Camu-camu

In the Amazon, camu-camu is gathered from the wild for local use as a food ^{33Reference 33FernMyrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh — habit, range, habitat, fruit and cultivation — species databaseView study →}. The fruit ripens during the wet season, when the forest is flooded, so it is harvested from canoes ^{32Reference 32Taylor L · 2005The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs: A Guide to Understanding and Using Herbal Medicinals}.

The fruit has also been used traditionally for malnutrition, because of its vitamin C and phenolic content ^{13Reference 13da Silva FC et al. · 2021AnimalMyrciaria dubia juice (camu-camu) exhibits analgesic and antiedematogenic activities in miceView study →}.

In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 30 overweight adults with high triglycerides took 1.5 g of camu-camu powder daily for 12 weeks. Liver fat fell 7.43% on camu-camu and rose 8.42% on placebo, a difference of 15.85%. AST and ALT fell, and the gut microbiota changed ^{2Reference 2Agrinier AL et al. · 2024RCTCamu-camu decreases hepatic steatosis and liver injury markers in overweight, hypertriglyceridemic individuals: a randomized crossover trialView study →}.

In mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet, camu-camu extract fully prevented fatty liver ^{3Reference 3Anhê FF et al. · 2019AnimalTreatment with camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) prevents obesity by altering the gut microbiota and increasing energy expenditure in diet-induced obese miceView study →}. In rats, the juice compound 1-methylmalate reduced D-galactosamine liver injury, while malate, citrate and tartrate did not ^{15Reference 15Akachi T et al. · 2010AnimalAkachi T, et al. 1-Methylmalate from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) suppressed D-galactosamine-induced liver injury in rats. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. 2010;74(3):573–578. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20208347/View study →}. In a chick-embryo model the extract reduced liver NF-κB and fat droplets ^{16Reference 16Pereira SMS et al. · 2026An extract from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) attenuates DSS-induced gut–liver axis alterations in ovo (Gallus gallus)View study →}.

Gap: one 12-week trial in one group of people, with no dose-ranging and no liver biopsy.

Twenty male smokers were randomised to 70 mL of camu-camu juice a day (about 1,050 mg vitamin C) or 1,050 mg vitamin C tablets for 7 days. Urinary 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine and total reactive oxygen species fell significantly in the juice group and did not change in the tablet group ^{1Reference 1Inoue T et al. · 2008Tropical fruit camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory propertiesView study →}. The authors suggested that other antioxidants in the fruit, or effects on how vitamin C is handled in the body, could explain the difference.

In keratinocytes exposed to high glucose, the fruit extract activated Nrf2 and NQO1 and reduced reactive oxygen species ^{11Reference 11Do et al. · 2021In vitroCamu-camu fruit extract inhibits oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by regulating NFAT and Nrf2 signalling in high-glucose-induced human keratinocytes — in vitroView study →}. In mice the juice protected blood cells against H₂O₂- and ethanol-induced DNA damage and was not itself genotoxic ^{26,27Reference 26da Silva FC et al. · 2012AnimalAntigenotoxic effect of acute, subacute and chronic treatments with camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) juice on mice blood cellsView study →Reference 27da Silva FC et al. · 2019AnimalAntigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of Myrciaria dubia juice in mice submitted to ethanol treatmentView study →}. Ellagic acid, cyanidin-3-glucoside and the ellagitannins contribute much of the in-vitro antioxidant activity ^{28,29,30Reference 28Fracassetti D et al. · 2013Ellagic acid derivatives, ellagitannins, proanthocyanidins and other phenolics, vitamin C and antioxidant capacity of two powder products from camu-camu fruit (Myrciaria dubia)View study →Reference 29Zanatta CF et al. · 2005Determination of anthocyanins from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) by HPLC-PDA, HPLC-MS and NMRView study →Reference 30Langley PC et al. · 2015Systematic reviewAntioxidant and associated capacities of camu camu (Myrciaria dubia): a systematic reviewView study →}.

A crossover trial of a single 400 mL dose of blended açai, camu-camu and blackberry juice in 12 healthy non-smokers raised plasma vitamin C but did not change markers of oxidative stress ^{31Reference 31Ellinger S et al. · 2012Bolus consumption of a specifically designed fruit juice rich in anthocyanins and ascorbic acid did not influence markers of antioxidative defense in healthy humansView study →}.

Gap: one small, 7-day trial in smokers, and no clinical endpoint.

In the smoker trial, serum hsCRP, IL-6 and IL-8 fell significantly with camu-camu juice and not with vitamin C tablets ^{1Reference 1Inoue T et al. · 2008Tropical fruit camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory propertiesView study →}.

