Origin: Acai Palm, Euterpe oleracea
Also known as: Acai
Overview: The fruit of the Acai Palm, native to moist climates below the equator such and Brazil. Deep, dark purple in color, round and small, the berries resemble smaller grapes and have similar appearance to blueberries, with a flavor that most equate to a rich blackberry with a hint of dark chocolate.
Gaining notoriety in the mid to late 2000’s, Acai supplements were purported to cause drastic weight loss, increase energy and provide a terrific source of anti-oxidants. Research has indicated otherwise, with analysis of the berries polyphenol and antioxidant content showing to be less than extraordinary.
One constituent within the Acai Berry that is of interest is C3G, or Cyanin-3-Glucoside, which shows promise as an anti-obesity tool among many other potential uses, however the amount of Acai Berry that would need to be consumed to provide ample doses of C3G are not realistic.
Common Dosage: 500mg-3g
Overview Description
Acai berries ( Euterpe oleracea)are native to the Amazon region where they’re a staple food. They are grown on a palm tree that is widely distributed in the northern area of South America.
Acai berries have a unique nutritional profile for some fruit, as they’re somewhat high in fat and low in sugar.
Acai berry is also used as a natural purple food colorant.
Benefits and Uses
Very High in nutrient density
According to a Venezuelan study, acai berries contain some trace minerals, including Vitamin A, Calcium, chromium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.
There are also some plant compounds, anthocyanins, which give acai berries their deep purple color and act as antioxidants in the body.
Antioxidants
Acai berries have an incredibly high number of antioxidants, even more than other antioxidant-rich fruits like blueberries and cranberries.
100 grams of frozen acai pulp has an ORAC of 15,405 compared to the same amount of blueberries has a score of 4,669
This antioxidant activity comes from several plant compounds in acai, including anthocyanins.
May Improve Cholesterol Levels
Studies have suggested that acai could help improve cholesterol levels by decreasing total and LDL cholesterol
The anthocyanins in acai could be responsible for their impact on cholesterol levels since studies have linked this plant compound to improvements in HDL and LDL cholesterol.
In addition, acai contains plant sterols, which inhibit cholesteryl ester transfer proteins from being absorbed by your body. This in turn helps raise HDL cholesterol.
Anti-Cancer possibilities
It has been concluded that acai may have a role in treating cancer in the future, yet more research is needed, including in humans.
Boost Brain Function
The many plant compounds in acai could have a protective effect as shown in some rat studies.
The antioxidants can inhibit inflammation and oxidation in brain cells, which can impact memory and learning by autophagy.
Forms and Sources
There are many names associated with acai, these are, Acai Berry, Acai Extract, Acai Fruit, Acai Palm, Amazon Acai, Amazon Acai Berry, Assai, Assai Palm, Baie de Palmier Pinot, Cabbage Palm, Chou Palmiste, Euterpe badiocarpa, Euterpe oleracea.
Side Effects and Interactions
There have not been many side effects reported.
Drinking raw acai juice has been linked to outbreaks of a disease called American trypanosomiasis or Chagas Disease.
How to Label
Acai berry powder ( Euterpe oleracea)or (Euterpe oleracea)
Research & Studies (References)
Acai Berry Juice Extract
[Characterization of the acai or manaca (Euterpe oleracea Mart.): a fruit of the Amazon]
The role of free radicals in disease
The role of free radicals in disease – PubMed (nih.gov)
Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) fruits
Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) fruits – PubMed (nih.gov)
Pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins and antioxidant effects after the consumption of anthocyanin-rich acai juice and pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in human healthy volunteers
Acai contains chemicals that are antioxidants. Antioxidants are thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of chemical reactions with oxygen (oxidation). According to some research, acai has more antioxidant content than cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, or blueberry. Chemicals in acai might also reduce swelling, lower blood sugar levels, and stimulate the immune system.
Effects of supplementation with acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) berry-based juice blend on the blood antioxidant defence capacity and lipid profile in junior hurdlers
Six weeks’ consumption of the acai berry-based juice blend had no effect on sprint performance of junior hurdlers, but it caused a marked increase in the total antioxidant capacity of plasma, a substantial improvement of lipid profile, and moderate attenuation of the exercise-induced muscle damage. These findings strongly support the view of the health benefits of supplementation with acai berry-based juice blend, mainly attributed to its high total polyphenol content and the related high in vivo antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic activities of this supplement.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447763/
Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Seed Extract Induces ROS Production and Cell Death in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line
Silva et al. (2014) evaluated the cytotoxic potential of seed, bark and pulp extract of açai and reported that seed extract was the most effective against MCF-7 cancer cell line. The authors’ reported that açai seed extract induced cell death by autophagy using 20 and 40 μg/mL. The mechanism responsible for cell death of MCF-7 through autophagy and no apoptosis was not determined.
In order to evaluate how açai seed extract induced autophagy, we performed DAF-2A assay. Treatment with 25 μg/mL and 250 μg/mL of açai seed extract caused an increase in ROS production after 6 h when compared to control cells, suggesting the induction of autophagy by ROS increase in açai-treated cells.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8230419/
Anticancer potential, molecular mechanisms and toxicity of Euterpe oleracea extract (açaí): A systematic review
shows the basic information about the açaí extract used in the experimental models. The most used açaí fraction was the pulp, followed by the juice, oil and seeds. Seven studies mentioned the açaí origin, and all the açaí extracts were from Brazil.
