Potential for conservation of threatened Brazilian Myrtaceae through sustainable use for food and medicine

The diversified use of natural products from annually regenerating tissues from tropical tree taxa may contribute to biodiversity conservation through sustainable use. In this review, we compiled food and medicinal properties and uses of the megadiverse Brazilian Myrtaceae, reported in 95 scientific articles, 5 reference books, 2 online databases, and 1 practitioner source. Among the 551 species assessed for conservation status, we found food or medicinal uses in 187, a third of which are under some degree of threat of extinction. We provide a comprehensive summary of their reported properties for food (168 species) and medicine (42 species). Fruits, leaf essential oil, and plant extracts are the main products researched. A total of 44 fruit species were found with some risk of extinction status, especially red-purple and yellow-orange-colored fruits, but only 10 species have been scientifically studied. Research related to the medicinal properties of Myrtaceae species has been performed mainly for essential oils and plant extracts. The species Campomanesia phaea , Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus , Plinia edulis , and Eugenia mattosii stand out regarding their scientifically proven medicinal use. These products have a set of nutritional components and/or bioactive compounds that can supply specific demands from the food, pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic industries. The outstanding suitability for sustainable planting and continuous harvesting of Myrtaceae fruits and leaves provides a thus-far neglected opportunity for conservation through sustainable use of their natural products. Graphical abstract