Subchronic treatment with acai frozen pulp prevents the brain oxidative damage in rats with acute liver failure

Abstract

Acai has been used by the population due to its high nutritional value and its benefits to health, such as its antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of acai frozen pulp on oxidative stress parameters in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of Wistar rats treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl). Thirty male Wistar rats (90-day-old) were orally treated with water or acai frozen pulp for 14 days (7 μL/g). On the 15th day, half of the animals received treatment with mineral oil and the other half with CCl (3.0 mL/kg). The cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum were dissected and used for analysis of creatine kinase activity (CK), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), carbonyl, sulfhydryl, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-test. CCl was able to inhibit CK activity in all tissues tested and to provoke lipid damage in cerebral cortex and cerebellum, and protein damage in the three tissues tested. CCl enhanced CAT activity in the cerebral cortex, and inhibited CAT activity in the hippocampus and cerebellum and reduced SOD activity in all tissues studied. Acai frozen pulp prevented the inhibition of CK, TBARS, carbonyl and CAT activity in all brain structures and only in hippocampus for SOD activity. Therefore, acai frozen pulp has antioxidant properties and maybe could be useful in the treatment of some diseases that affect the central nervous system that are associated with oxidative damage.

Anticancer potential, molecular mechanisms and toxicity of Euterpe oleracea extract (açaí): A systematic review

“…Xie and colleagues evaluated flavonoids isolated from açaí pulp and observed a reduction in serum levels, gene expression and protein levels of both the cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in the resident macrophages cells [ 73 ]. Açaí was also able to prevent increases in the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the brain tissues of a CCI4 experimental model [ 27 ]. In addition, açaí reduced the COX-2 expression and PGE 2 levels in an experimental model of endometriosis [ 55 ] and reduced the MPO levels in a rat renal ischemia/reperfusion model [ 74 ].…”

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

“…Poulose et al (68) showed that an acai berry rich diet could modulate oxidative stress and enhance endogenous antioxidant enzyme defence through decreased prooxidant NADPH-oxidoreductase-2 (NOX2) and increased expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of elder rat brains. A study on a hepatic encephalopathy animal model with neurological symptoms illustrated that 14 days of acai berry treatment prevented creatine kinase (CK) activity inhibition, antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) activity reduction, oxidative damage involving increasing levels of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl groups in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum (69). Moreover, the frozen pulp was able to restore the decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the hippocampus (69).…”

Antioxidant Properties of Amazonian Fruits: A Mini Review of In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

“…Among other studies, acai showed antiparasitic activity against L. infantum and L. amazonensis without cytotoxic effects to the host cell [18], reduction of early carcinogenesis in the colon of mice, mitigation of DNA damage induced by azoxymethane [19], antitumorigenic potential in the MCF-7 cell line [20], reduction in selected markers of metabolic disease risk in overweight adults [21], protection against renal damage in diabetic rats [22], inhibition of urinary bladder carcinogenesis in mice [23], improvement of cardiac dysfunction and exercise intolerance in rats subjected to myocardial infarction [24], and prevention of oxidative damage in the brain of rats [25].…”