A pre-Columbian staple, Bactris gasipaes Kunth. is a palm tree domesticated around 4000 years ago, so appreciated that a Spanish chronicler wrote in 1545, “only their wives and children were held in higher regard” by the Mesoamerican natives. The peach palm is an integral part of the foodways and gastronomy of Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, and other tropical American countries; meanwhile, it is almost unknown in the rest of the world, except for hearts of palm. Although abundant, the species faces anthropogenic threats. The purpose of this study is to describe and summarize the physicochemical, nutritional, and bioactive characteristics of the peach palm and its two main alimentary products: hearts of palm and fruits, highlighting the functional and antioxidant potential of the latter, showing both ancestral and modern uses. There is active research on peach palm products and coproducts that aim for better, more sustainable uses of its traditional and recently found properties. The review and presentation of studies on this strategically relevant species can motivate the protection of endangered populations and stimulate new lines of research to advance development in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, with fair trade, sustainable development goals, and adaptation to climate change in mind.

The species Chenopodium quinoa Willd. and Amaranthus hybridus L. are Andean staples, part of the traditional diet and gastronomy of the people of the highlands of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern Argentina and Chile, with several ethnopharmacological uses, among them anticancer applications. This review aims to present updated information on the nutritional composition, phytochemistry, and antimicrobial and anticancer activity of Quinoa and Amaranth. Both species contribute to food security due to their essential amino acid contents, which are higher than those of most staples. It is highlighted that the biological activity, especially the antimicrobial activity in C. quinoa, and the anticancer activity in both species is related to the presence of phytochemicals present mostly in leaves and seeds. The biological activity of both species is consistent with their phytochemical composition, with phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins and peptides being the main compound families of interest. Extracts of different plant organs of both species and peptide fractions have shown in vitro and, to a lesser degree, in vivo activity against a variety of bacteria and cancer cell lines. These findings confirm the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of both species, C. quinoa having more reported activity than A. hybridus through different compounds and mechanisms.

The Ecuadorian Amazon harbors numerous wild and cultivated species used as food, many of which are underutilized. This review explores the bioactive potential of five such fruits—Borojó (Alibertia patinoi); Chonta (Bactris gasipaes); Arazá (Eugenia stipitata); Amazon grape (Pourouma cecropiifolia), a wild edible plant; and Cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum)—and their applications against metabolic syndrome. This study highlights their health-promoting ingredients and validates traditional medicinal properties, emphasizing their significance in improving health and mitigating the effects of the Western diet. These fruits, integral to Ecuadorian cuisine, are consumed fresh and processed. Chonta is widely cultivated but less prominent than in pre-Hispanic times, Borojó is known for its aphrodisiac properties, Cocona is traditional in northern provinces, Arazá is economically significant in food products, and Amazon grape is the least utilized and researched. The fruits are rich in phenolics (A. patinoi, E. stipitata) and carotenoids (B. gasipaes, E. stipitata), which are beneficial in controlling metabolic syndrome. This study advocates for more research and product development, especially for lesser-known species with high phenolic and anthocyanin content. This research underscores the economic, cultural, and nutritional value of these fruits, promoting their integration into modern diets and contributing to sustainable agriculture, cultural preservation, and public health through functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Codification of country-of-origin cuisines serves as a powerful tool for the international promotion of a country and the reinforcement of its national identity. Even though there have been efforts in that direction, Ecuadorian gastronomy is not consensually codified. This study aims to compare the perceptions of Ecuadorian gastronomy among inhabitants of coastal and highland cities —where most of the population of the country lives— using free listing as a study technique, to distinguish consumers’ demographics through their representations, to define a list of the most culturally salient preparations, and to compare these perceptions with the traditional Ecuadorian dishes set forth by the Ministry of Tourism for the promotion of Ecuadorian cuisine. Data were acquired through face-to-face surveys in the main coastal and highland cities of Ecuador (n = 294) in which participants were asked to list the main dishes of Ecuadorian cuisine. The study identifies 25 preparations that exhibit the highest cultural consensus as determined by B'score. The four most salient dishes areencebollado(tuna, onion, and cassava soup),ceviche(lime-cured fish or shrimp cold soup),hornado, andfritada(roast and fried pork dishes, respectively). The representations of The Coast and Highlands show weak correlation (0.286 in Spearman’s test) despite having 60% consensus in the most salient dishes, and other groups show much higher consensus. There is agreement with most provincial dishes selected for the promotion programs of Ecuadorian cuisine, although there is room for improvement. This study is valuable to help codify Ecuadorian gastronomy from a grassroots perspective, to point out promotion and local development practical implications for both domestic and international tourism, and to lay the groundwork for further research.

Although the western discovery of borojó [Alibertia patinoiCuatrec. (Delprete & C.H.Perss.)] is as recent as 1948, its several traditional uses in gastronomy and medicine, and its fame as an aphrodisiac are long standing and strong: the “love juice” extracted from it is very appreciated in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama. Its medicinal potential, though, is far wider. This literature review aims to summarize the knowledge about the fruit, its ethnomedical uses, its biological activity and phytochemical composition, to validate ethnomedical claims and to help envision future lines of research. Borojó extracts have confirmed antimicrobial and antioxidant, and potential anticancer activities, which can be at least partially explained by its phytochemical composition -compounds isolated and identified through Gas Chromatography, High Performance Liquid Chromatography and spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques- rich in phenolic compounds, some of which, for example oleuropein, chlorogenic acid and rutin, possess proven biological activity. There is potential for borojó products as a source of bioactive natural products, which have not been exhaustively identified despite phytochemical screenings that show the presence of unstudied compound families: terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids; and functional alimentary products. Although its aphrodisiac properties have not been confirmed, several compounds with confirmed aphrodisiac activity in other species, mainly flavonoids, are also found in borojó. These, coupled with its nutritional profile and perhaps compounds yet unidentified, could validate the claim.Graphical abstract