Euterpe oleracea fruit (Açai)-enriched diet suppresses the development of experimental cerebral malaria induced by Plasmodium berghei (ANKA) infection

Abstract

Background Cerebral malaria is one of the most severe complications attributed to protozoal infection by Plasmodium falciparum, gaining prominence in children mortality rates in endemic areas. This condition has a complex pathogenesis associated with behavioral, cognitive and motor sequels in humans and current antimalarial therapies have shown little effect in those aspects. Natural products with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have become a valuable alternative therapeutic option in the treatment of distinct conditions. In this context, this study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Euterpe oleracea (açai) enriched diet during the development of experimental cerebral malaria induced by the inoculation of Swiss albino mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain. Methods After Plasmodium infection, animals were maintained on a feeding with Euterpe oleracea enriched ration and parameters such as survival curve, parasitemia and body weight were routinely monitored. The present study has also evaluated the effect of açai-enriched diet on the blood-brain barrier leakage, histological alterations and neurocognitive impairments in mice developing cerebral malaria. Results Our results demonstrate that between 7th–19th day post infection the survival rate of the group treated with açai enriched ration was higher when compared with Plasmodium-infected mice in which 100% of mice died until the 11th days post-infection, demonstrating that açai diet has a protective effect on the survival of infected treated animals. The same was observed in the brain vascular extravasation, where Evans blue dye assays showed significantly less dye extravasation in the brains of Plasmodium-infected mice treated with açai enriched ration, demonstrating more preserved blood-brain barrier integrity. Açai-enriched diet also attenuate the histopathological alterations elicited by Plasmodium berghei infection. We also showed a decrease of the neurological impairments arising from the exposure of cerebral parenchyma in the group treated with açai diet, ameliorating motor and neuropsychiatric changes, analyzed through the SHIRPA protocol. Conclusion With these results, we conclude that the treatment with açai enriched ration decreased the mortality of infected animals, as well as protected the blood-brain barrier and the neurocognitive deficits in Plasmodium-infected animals.

Efficacy of artesunate combined with Atractylodes lancea or Prabchompoothaweep remedy extracts as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of cerebral malaria

“…Additionally, mice treated with Art-AL combination treatment and Art-PT combination treatment showed a progressive significant improvement in survival rate, remaining alive until 13-days post-infection without evidence of neurological impairments. This study was consistent with a previous study that suggested that an increase in survival rate is usually related to neurological parameter improvement [ 66 , 67 ]. This could be related to the presence of bioactive compounds in the crude extracts, such as luteolin [ 59 ], vanillic acid [ 68 ], kaempferol [ 69 ], caffeic acid [ 57 ], gallic acid [ 60 ], and ellagic acid [ 70 ].…”

“…Phenolic compounds are excellent anti-oxidant owing to the presence of a hydroxyl group, which is available to capture oxygen free radicals. They can rebalance the production of oxygen species, which reduces cell damage caused by free radicals [ 67 ]. These results suggest that treatment with A. lancea , Prabchompoothaweep remedy, Art-AL, and Art-PT can provide anti-oxidant activity to the brain in the ECM.…”

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) pulp-enriched diet induces anxiolytic-like effects and improves memory retention

“…Apart from the incomparable flavor, neuroprotective effects were already reported in different disease models, reinforcing the need to explore the potential effects of this fruit on health. In this context, our group is making major contributions to understanding the role of the EO-pulp diet on methylmercury intoxication and cerebral malaria, which are important health public problems in Brazil ( 3 , 13 ). We demonstrated that an EO-enriched diet prevented retinal oxidative and functional damage associated with methylmercury intoxication ( 3 ).…”

“…We demonstrated that an EO-enriched diet prevented retinal oxidative and functional damage associated with methylmercury intoxication ( 3 ). As well, this diet was able to reduce mortality, protect the blood–brain barrier, and reduce the neurocognitive effects of animals infected with Plasmodium berghei (ANKA) ( 13 ). Based on these studies, we decided to drive our focus to understanding the role of this diet in neurobehavioral changes, since they are emerging as a worldwide public health problem.…”

“…Clinical studies demonstrated that EO pulp improves vascular system response by stimulating the activity of plasmatic apolipoprotein A1 and paraoxonase-1 (high-density lipoprotein [HDL] precursors) in healthy women (12). Similarly, protective effects were observed in experimental studies, demonstrating that EO pulp not only improves the systemic vascular response but also induces anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects even at the brain level (10,(13)(14)(15). Moreover, these positive effects on brain function were able to secondary inhibit the impairment of behavioral alterations in models of chronic tinnitus, periodic maternal separation, depression, and methylmercury exposure models (3,6,9,16).…”