Açaí (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review
The açaí palm (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.), a species belonging to the <i>Arecaceae</i> family, has been cultivated for thousands of years in tropical Central and South America as a multipurpose dietary plant. The recent introduction of açaí fruit and its nutritional and h...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/4/989 |
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| author | Lucas Fornari Laurindo Sandra Maria Barbalho Adriano Cressoni Araújo Elen Landgraf Guiguer Arijit Mondal Gabrielle Bachtel Anupam Bishayee |
| author_facet | Lucas Fornari Laurindo Sandra Maria Barbalho Adriano Cressoni Araújo Elen Landgraf Guiguer Arijit Mondal Gabrielle Bachtel Anupam Bishayee |
| author_sort | Lucas Fornari Laurindo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The açaí palm (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.), a species belonging to the <i>Arecaceae</i> family, has been cultivated for thousands of years in tropical Central and South America as a multipurpose dietary plant. The recent introduction of açaí fruit and its nutritional and healing qualities to regions outside its origin has rapidly expanded global demand for açaí berry. The health-promoting and disease-preventing properties of this plant are attributed to numerous bioactive phenolic compounds present in the leaf, pulp, fruit, skin, and seeds. The purpose of this review is to present an up-to-date, comprehensive, and critical evaluation of the health benefits of açaí and its phytochemicals with a special focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that açaí possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and exerts cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, renoprotective, antilipidemic, antidiabetic, and antineoplastic activities. Moreover, clinical trials have suggested that açaí can protect against metabolic stress induced by oxidation, inflammation, vascular abnormalities, and physical exertion. Due to its medicinal properties and the absence of undesirable effects, açaí shows a promising future in health promotion and disease prevention, in addition to a vast economic potential in the food and cosmetic industries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:18:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b6976e11e2d4a8594475afd307b2326 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:18:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b6976e11e2d4a8594475afd307b23262023-11-16T22:31:45ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-02-0115498910.3390/nu15040989Açaí (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical ReviewLucas Fornari Laurindo0Sandra Maria Barbalho1Adriano Cressoni Araújo2Elen Landgraf Guiguer3Arijit Mondal4Gabrielle Bachtel5Anupam Bishayee6Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, BrazilDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, M.R. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Balisha 743 234, IndiaCollege of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL 34211, USACollege of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL 34211, USAThe açaí palm (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.), a species belonging to the <i>Arecaceae</i> family, has been cultivated for thousands of years in tropical Central and South America as a multipurpose dietary plant. The recent introduction of açaí fruit and its nutritional and healing qualities to regions outside its origin has rapidly expanded global demand for açaí berry. The health-promoting and disease-preventing properties of this plant are attributed to numerous bioactive phenolic compounds present in the leaf, pulp, fruit, skin, and seeds. The purpose of this review is to present an up-to-date, comprehensive, and critical evaluation of the health benefits of açaí and its phytochemicals with a special focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that açaí possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and exerts cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, renoprotective, antilipidemic, antidiabetic, and antineoplastic activities. Moreover, clinical trials have suggested that açaí can protect against metabolic stress induced by oxidation, inflammation, vascular abnormalities, and physical exertion. Due to its medicinal properties and the absence of undesirable effects, açaí shows a promising future in health promotion and disease prevention, in addition to a vast economic potential in the food and cosmetic industries.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/4/989<i>Euterpe oleracea</i>açaíantioxidantanti-inflammatoryantiproliferativehealth benefits |
| spellingShingle | Lucas Fornari Laurindo Sandra Maria Barbalho Adriano Cressoni Araújo Elen Landgraf Guiguer Arijit Mondal Gabrielle Bachtel Anupam Bishayee Açaí (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review Nutrients <i>Euterpe oleracea</i> açaí antioxidant anti-inflammatory antiproliferative health benefits |
| title | Açaí (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review |
| title_full | Açaí (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review |
| title_fullStr | Açaí (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Açaí (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review |
| title_short | Açaí (<i>Euterpe oleracea</i> Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review |
| title_sort | acai i euterpe oleracea i mart in health and disease a critical review |
| topic | <i>Euterpe oleracea</i> açaí antioxidant anti-inflammatory antiproliferative health benefits |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/4/989 |
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