A seed extract reduced carrageenan paw oedema in mice and nitric-oxide release from macrophages, and betulinic acid was identified as the active compound ^{12Reference 12Yazawa K et al. · 2011Anti-inflammatory effects of seeds of the tropical fruit camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia)View study →}. The fruit extract reduced NF-κB, NFAT and MAPK/AP-1 signalling in keratinocytes ^{11Reference 11Do et al. · 2021In vitroCamu-camu fruit extract inhibits oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by regulating NFAT and Nrf2 signalling in high-glucose-induced human keratinocytes — in vitroView study →}. The juice reduced pain and swelling in mice ^{13Reference 13da Silva FC et al. · 2021AnimalMyrciaria dubia juice (camu-camu) exhibits analgesic and antiedematogenic activities in miceView study →}, and a chick-embryo model showed lower liver NF-κB and iNOS ^{16Reference 16Pereira SMS et al. · 2026An extract from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) attenuates DSS-induced gut–liver axis alterations in ovo (Gallus gallus)View study →}.

Gap: the human data are blood markers from a 7-day, 20-person study, and betulinic acid comes from the seed rather than the pulp.

In mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet, crude camu-camu extract prevented weight gain, reduced fat build-up, and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. It raised energy expenditure and brown-fat UCP1, linked to the bile-acid receptor TGR5, and led to a bloom of Akkermansia muciniphila. Germ-free mice given gut bacteria from treated mice gained less weight ^{3Reference 3Anhê FF et al. · 2019AnimalTreatment with camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) prevents obesity by altering the gut microbiota and increasing energy expenditure in diet-induced obese miceView study →}.

A dose-ranging study found that only the higher dose, 200 mg/kg, prevented weight gain, fat gain and fatty liver. The authors concluded the effects were likely independent of A. muciniphila ^{4Reference 4Abot A et al. · 2022AnimalCamu-Camu reduces obesity and improves diabetic profiles of obese and diabetic mice: a dose-ranging studyView study →}. Rat studies of diet-induced obesity also found improvements in blood lipids and body fat ^{5Reference 5Nascimento OV et al. · 2013AnimalEffects of diet supplementation with camu-camu fruit in a rat model of diet-induced obesityView study →}.

Gap: no human weight-loss trial exists. The liver trial enrolled overweight adults but measured liver fat, and the mouse doses of 62.5–200 mg/kg do not translate directly to the 1.5 g/day used there.

In 23 healthy adults, 300 mL of clarified camu-camu juice with white bread significantly lowered blood glucose after the meal compared with water ^{8Reference 8Balisteiro DM et al. · 2017Effect of clarified Brazilian native fruit juices on postprandial glycemia in healthy subjectsView study →}.

In vitro, butyl malate esters from the fruit inhibit pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase ^{9Reference 9García-Chacón JM et al. · 2022Mono-n-butyl malate-derived compounds from camu-camu malic acid: the alkyl-dependent antihyperglycemic-related activityView study →}, and ellagic acid derivatives from the leaves inhibit aldose reductase ^{10Reference 10Ueda H et al. · 2004Aldose reductase inhibitors from the leaves of Myrciaria dubiaView study →}. In a comparison of Brazilian native fruits, camu-camu had one of the highest antioxidant capacities, while cambuci and cagaita were the strongest α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitors ^{7Reference 7de Souza Schmidt Gonçalves AE et al. · 2010Chemical composition and antioxidant/antidiabetic potential of Brazilian native fruits and commercial frozen pulpsView study →}.

In obese mice, both doses of camu-camu extract lowered fasting blood glucose ^{4Reference 4Abot A et al. · 2022AnimalCamu-Camu reduces obesity and improves diabetic profiles of obese and diabetic mice: a dose-ranging studyView study →}. In streptozotocin-diabetic rats, it improved blood lipids but did not change glucose ^{6Reference 6de Souza Schmidt Gonçalves AE et al. · 2014AnimalFrozen pulp extracts of camu-camu attenuate the hyperlipidemia and lipid peroxidation of Type 1 diabetic ratsView study →}.

Gap: the only human data are a single meal in healthy adults, with no HbA1c or fasting-glucose measurement.

In mice, oral camu-camu changed the gut microbiota, slowed tumour growth and strengthened the response to anti-PD-1 therapy. The active compound was the ellagitannin castalagin. It enriched bacteria linked to good immunotherapy responses (Ruminococcaceae, Alistipes), improved the ratio of CD8⁺ to regulatory T cells in the tumour, and restored the anti-PD-1 response in mice given gut bacteria from patients whose cancers had not responded ^{19Reference 19Messaoudene M et al. · 2022A natural polyphenol exerts antitumor activity and circumvents anti-PD-1 resistance through effects on the gut microbiotaView study →}.

