What is Guarana? A Brief Introduction to this Stimulating Exotic Fruit
Guarana (Paullinia Cupana) is a plant native to the Amazon Rainforest, discovered in 1895 and known for its Stimulating and Energetic Activity.
Its composition is rich in compounds such as caffeine, theophylline, theobromine and tanins, which confer the stimulating, energetic and nourishing activity for which it is known.
This exotic plant can grow up to 12 meters in length and live for more than 40 years. The energetic fruit of Guarana has unique and particular visual characteristics - round, bright and reddish pods that resemble an eye. Locals refer to it as the Eyes of the Forest.
This fast-growing vine that grows in the lush Amazon Basin has been cultivated by the Guarani Indians for more than thousands of years, being one of the first fruits to be used in health treatments in general.
The Amazon tribes have used guarana for centuries for its therapeutic, medicinal and energetic properties, mainly for an incredible variety of organic stimulants, such as caffeine, theophylline and theobromine, and also with antioxidants such as tannins, saponins and catechins.
Today, 70% of the guarana produced is used by the beverage industry in soft drinks and energy drinks, while the vast majority remaining are transformed into powder, while a small and rare portion is used in the cosmetics market.
Guaraná List of Benefits for Hair and Skin
Here is a detailed list of each of the main benefits that the use of Guarana extracts can bring to the health of your hair and your skin, whether through its oils, acids, seeds, plants or fruits:
- Potent Antioxidant
- Frizz Removal
- Antinflamatory Effects
- Protects Hair Fiber
- Controls Hair Oiliness
- Antibacterial & Antimicrobial
- Stimulates Hair Growth & Strenght
- Multivitaminic (Vitamin A and C)
- Promotes Anti-aging and Rejuvenation Hair and Skin Effects
Guaraná List of Beneficial Components for Hair
The exotic Guaraná fruit is also knows as Guarana as a source of bioactive compounds. In its composition, we can find lots of compounds that directly benefit the hair health, supporting the pre, during and post professional treatments, like the Brazilian Smoothing Treatment. Some of them are:
- Caffeine
- Tannins
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Saponins
- Catechins
All the Benefits of Guaraná (Paulinia Cupana) for Hair and Skin Detailed
Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties
Results presented here may suggest that seed extracts of guarana possess strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and they can therefore be used as a natural additive in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, as seen in this scientific article of Science Direct.
As seen in another academical research, seeds of guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth, Sapindaceae) feature diverse pharmacological functions, for example, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, stimulating, and cognitive functions.
Major bioactive constituents of guarana popularly known are methylxanthines and catechins (...) with anticancer and antimicrobial effects.
In addition, guarana is rich in compounds such as saponins and
tannins, which provide detergent and astringent activity and are still rich in phenolic compounds, such as catechins and epicatechins, which have potent antioxidant activity.
Anti-aging and Rejuvenation for Hair and Skin
Guarana can give you young and glowing skin, shiny hair that is free of dandruff, and also cure most of the pathogenic infections on your skin and scalp. The exotic Brazilian fruit could improve age-related disorders such as aged-related macular degeneration.
Guaraná extracts can work as a powerful antioxidant in vivo; moreover, the Paulinia Cupana (Guaraná Berry) extracts exhibit anti-aging properties, as seen in this study.
Energetic Hair Strenghtening & Growth
The Energetic Guarana seeds have the highest concentration of caffeine among all fruits, and it is also found in high concentration in the fruits extracts. This caffeine deeply stimulates the hair shaft, activating the hair bulb, directly contributing to faster growth and stronger and more resistent hair.
Antibacterial
As recorded in the scientific article "Development of Shampoo Formulations with Guarana Extract" of the International Journal of Phytocosmetics and Natural Ingredients, it was possible to observe that:
"The extract (de Guaraná) (...) showed a significant antibacterial effect expressed as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against bacteria."
Hair Fiber Protection agains External Aggression
In addition, tannins and phenolic compounds are very beneficial to hair fiber, since the antioxidant activity can protect the hair fiber from external aggressions, such as changes in temperature, sunlight, aggressive treatments, dirt and bacteria.
Control Oiliness
Among other pharmacological activities, due to the astringent and antioxidant activity of Guarana, its extracts act directly to control the excessive oiliness of the skin and hair.
Tannins
Tannins make up a significant fraction of the bioactive ingredients in Guaraná. Along with other phytochemicals, tannins pose a threat to several notorious bacterial strains. Tanin has incredible benefits for most hair types, will remove frizz, sublimate hair shine, and also enhancing and loosen curls.
Antinflamatory Effects
Guarana also reduces the levels of pro-inflammatory compounds (viz. interferons and interleukins) in your body. This indirectly shows that it can be a potent anti-inflammatory agent and protect you from bacteria-induced hypersensitivity.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/guarana
http://www.isnff-jfb.com/index.php/JFB/article/view/90/156
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