Abstract

The use of vegetable species for treatment or prevention of diseases is one of the most ancient medicine techniques in humanity. In Amazon rainforest, there are numerous of plant species that possess biotechnological potential, and due to this, this study aimed at carrying out a bibliographic review describing the biotechnological potential in Carapa guianensis, Bertholletia excels, and Copaifera spp. oils. This study is a systematic review of literature in the databases: SCIELO, VHL and PUBMED, by using the descriptors: C. guianensis oil, B. excelsa oil and Copaifera spp. After the selection, 87 articles were selected; 48 on C. guianensis, 9 on B. excels, and 30 on Copaifera spp. Oil seeds from Amazon rainforest possess a good biotechnological potential to be explored. This review has shown that C. guianensis and Copaifera spp. are strong candidates for the search of new insecticide, antiparasitict, anti-inflammatory and healing products. Copaifera spp. has also shown to be promising for the production of antibiotic and antifungic medicines, and C. guianensis for acaricide drugs. Future studies are indicated to deepen the knowledge already described and to investigate new biotechnological potentialities of Amazonian oil seeds. However, for this to happen, greater financial support is required from the Brazilian government and agencies, thus increasing the level of research in the region, which will consequently maximize the likelihood of new product discovery.

Key word: Biotechnology, oilseeds, Amazon rainforest.