Mauritia flexuosa L. f.

Of all the Brazilian palms, Mauritia flexuosa is perhaps the most abundant and is very popular among the population for its uses in traditional medicine and for its versatility in its use as food and various handicrafts. Like many other Brazilian plants, M. flexuosa has a high economic potential that has not been adequately exploited to date, so much research is required to explore its potential as food and raw material for cosmetic, pharmacological and/or functional foods. This chapter presents the chemical compounds determined in the various parts of the palm, as well as some in vivo and in vitro studies that demonstrate health effects of these compounds.