SVOA Microbiology

Raimundo Samuel Leite Sampaio¹, Francisco Sydney Henrique Félix², Severino Denicio Gonçalves de Sousa³, Flávio Silva Tampelini³, Dárcio Luiz de Sousa Júnior⁴, Bruna Almeida de Oliveira⁵, Bárbara Fernandes Melo¹, José Weverton Almeida-Bezerra^1,4*, Maria Clara Fonseca Bezerra⁶, Judith Ferreira do Carmo⁷, Camila Fonseca Bezerra^1,6, Rafaela de Souza Barbosa⁶, Dieferson Leandro de Souza¹, Maria Ivaneide Rocha¹, Magaly Lima Mota¹, Germana de Alencar Maia Luz⁸, Maria Bethânia de Sousa Ferreira Braga⁶, Maria Érika de Oliveira Silva⁷, Ademar Maia Filho¹

¹Regional University of Cariri, Crato - CE, Brazil.

²State University of Ceara, Fortaleza – CE, Brazil.

³Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiaba – MT, Brazil.

⁴Federal University of Cariri, Crato - CE, Brazil.

⁵University of Sao Paulo, Sa o Paulo – SP, Brazil. 6 Faculty of Medicine Esta cio IDOMED, Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil. 7Doctor Lea o Sampaio University Center, Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil. 8Federal University of Piauí , Teresina - PI, Brazil.

*Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. Jose Weverton Almeida-Bezerra, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, 63105-000, Crato, CE, Brazil.

https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMB.2025.06.005

Received: February 18, 2025

Published: March 17, 2025

Citation: Leite Sampaio RS, Felix FS H, Gonçalves de Sousa SD, Silva Tampelini F, de Sousa Junior DL, de Oliveira BA, Melo BF, Almeida-Bezerra JW, Fonseca Bezerra MC, Ferreirado Carmo J, Fonseca Bezerra C, de Souza Barbosa R, de Souza DL, Rocha MI, Mota ML, Luz GA M, de Sousa Ferreira Braga MB, de Oliveira Silva ME , Maia Filho A. Oilseed Plants of the Semi-arid Region: Acrocomia aculeata and Syagrus cearensis as Therapeutic Sources. SVOA Microbiology 2025, 6:2, 35-45. doi:10.58624/ SVOAMB.2025.06.005

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used for centuries as a valuable therapeutic alternative, especially in communities with limited access to conventional medicines. Today, scientific interest in these plants continues to grow, primarily due to the compounds they produce, known as secondary metabolites. These compounds not only help plants defend themselves against threats such as insects and diseases but also offer health benefits, including antioxidants, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the Chapada do Araripe, a region of the Brazilian semi-arid zone, biodiversity is vast, and several plants with medicinal potential have been identified. Among them, two palm species stand out: Acrocomia aculeata and Syagrus cearensis. The oil extracted from A. aculeata is rich in oleic acid, a type of healthy fat widely used in cosmetics, food, and even biofuel production. Meanwhile, the oil from S. cearensis, known as catole coconut oil, has high nutritional value and antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Additionally, the use of natural products, such as vegetable oils and plant extracts, is increasingly being studied as a promising solution to combat microbial resistance. When combined with traditional medicines, these products can enhance treatment effectiveness, offering new health alternatives.

Keywords: Medicinal plants; Secondary metabolites; Chapada do Araripe Vegetable oils; Microbial resistance