Polyphenols from Brazilian native Myrtaceae fruits and their potential health benefits against obesity and its associated complications

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the last decades and has been associated to the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and some cancer types. Evidences suggest that bioactive compounds present in plant-based foods, including polyphenols, may exert beneficial effects against obesity and its associated complications. The Brazilian flora is characterized by a wide diversity, where native edible fruits produced by the species of the Myrtaceae family have an ecological importance. Here, we describe the potential health benefits against obesity and its associated complications from polyphenols present in four Brazilian native Myrtaceae species, in order to highlight their potential as adjuvants in the treatment and/or the risk reduction of chronic non-communicable diseases.