The Use of Euterpe oleracea Mart. As a New Perspective for Disease Treatment and Prevention

Abstract

Euterpe oleracea Mart. (EO), popularly known as açaí, belongs to the Arecaceae family and grows abundantly in Brazil. The fruit of this palm tree is widely used because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this review, a search for literature and patent technological prospecting has been performed on the use of EO to treat and prevent diseases as well as to prepare pharmaceutical formulations. EO leaves, fruits, and oil stand out for their large number of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, anticancer, anti-atherogenic, and healing activities, protection against metabolic syndromes such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, and protection of organs such as lung, kidney, liver, heart, and nervous system. While the phytochemical composition is intrinsically linked to identified biological activities, discoveries of the past decade concerning the use of this species have shown pharmacological alternatives mainly in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer and metabolic syndromes. Although studies and inventions on the use of EO though are believed to have been important in light of the pharmacological activities found, few clinical and toxicity tests have been performed. Nevertheless, with the increase of interest in EO, this species is believed to be only at the beginning of the breakthroughs in the development of promising products for the pharmaceutical industry.

Plant Phenolics and Extracts in Animal Models of Preeclampsia and Clinical Trials—Review of Perspectives for Novel Therapies

“…Euterpe oleracea Mart. from Arecaceae grows in many countries of South America (i.e., Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela) and is a source of nutritious fruits (acai berry), leaves, and seeds [98][99][100]. Phytochemical studies showed that extract from seeds of E. oleracea contain polyphenolic compounds, for example, proanthocyanidins, epicatechin, catechin [101].…”

“…Phytochemical studies showed that extract from seeds of E. oleracea contain polyphenolic compounds, for example, proanthocyanidins, epicatechin, catechin [101]. Extracts from fruits include quercetin, catechin, procyanidin oligomers, and phenolic acids (ferulic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid) [100]. Various preparations from different parts of this plant exert a wide range of pharmacological activities, mainly tissue-protective, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-hypertensive effects [99,100].…”

“…Extracts from fruits include quercetin, catechin, procyanidin oligomers, and phenolic acids (ferulic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid) [100]. Various preparations from different parts of this plant exert a wide range of pharmacological activities, mainly tissue-protective, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-hypertensive effects [99,100]. Recently, a study performed by Da Silva et al [99] assessed the cardiovascular effects of an extract containing polymeric proanthocyanidins from seeds of E. oleracea in a preeclampsia animal model after application of L-NAME (60 mg/kg/day).…”

Antiangiogenic and Antioxidant In Vitro Properties of Hydroethanolic Extract from açaí (Euterpe oleracea) Dietary Powder Supplement

“…The açaí fruit, a small and round dark purple berry, gained a great commercial interest in the past years due to its nutritional and functional properties. According to in vitro and in vivo studies, it has been associated with relevant biological activities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as anti-carcinogenic, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, anti-neurodegenerative, and cardio-protective effects [ 1 , 2 ].…”

Topical Collection “Pharmacology of Medicinal Plants”

“…In their review, de Almeida Magalhães et al performed a search for literature and technological patents aiming to treat and prevent diseases, as well as to prepare pharmaceutical formulations, suggesting a growing interest in Euterpe oleracea Mart. (EO) leaves, fruits and oil, with a set of actions pointing to the development of promising new drugs for clinical use, although more studies should be done to consolidate initial results [ 20 ]. Gall et al revealed the effect of long-term cannabidiol (CBD) treatment on the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model of depression.…”