The main administration route of açaí was oral; 4 studies administered açaí by gavage, and 4 studies administered açaí as part of the diet. The dosage ranged from 30 mg/kg to 40,000 mg/kg in studies that administered açaí by gavage and was administered as a single dose or as 1 daily dose for 90 consecutive days; in the studies that administered açaí as part of the diet 2.5% to 5% açaí supplementation was provided in the diet for 10 to 35 weeks.
In addition, Schauss and colleagues used oral and intraperitoneal administration of açaí at a dose of 0.1mg/0.15mL (daily dose during 7 consecutive days) to assess the possible genotoxic effects of açaí using BALB/c mice, and Monge-Fuentes and colleagues used 50 mg/mL of açaí administered intratumorally in an experimental model of melanoma. The results regarding the therapeutic indications, effects and safety of açaí in experimental models are summarized in.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6028114/
Antidepressant and Antiaging Effects of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in Mice
The animals were orally treated with clarified açaí or saline (10 μL/g body weight) daily for 4 days. Thirty minutes after the last dose, a set of animals also received imipramine (5 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.). At 24 hours following this dose, animals were treated with a single dose of saline or LPS at 0.5 mg/kg, i.p. to induce by 24 hours the depressive-like behavior that has been described previously. All reagents were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich Corp., St. Louis, USA
In summary, our results demonstrated an antidepressant effect of EO at different levels of analysis (behavioral, cellular, biochemical, and molecular). This potent effect (apparently, as potent as imipramine) was observed with only four doses of EO, similar in content to typical human consumption. Moreover, EO appeared to improve the effects of antidepressant drugs, such as imipramine, on depressive conditions. Our results, in addition to the absence of toxic effects for humans who consume similar amounts of the clarified juice, support the use of this fruit as an important protection for the brain against the development of depressive-like disorders. Moreover, for the first time, we describe an antiaging effect of EO that suggests neuroprotection against long-term age-related consequences.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6681600/
Effects of açai on oxidative stress, ER stress, and inflammation-related parameters in mice with high fat diet-fed induced NAFLD
Our data showed a remarkable antioxidant activity in vitro of AAE and efficacy in inhibiting ROS production in HepG2 cells with no cytotoxicity. The intake of açai in physiological doses led to an improved response to oxidative stress and modulates proinflammatory related markers, which are associated with a protective role against NAFLD features in vivo. These findings indicate the beneficial effects of açai against liver damage with a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and provide further evidence of its potential as a nutritional therapy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6542795/
Oral treatment with Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) extract improves cardiac dysfunction and exercise intolerance in rats subjected to myocardial infarction
Euterpe oleracea treatment of MI rats prevented the development of exercise intolerance, cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and dysfunction.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4105170/
Chemical Genomic Profiling Unveils the in Vitro and in Vivo Antiplasmodial Mechanism of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Polyphenols
The polyphenol composition of the açaí fractions used in this investigation is clearly diverse, while the anthocyanins cyanidin-3-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-glucoside were the most abundant polyphenols
As our group has described the absence of cytotoxicity in nonmalignant colon myofibroblast cells by açaí compounds previously, there is validation on the safety of açaí polyphenols for distinct cell lines.
As we believe that polyphenolic C-glycosides may be responsible for the antimalarial activity observed in vivo, we further investigated molecular mechanisms. The cellular pathways most affected by fraction relate to the CCT complex or TriC, which is an essential protein folding machinery involved in protein homeostasis that helps folding nascent polypeptides into biologically functional structures, regulating cellular response to proteotoxic stress, Hence, CCT plays a key role in proteostasis and cell survival and is highly conserved among eukaryotes
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6761757/
Diet supplementation with acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp improves biomarkers of oxidative stress and the serum lipid profile in rats
The hypocholesterolemic activity of açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is mediated by the enhanced expression of the ATP-binding cassette, subfamily G transporters 5 and 8 and low-density lipoprotein receptor genes in the rat
Euterpe oleracea (açai) modifies sterol metabolism and attenuates experimentally-induced atherosclerosis
Anthocyanin supplementation improves serum LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations associated with the inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in dyslipidemic subjects
Pro-apoptotic activities of polyphenolics from açai (Euterpe oleracea Martius) in human SW-480 colon cancer cells
Açaí Berries Inhibit Colon Tumorigenesis in Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Treated Mice
Antioxidant, mutagenic, and antimutagenic activity of frozen fruits
Antioxidant, mutagenic, and antimutagenic activity of frozen fruits – PubMed (nih.gov)
Cytotoxic effects of Euterpe oleracea Mart. in malignant cell lines
Cytotoxic effects of Euterpe oleracea Mart. in malignant cell lines – PubMed (nih.gov)
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-tumorigenic Effects of Açai Berry in Helicobacter felis-infected mice
Restoration of stressor-induced calcium dysregulation and autophagy inhibition by polyphenol-rich açaí (Euterpe spp.) fruit pulp extracts in rodent brain cells in vitro
Modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy and expression of Nrf2 in hippocampus and frontal cortex of rats fed with açaí-enriched diets
Dietary supplementation with the polyphenol-rich açaí pulps (Euterpe oleracea Mart. and Euterpe precatoria Mart.) improves cognition in aged rats and attenuates inflammatory signaling in BV-2 microglial cells
