GUARANA
Source:Paullinia cupanaKunth ex H.B.K.
(syn. P. sorbilis (L.) Mart.) (Family
Sapindaceae).
Common/vernacular names:Guarana paste,
guarana gum.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A climbing evergreen liana native to South
America in the Amazon region (e.g., Brazil
and Venezuela); undercultivation itbecomes a
shrub up to 2 m high. Leaves alternate with
five folioles; tendrils, if present, are axillary;
inflorescences axillary racemes or originate
on tendrils; fruits small, round, septicidal
capsules, bright red to orangey-red in color,
and grow in clusters; as it ripens the fruit splits
and a black seed emerges, giving it the ap-
pearance of an eye. Guarana paste (also called
gum) is prepared from the pulverized and
roasted seeds by mixing with water to form
a paste, which is then molded into bars and
dried. Commercial production is in the middle
Amazon in northern Brazil, with the city and
county of Maues accounting for 80% of the
world’s supply. It is cultivated there for its
seeds.^1
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Contains usually 2.6–7% caffeine as its active
constituent, together with traces of related
alkaloids (theophylline, theobromine, xan-
thine, adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, etc.).
Other constituents include tannins (ca. 12%),
d-catechin, starch (5–6%), fats (ca. 3%), resin
(ca. 7%), saponins, mucilage, red pigment,
and choline (KARRER;LIST AND Ho ̈RHAMMER;
MERCK).
The fixed oil of the seed contains cyanoli-
pids (ca. 3%) and acylglycerols (ca. 28%),^2
while the essential oil contains at least nine
identified components of which estragole and
anethole are prominent.^3
PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIESGuarana has stimulant and astringent proper-
ties due to its caffeine and tannins contents
(also seecoffeeandcocoa).
The ethanolic extract of P. cupanahas
antimicrobial effects against Gram-positive
and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as anti-
oxidant activity atmg/mL levels. The antioxi-
dant activity correlates with the levels of
phenolic compounds and catechols in the
extract.4,5The extract also displayed hepato-
and gastroprotective effects when adminis-
tered to mice and rats at doses below
100 mg/kg.6–8
Enhanced cognitive functions were ob-
served in young human subjects after the
administration of 75 mg of dried ethanolic
extract of guarana. The authors suggested that
the enhanced cognition was not due to the
caffeine content of the extract.^9
An aqueous extract of guarana decreased
the aggregation of rabbit platelets, which
may be due to its inhibition of thromboxane
formation observed in the same experiment.^10TOXICOLOGYAqueous extracts of guarana were found to
be genotoxic and mutagenic when tested
in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi-
murium. The effect was attributed to the
formation of a toxic caffeine/catechin
complex.^11USESFood. Guarana extract (especially fluid ex-
tract) is widely used as a flavor ingredient of
cola drinks. It is also reportedly used in alco-
holic beverages (e.g., liqueurs and cordials)
and in candy. Use levels are generally below
0.002%, reported for guarana gum (paste). In
Brazil, a carbonated soft drink made from the
seeds is considered a NATIONAL beverage,
offered commercially since 1909.350 Guarana