Evaluation of the Bioactive and Technological Potential of Caferana ( <i>Bunchosia glandulifera</i> )

Caferana ( Bunchosia glandulifera ), one of seven species of the genus Bunchosia identified in the Atlantic Forest, is a plant with expressive bioactive potential that remains underexplored by scientific research. Based on ancestral knowledge and popular traditions that consuming the fruit and infusions made from its roots and leaves may improve physical and mental vigor, particularly for the elderly, the bioactive and technological potentials of five fractions of the plant (root, stem, leaf, seed, and pulp) were then evaluated. The leaves contained the highest total phenolic compound content (22.41 mg GAE/g) and the highest antioxidant capacity by DPPH (62.94 μmol TE/g). The pulp stood out for its high carotenoid content (527.71 μg/g), predominantly lycopene. Notably, the stem and root exhibited the highest concentrations of total alkaloids (11.27 mg/g and 9.01 mg/g, respectively). Volatile profile analysis revealed that 1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐dione (maleimide), a compound with known pharmacological potential, was the major component in the seeds (55.9%). These quantitative results validate conventional wisdom and indicate that Caferana fractions are promising sources of nutraceuticals and could be applied in the form of encapsulated compounds, fermented beverages, and sweet foods such as ice cream, jellies, and juices with nutritional qualities. Future research should focus on the isolation and pharmacological evaluation of the alkaloids and maleimide to elucidate their mechanisms of action in the central nervous system.