The Aguaje palm tree, also called the tree of life by explorer Alexander Von Humbolt, was the first Amazonian palm tree described by science in 1781. In Amazonian cities like Iquitos, the people eat approximately twenty tons of this fruit per day.
It’s located in the basins of Loreto, San Martín, Ucayali and Huanuco, either wild or grouped in smears (communities of the same species). The tree reaches 35 m. high, the fruit is elliptic, 5-7 cm. long and 4-5
cm. wide. It adapts to hot and humid tropical climate, poorly drained and waterlogged soils.
Within the worldview of native people, the Aguaje is considered "the tree of life" and a symbol of immortality. It’s also called "bread tree" because both the population and many species of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife depend on fruit for food
Aguaje Properties
Source: Collazos, 1998
The aguaje scientific name is Mauritia Flexuosa, his pulp only represents the 12% of the total fruit weight, it thas a high lipid content (21-31%) and also essential fatty acids
Studies made by the L´Etat University in Belgium in a joint venture with the National University of the Peruvian Amazon has demonstrated that the aguaje contents Betacarotene (Provitamin A ) from 173 to 300 mg /100 g and tocopherols (E Vitamin) from 80 to 100 mg / 100 g.
The aguaje fruit also have Ascorbic Acid (C Vitamin) from 50 to 60 mg/100 g (Chavez, 1946 and FAO , 1986), Phytoestrogens (the aguaje seems to be the fruit with the highest level of phytoestrogens around the world , FAO 2007) and Oleic Acids which are very important for women’s across their life specially during the menopause.
What are the Phytostrogens??
Phytoestrogens, sometimes called "dietary estrogens", are a diverse group of naturally occurring nonsteroidal plant compounds that, because of their structural similarity with estradiol (17-β-estradiol), have the ability to cause estrogenic or/and antiestrogenic effects.
Their name comes from phyto = plant and estrogen = estrus (period of fertility for female mammals) + gen = to generate.
The similarities, at molecular level, of estrogens and phytoestrogens allow them to mildly mimic and sometimes act as antagonists of estrogen. Phytoestrogens were first observed in 1926, but it was unknown if they could have any effect in human or animal metabolism. In the 1940s it was noticed for the first time that red clover (a phytoestrogens-rich plant) pastures had effects on the fertility of grazing sheep. Researchers are exploring the nutritional role of these substances in the regulation of cholesterol, and the maintenance of proper bone density post-menopause. Evidence is accruing that phytoestrogens may have protective action against diverse health disorders, such as prostate, breast, bowel, and other cancers, cardiovascular disease, brain function disorders and osteoporosis, though there is no evidence to support their use in alleviating the symptoms of menopause.
Phytoestrogens cannot be considered as nutrients, given that the lack of these in diet does not produce any characteristic deficiency syndrome, nor do they participate in any essential biological function
How do phytoestrogens act in the body?
There are many different ways that phytoestrogens may work in the body. The chemical structure of phytoestrogens is similar to estrogen, and they may act as mimics (copies) of estrogen. On the other hand, phytoestrogens also have effects that are different from those of estrogen.
Working as estrogen mimics, phytoestrogens may either have the same effects as estrogen or block estrogen's effects. Which effect the phytoestrogen produces can depend on the dose of the phytoestrogen. The phytoestrogen can act like estrogen at low doses but block estrogen at high doses. Estrogen activates a family of proteins called estrogen receptors. Recent studies have shown that phytoestrogens interact more with some members of the estrogen receptor family, but more information is needed about how these receptors work, especially in breast cancer. Finally, phytoestrogens acting as estrogen mimics may affect the production and/or the breakdown of estrogen by the body, as well as the levels of estrogen carried in the bloodstream.
Phytoestrogens - acting differently from estrogen - may affect communication pathways between cells, prevent the formation of blood vessels to tumors or alter processes involved in the processing of DNA for cell multiplication. Which of these effects occur is unknown. It is very possible that more than one of them may be working. Also, the effects in various parts of the body may be different.
Is there a certain time during a woman's life when eating phytoestrogens can be of the greatest benefit?
One recent study of Chinese women suggests that eating large amounts of soy during adolescence may reduce the risk of breast cancer. Studies in animals have demonstrated that the period of breast development is critical for mammary tumor inhibition by phytoestrogens. It is currently unclear if the results in Chinese women reflect a similar critical period or a lifetime of eating soy products.
Human epidemiological studies suggest that if breast cancer risk reduction is linked to eating soy phytoestrogens, the effect may be greater on premenopausal breast cancer. More studies are needed to determine if soy phytoestrogen and other phytoestrogens act largely on premenopausal breast cancer and whether the effectiveness of phytoestrogens is related to the period of life when they are eaten.
