Açai Berry Attenuates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Damage in Genitourinary Axis-Modulating Nrf-2/HO-1 Pathways

Abstract

Cyclophosphamide (CYP) is used to treat different malignancies and autoimmune disorders in men. This chemotherapy frequently reduces tumors, which is beneficial, but also causes infertility because of severe oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the bladder and testes brought on by its metabolite, acrolein. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of a novel food, açai berry, in preventing CYP-induced damage in the bladder and testes. Methods: CYP was administered intraperitoneally once during the experiment at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight diluted in 10 mL/kg b.w. of water. Açai berry was administered orally at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Results: The administration of açai berry was able to reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, apoptosis, and histological changes in the bladder and testes after CYP injection. Conclusions: Our findings show for the first time that açai berry modulates physiological antioxidant defenses to protect the bladder and testes against CYP-induced changes.

Comparing the effects of Cyperus esculentus hydroethanolic extract and Euterpe oleracea on reproductive efficacy against cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in male rats

“…Four treated groups were injected intraperitoneally with 1 mg/kg BW of CdCl 2 in a single dose for two weeks to induce testicular damage, as previously detailed [25] . After two weeks, the second group, “Cd group,” received 5 ml of NS orally as a positive control; the third group, “TC group,” received 800 mg/kg BW of hydroethanolic extract of tiger nut “ C. esculentus ” (CHE, by oral gavage; and the fourth group, “TO,” received 500 mg/kg BW of açai E. oleracea (Natrol ® , USA) dissolved in saline by oral gavage [26] . The fifth group, “TCO group,” received orally 800 and 500 mg/kg BW of C. esculentus hydroethanolic extract (CHE) and E. oleracea , respectively.…”

“…To determine the count of sperm, the epididymal tail was harvested and cut into tiny incisions with 2 ml of saline at 37ºC, and one drop of semen suspension was put in a Neubauer chamber to calculate the count according to a previously outlined protocol [26] . The sperm motility was assessed by putting semen suspension on the slide, covered with a glass slip, and manifested by a light microscope, as described in [28] .…”

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review

“…Injury, toxins, infection, genetic defects, and trauma can induce resident immune cell activation [ 4 ]. Subsequent signaling and secretion of chemokines and cytokines, such as cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nuclear factor-κβ (NF-κβ), recruit immune cells to the affected region and cause inflammatory infiltration [ 54 , 56 , 146 , 147 ]. Historically, in vitro models have been used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of açaí.…”

Aging Injury Impairs Structural Properties and Cell Signaling in Human Red Blood Cells; Açaì Berry Is a Keystone

“…Besides the intracellular mechanisms, much consideration has been addressed at the antioxidant role of some molecules supplied by the diet [ 43 ]. Euterpe oleracea (known as Açaì) is a typical Amazonian Brazilian fruit [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ] that displays different bioactive compounds with several properties, for example antioxidant activities. Açaì’s biological effects are due to its chemical composition, which includes several phytochemical compounds such as flavonoids [ 48 ], which are able to neutralize ROS and inactivate pro-oxidant molecules [ 49 , 50 ].…”