Full nutrient content equivalent to five oranges is contained in one acerola cherry.

Slowly but steadily, acerola cherry (native to the Caribbean region of the West Indies, in tropical America) is emerging as the new super food in the global health industry. The product may be used in a wide array of applications by the health products and cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors, as it is described as the King of Natural Vitamin C.

Acerola cherry extracthas experienced accelerated market growth since natural health product demand continues to increase. The Chinese acerola cherry market is projected to experience over 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2021 and 2026.

Acerola cherry is a perennial shrub or lesser tree of the Malpighiaceae family, with the scientific name Malpighia glabra L.. It was brought to Hawaii, USA, from tropical America in the early twenty-first century and later spread to other tropical regions in Asia. The world's major producer and exporter of acerola cherries is Northeast Brazil.

Acerola cherry extract is a reddish-brown powder. It is a fruit of acerola cherry fruits. It comprises natural vitamin C. The vitamin C content is huge. Fresh fruit is 100 g contains 1,500-2,200 mg of vitamin C. The maximum value is 2,445 mg. This is 35 times the content of lemons and 36 times that of any other citrus fruit. It is twenty-four times that of kiwifruits and eleven times that of guavas.

The solution can be supplied in different concentration ratios such as 5:1, 10:1, and 20:1. It is commonly used in two concentrations: those which contain 17% and 25% of vitamin C. The product quality is assured with the application of three laboratory techniques such as titration, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and HPLC.

Nutritional Content and Health Benefits

The primary nutritional value of acerola cherry extract is the fact that it is a natural vitamin C complex. Pure acerola cherry extract contains vitamin C and vitamin P (bioflavonoids) and vitamin A, E and B complex, protein and other mineral trace elements, unlike synthetic vitamin C.

Acerola cherry extract also contains superoxide dismutase (SOD), which serves as an anti-aging nutrient that protects the body from harmful toxins. Ascorbic acid absorption and utilization are enhanced by vitamin P which protects vitamin C from oxidative damage.

The main advantages that acerola cherry extract provides are explained below.

Immunoglobulin production is assisted by vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and protects against common colds and other infectious diseases.

• Antioxidation and anti-aging: They include antioxidants that eliminate free radicals, slow down the aging of cells and maintain the skin in good condition.
• Collagen synthesis: It is necessary to synthesize collagen with the help of vitamin C. It maintains the skin, bones, and joints in good condition.
• Iron absorption: Vitamin C converts the poorly absorbed ferric iron (Fe3+) into the easily absorbed ferrous iron (Fe2+), which aids in anemia.

Acerola cherry extract offers some cool benefits for heart health. Research suggests it may help reduce cholesterol and blood lipids.

The extract of acerola cherry can be used in various areas due to the fact that it contains many useful nutrients and is effective to the body.

Healthcare and Food Product Applications: The extract of acerola cherries is commonly used as a nutritional supplement and as an ingredient in the food and beverage industry. The product provides an ideal natural supply of vitamin C to individuals who require it in high quantities, such as individuals with low immune systems, individuals who smoke, expecting mothers, and elderly individuals.

Acerola cherry extract is used in the food industry as an additive to fruit juices, jams, and pastries. It can also be manufactured into antioxidant packaging films using composite technology to provide an extended shelf life for food.

Cosmetics Industry

Acerola cherry extract is being used extensively by the cosmetic industry. Due to its antioxidant and whitening effects, it is one of the main ingredients of anti-aging skin care products. Natural sesame is one of the active ingredients that are capable of suppressing the production of melanin and providing a whitening effect.

The polysaccharides that are found in the extract of acerola cherry are good moisturizers and are able to rehydrate skin and reinforce its water-oil equilibrium.

Pharmaceutical Field

The extract of acerola cherryis applied to the treatment of various diseases in the pharmaceutical field. It is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory, which makes it a promising drug for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, tumors, diabetes, and others. Acerola cherry also has its conventional therapeutic uses, which include calming and relieving liver stagnation, nourishing the lungs, suppressing a cough, and nourishing the kidneys to replace essence.

This is the period when the acerola cherry extract market is growing rapidly as people are becoming more health-conscious. Market research has shown that the market value of acerola cherry extract will increase to 2.95 billion yuan in the year 2027, compared to the market value of 1.85 billion yuan in the year 2023. This growth will be maintained between 8% and 10% annually.

Technological development, in the form of continuous technological advancement within the industry, has facilitated the transition from traditional extraction methods to more sophisticated techniques, including the applications of supercritical fluid extraction and thin-film encapsulation. These technologies have effectively addressed the issue of acerola cherry extract's susceptibility to oxidation during processing.

Market demand for acerola cherry extract exhibits diversified growth. The pharmaceutical sector accounts for 40% of the total demand, representing the largest application field. The health food and cosmetics sectors represent 25% and 22% respectively. Online sales channels are experiencing rapid growth and are emerging as a new market driver.

Industrial problems and Development Potential

The acerola cherry extractThe market is experiencing challenges that include a lack of adequate supply of raw materials, distributors providing products of different quality, and a lack of drive in the development of technology. Nevertheless, there are opportunities since the healthy food market is expanding and the extract is being used more and more in the cosmetics industry, which gives the industry a lot of potential for development.

In the future, the market will continue to strengthen the development and innovation of products, expand the scope of applied fields, and increase the competitive ability of products. Companies have established a sustainable and healthy industry development system by optimizing product structures, international market expansion, and supply chain optimization.

The future market demand for acerola cherry extract in the healthcare and cosmetics industries will increase due to the growing consumer demand for natural health products. The application of acerola cherry extract in the new food additive sector will continue to expand and this development will create a continuous increase in market demand.

For firms, being the first to initiate tech innovation, quality checks, and market expansion shall determine their future competitiveness. For consumers, this will result in a large number of improved and superior health products containing the natural health ingredient.