Ethnomedicinal applications, food value, pharmaceutical and economic potentials of Macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata) - A systematic review

Purpose: To review the ethnomedicinal applications, food value, pharmaceutical and economic potentials of Macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata). Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was was used in the review. PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and SciELO were used to identify studies published from 2010 to 2025. One hundred and twenty-seven records were located, fifty-nine complete texts were evaluated, and forty-three studies were included in the synthesis. Results: Macauba palm has antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial properties, with oleic acid, carotenoids, and tocopherols among the bioactive compounds that support its use in food and pharmaceutical products. It offers animal feed coproducts, industrial products, such as biocomposites and activated carbon, and high-quality oils. As a source of biofuel, its oil has the potential for biodiesel and aviation fuels. Conclusion: Macauba palm has significant potential to promote sustainable growth, food security, human nutrition, health, and renewable energy. Macauba palm would transform 21st-century tropical and subtropical agriculture and bioeconomy through strategic investment, research, and the facilitation of policy frameworks. Keywords: