The Brazil nut production chain, which is reliant on Amazonian environmental conditions, is significantly affected by climate change, particularly extreme droughts, which decrease production and compromise sanitary quality. This study evaluated the influence of severe drought on aflatoxin concentrations and sequence toxigenic fungi in Brazil nuts harvested during the 2023 off-season. Aflatoxins were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography, while fungal sequencing involved DNA extraction, PCR, and sequencing analysis. Findings indicated that all Brazil nut samples collected during extreme drought contained detectable aflatoxins, with 10% exceeding the legal threshold of 10 µg/kg. Phylogenetic analysis identified four isolates as Penicillium citrinum. Additional morphological and sequencing analyses identified Aspergillus species from the Circumdati and Flavi sections, although one isolate could not be taxonomically classified. These results demonstrate the aflatoxin production by fungi in Brazil nuts in an unprecedented way under drought conditions. Furthermore, the diversity of fungal species during drought underscores the risk of contamination, emphasizing the necessity for monitoring future harvests to improve management and ensure product safety.

In this review, we aim to present and update knowledge about the aspects that relate selenium from Brazil nuts, the advantages of its consumption for the prevention oxidative damage and other relevant aspects to human health. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for the human body and has been studied regarding its bioavailability and antioxidant action against diseases. Among the nuts, the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) stands out for being one of the richest sources of Se, as well as for its different chemical forms, mainly linked to different proteins. Se is found in the active site of enzymes and catalyzes oxidation/reduction reactions, and is therefore essential for the synthesis of glutathione peroxidase, which prevents oxidative processes. Adequate intake of Se in the diet can improve immunity and fertility in humans and animals, as well as aid in resistance to oxidation, tumors and pathogenic microorganisms.

A castanha-do-Brasil (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) é um produto importante da bioeconomia Amazônica que no processamento pode gerar resíduos como cascas e películas. Esses materiais possuem compostos bioativos e podem ser utilizados como insumos para novos produtos cosméticos. Portanto, o objetivo desse trabalho foi caracterizar a película de castanha-do-Brasil e testar como insumo de uma formulação cosmética (esfoliante labial) submetido aos testes de estabilidade. A película demonstrou ser fonte de fibra e selênio e o produto apresentou boa performance e estabilidade ao longo do tempo. Nesse contexto, o aproveitamento da película pode contribuir com a sustentabilidade de processamentos industriais em diminuir os resíduos ambientais e prospectar como insumo de outras formulações cosméticas.