Neuroprotective activities of acai berries (Euterpe sp.): A review

Abstract

Dietary interventions rich in fruits and vegetables in aging people can reverse or mitigate age-related cognitive declines, delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), and provide long-term health dividends. The novel food, popularly known as "Acai", is a berry belonging to the Euterpe genus of tropical palms trees and natively found in South America. Euterpe oleracea has been given much attention among scientists due to its high antioxidant capacity compared to other fruits and berries. Additionally, acai pulp composition analysis found that it contains various biologically active phytochemicals. In this review, we focused on current evidence relating to acai berry neuroprotection mechanisms and its efficacy in preventing or reversing neurodegeneration and age-related cognitive decline. A number of studies have illustrated the potential neuroprotective properties of acai berries. They have shown that their chemical extracts have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and maintain proteins, calcium homeostasis, and mitochondrial function. Moreover, acai berry extract offers other neuromodulatory mechanisms, including anticonvulsant, antidepressant, and anti-aging properties. This neuromodulation gives valuable insights into the acai pulp and its considerable pharmacological potential on critical brain areas involved in memory and cognition. The isolated chemical matrix of acai berries could be a new substitute in research for NDD medicine development. However, due to the limited number of investigations, there is a need for further efforts to establish studies that enable progressing to clinical trials to consequently prove and ratify the therapeutic potential of this berry for several incurable NDDs.

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

“…The composition of açai pulp has also been studied, and it contains a number of phytochemicals that have physiological activity. Numerous studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective properties of açai berries [ 30 ]. The causes of many of these diseases are multifactorial, including oxidative stress, chronic neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, alteration in autophagy, abnormal protein accumulation in brain tissues, and other cellular aetiologias.…”

“…Additionally, phytochemical analyses revealed that the açai berry contains a significant amount of luteolin, quercetin, dihydrokaempferol, and chrysoerial, among other polyphenolics, as well as a variety of anthocyanins, including cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, and peonidin. Açai fruit pulp included five different types of carotenoids, including carotene, lycopene, astaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin [ 30 ].…”

ANÁLISE DA COMPOSIÇÃO CENTESIMAL DOS AÇAÍS AMAZÔNICOS: Euterpe precatoria Mart. e Euterpe oleracea Mart.

“…Extratos ricos em polifenóis apresentam o potencial de proteger as células endoteliais vasculares humanas contra o estresse oxidativo e inflamação, além da capacidade neuroprotetora (MOLYNEUX, 2004;OLIVEIRA et al, 2015;ALNASSER, 2022). Ambas as espécies de açaís apresentam valores de fenólicos e antocianinas totais que foram positivamente correlacionados com uma elevada atividade antioxidante (OLIVEIRA et al, 2019).…”

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

“…Additionally, phytochemical tests showed that açai fruit contains considerable amounts of anthocyanins, such as cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, and peonidin, as well as other polyphenolics, such as luteolin, quercetin, dihydrokaempferol, and chrysoerial. Five forms of carotenoids—carotene, lycopene, astaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin—are found in the pulp of açai fruit [ 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ].…”