Adele Salomão-Oliveira^1,, Emerson Silva Lima², Helyde Albuquerque Marinho³, Rosany Piccolotto Carvalho⁴

Guarana is native to the Amazonian region of Brazil and, widely used in liquid preparations due to its stimulating effect, along with other therapeutic properties. Its chemical components, methylxanthines and condensed tannins, exhibiting a marked biological activity, may be found in commercially available powdered guarana brands at varying levels, possibly due to their provenance and drying processes. However, the chemical standardization of its extract maintains the same quantified content of active substances on each and every lot of extract produced, thus asssuring their quality and therapeutic efficacy. Consumption of guarana by the population should be controlled, since there is controversy as to its dosage and association with allopathic drugs, the interactions of which may result in increasing the therapeutic effect, reducing efficacy or even bringing about adverse reactions. However, the use of guarana in adequate concentrations may contribute to achieve therapeutic properties with less toxicity on account of it being some natural antioxidants source and considered one of the most important new substances directly used as effective medicinal agents.

Paullinia cupana, guaraná, sapindaceae, Amazônia