Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Seed Extracts from Different Varieties: A Source of Proanthocyanidins and Eco-Friendly Corrosion Inhibition Activity

Abstract

Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae) is an endogenous palm tree from the Amazon region. Its seeds correspond to 85% of the fruit’s weight, a primary solid residue generated from pulp production, the accumulation of which represents a potential source of pollution and environmental problems. As such, this work aimed to quantify and determine the phytochemical composition of E. oleracea Mart. seeds from purple, white, and BRS-Pará açaí varieties using established analytical methods and also to evaluate it as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor. The proanthocyanidin quantification (n-butanol/hydrochloric acid assay) between varieties was 6.4–22.4 (w/w)/dry matter. Extract characterization showed that all varieties are composed of B-type procyanidin with a high mean degree of polymerization (mDP ≥ 10) by different analytical methodologies to ensure the results. The purple açaí extract, which presented 22.4% (w/w) proanthocyanidins/dry matter, was tested against corrosion of carbon steel AISI 1020 in neutral pH. The crude extract (1.0 g/L) was effective in controlling corrosion on the metal surface for 24 h. Our results demonstrated that the extracts rich in polymeric procyanidins obtained from industrial açaí waste could be used to inhibit carbon steel AISI 1020 in neutral pH as an abundant, inexpensive, and green source of corrosion inhibitor.

Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Properties in Extracts of Developing Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Seeds

“…There was an overall decline in mDP value throughout the developmental stages, from 20.5 to 10.1. The same phenomenon has been previously reported for cocoa and grape seeds. , The mDP value found in S4 (mature seed) was consistent with previous reports with an mDP of 9.7 and 10.3 . A higher mDP is typically linked with higher biological activity, , which is consistent with the high antioxidant activities measured in S1 and S2.…”

“…Also, an isoflavone reductase-like (IFRL) enzyme was identified. As previous reports of acai ́seed do not indicate the presence of isoflavone in its composition, 5,7,[11][12][13]29,31 it is likely that proteins identified as IFRL have LAR activity in acai ́, given that these enzymes are homologous and are part of the reductaseepimerase-dehydrogenase (RED) superfamily of proteins. In addition, the sequence of the protein identified as IFRL was manually checked.…”

Açai Berry Mitigates Vascular Dementia-Induced Neuropathological Alterations Modulating Nrf-2/Beclin1 Pathways

“…Numerous pharmacological benefits of açai berry extract and its bioactive components include anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties through modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and Nrf2 expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. However, more data are needed to confirm the neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect.…”

Acquiring thin histological sections of açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) seeds for molecular mapping by mass spectrometry imaging

“…Nevertheless, previous reports show that the seeds are a source of bioactive compounds with the potential for high-value bioproducts production from this residue 5,9–12 . Therefore, studies focusing on describing the composition and properties of açaí seeds can provide information to help implement strategies for its uses and industrial applications.…”

“…Nevertheless, previous reports show that the seeds are a source of bioactive compounds with the potential for high-value bioproducts production from this residue 5,[9][10][11][12] .…”