughs and colds, diarrhea, dysentery, and liver problems. Acerola fruit is well known for its high vitamin C content. However, the fruit is highly perishable and therefore, distribution of fresh fruit is limited.

 

Various phenolic compounds including gallic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, catechin, epicatechin, rutin, quercetin, quercitrin, and kaempferol, as well as β-carotene were identified in acerola fruit. Scientific studies have shown the health benefits of acerola fruit. Acerola fruit extract exhibited anti-oxidant activity by scavenging radicals analyzed by DPPH assay. Acerola fruit extract also showed skin brightening activity by decreasing melanin synthesis and inhibiting tyrosinase activity in B16 mouse melanoma cells.