Two case reports describe metastatic melanoma that had progressed on checkpoint inhibitors. A 71-year-old woman had a near-complete response and a 90-year-old man a complete response after camu-camu was added to nivolumab, and both responses lasted more than a year ^{20Reference 20Pang SA et al. · 2023Two cases of durable and deep responses to immune checkpoint inhibition-refractory metastatic melanoma after addition of camu camu prebioticView study →}. A phase 1 trial of camu-camu with checkpoint inhibitors has been registered (NCT05303493).

Gap: the human evidence is two case reports, with no published efficacy trial. Camu-camu alongside checkpoint inhibitors has not been studied for safety.

Seed-coat extracts inhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme in vitro ^{17Reference 17Fidelis M et al. · 2018In vitroIn vitro antioxidant and antihypertensive compounds from camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) seed coatView study →}. The only human data come from a single-dose crossover study in 10 healthy men and 10 healthy women, which recorded flow-mediated dilation and blood pressure after a pericarp extract or placebo. It was published as a data article without an efficacy conclusion ^{18Reference 18Miyashita T et al. · 2018Data on a single oral dose of camu camu pericarp extract on flow-mediated vasodilation and blood pressure in young adult humansView study →}.

Gap: the ACE-inhibition work uses the seed coat, a processing by-product, and the human dataset was published without an efficacy conclusion.

The acylphloroglucinols myrciarone A and B and rhodomyrtone, isolated from the peel and seed, inhibited bacteria at concentrations similar to or lower than kanamycin ^{21Reference 21Kaneshima T et al. · 2017Antimicrobial constituents of peel and seeds of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia)View study →}. A systematic review of 11 in-vitro studies found activity against oral gram-positive bacteria, with a high risk of bias in most studies ^{22Reference 22Pardo-Aldave K et al. · 2019Systematic reviewAntimicrobial activity in vitro of camu-camu against oral microorganisms: a systematic reviewView study →}. Seed and leaf extracts have also shown antimalarial and antischistosomal activity ^{23,24Reference 23do Carmo MAV et al. · 2020Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) seeds as a novel source of bioactive compounds with promising antimalarial and antischistosomicidal propertiesView study →Reference 24Correia VCS et al. · 2016Evaluation of the antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal potential of Myrciaria dubia extractView study →}.

Gap: the active extracts come from the peel and seed, and nothing has been tested in an infection model.

A 70% ethanol camu-camu fruit extract stabilised mast cells (RBL-2H3). It reduced histamine and β-hexosaminidase release, inhibited histamine H1 and H4 receptor activation and histidine decarboxylase, and activated Nrf2 ^{14Reference 14Do et al. · 2021In vitroAnti-allergic effects of Myrciaria dubia fruit extract by inhibiting histamine H1 and H4 receptors and histidine decarboxylase in RBL-2H3 cells — in vitroView study →}.

Gap: one cell line, with no animal or human data.

Vitamin C. Large intakes of the fruit or powder can cause loose stools, nausea or abdominal discomfort because of the vitamin C. The same vitamin C load is a theoretical concern for people prone to calcium-oxalate kidney stones.

Animal safety. In mice, camu-camu juice given acutely, subacutely and chronically caused no toxicity or deaths and did not damage DNA in blood cells. It protected against chemically induced DNA damage ^{26,27Reference 26da Silva FC et al. · 2012AnimalAntigenotoxic effect of acute, subacute and chronic treatments with camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) juice on mice blood cellsView study →Reference 27da Silva FC et al. · 2019AnimalAntigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of Myrciaria dubia juice in mice submitted to ethanol treatmentView study →}.

Cancer immunotherapy. Camu-camu is being tested as an addition to checkpoint-inhibitor therapy ^{19,20Reference 19Messaoudene M et al. · 2022A natural polyphenol exerts antitumor activity and circumvents anti-PD-1 resistance through effects on the gut microbiotaView study →Reference 20Pang SA et al. · 2023Two cases of durable and deep responses to immune checkpoint inhibition-refractory metastatic melanoma after addition of camu camu prebioticView study →}. That combination has not been studied for safety, so it belongs under the care of the treating oncologist.

Liver and gallbladder disease. Camu-camu changes the gut microbiota and the bile-acid pool ^{3Reference 3Anhê FF et al. · 2019AnimalTreatment with camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) prevents obesity by altering the gut microbiota and increasing energy expenditure in diet-induced obese miceView study →}. People with significant liver or gallbladder disease should use it with medical oversight.

Drug interactions. No human drug-interaction study has been published, and its effects on drug-metabolising enzymes have not been measured.