Table 2.
In vivo biological and pharmacological activities of various extracts and pure compounds of açaí tree.
| Properties | Plant Part or Active Compounds | Type of Extraction | Experimental Model | Dose | Route of Administration | Observations | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Açaí pulp with 549.5 mg/100 g of gallic acid equivalent | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Female Fischer rats | Diet supplemented with 2% of açaí pulp | Oral by feeding | The açaí pulp supplemented diet augmented antioxidant GPx-1, GPx-4, and SOD1 mRNA genetic expression in the liver | [90] |
| Açaí pulp | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Male Wistar rats | Diet supplemented with 5% of açaí pulp | Oral by feeding | Açaí supplementation reduced oxidative stress and improved energetic metabolism | [91] | |
| Açaí seed extract | The açaí was acquired and the extract was made in a laboratory | Male Wistar rats | Doses at concentrations of 100 mg/mL 200 mg/mL | Intragastric gavage | The açaí seed extract did not diminish the cachectic syndrome in a rat model of tumorigenesis | [92] | |
| Pasteurized açaí pulp with a high capacity for neutralizing free radicals | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Female Fisher rats | Diet supplemented with 2% of açaí pulp | Oral by feeding | Açaí pulp could effectively control the oxidative species production by neutrophils and increased liver antioxidant defenses | [93] | |
| Anti-inflammatory | Açaí oil | The açaí oil was purchased commercially and stored | Male Wistar albino rats and male Swiss albino rats | Doses of 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg | Orally | The anti-inflammatory effects were associated with prostaglandin synthesis inhibition | [19] |
| Açaí stone extract | The açaí berries were obtained, and the stone extract was made and stored | Eight-week-old male mice | 300 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The supplementation with açaí seed extract could significantly reduce inflammatory and oxidative responses | [94] | |
| Analgesic | Açaí stones extract rich in proanthocyanidins | Hydroalcoholic extract | Male Swiss mice | The açaí stone extract was dissolved in distilled water at a concentration of 10 mg/mL | Intragastric gavage | The extract exerted antinociceptive effects | [95] |
| Antimicrobial | Açaí fractions | Rich polyphenol fractions of açaí | Murine models infected with P. chabaud | Doses of 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg/day of the açaí polyphenol-rich fractions | Intragastric gavage | The higher doses of açaí fractions reduced parasitemia and increased the survival rates of infected animals | [61] |
| Gastroprotective | Açaí seed extract with considerable amounts of proanthocyanidins and lesser amounts of catechin and epicatechin | Hydroalcoholic | Male Wistar rats | Doses of 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg | Orally | A higher dose significantly reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, and macroscopy and histological parameters of the colitis | [12] |
| Açaí berries dried extract with high radical scavenger capacity | Dried extract | Female Wistar rats | Doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg (PO) and 3 mg/kg (IP) | Orally or intraperitoneally | The extract reduced inflammation and maintained oxidative balance in the gastric mucosa | [96] | |
| Neuroprotective | Clarified açaí juice containing no lipids, proteins, or fibers | Microfiltrated and centrifugated açaí juice | Male Swiss mice | Doses of 10 µL/g | Intragastric gavage | The use of açaí clarified juice effectively protected the brain against oxidative stress in specific areas related to convulsive crises | [97] |
| Açaí seeds extract 88% of proanthocyanidins | Aqueous extract | Male Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | Açaí exerted anti-anxiety effects by reducing hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis reactivity to stress and increasing the NO–BDNF–TRKB pathway | [98] | |
| Fresh açaí extract | Fresh herbal capsules | Male Wistar albino rats | Doses of 100 mg/kg/day or 300 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | Açaí did not improve learning and memory abilities | [99] | |
| Açaí frozen pulp | The frozen açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Male Wistar rats | 7 μL/g/day | Intragastric gavage | The açaí frozen pulp exerted antioxidant effects on the brain of the rats | [100] | |
| Lyophilized açaí pulp | The lyophilized açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Aged male Fischer 344 rats | A diet containing 2% of açaí pulp | Oral by feeding | The supplementation conserved the memory of rats due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of açaí berry | [101] | |
| Açaí frozen pulp | The frozen açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Male Wistar rats | Dose of 7 μL/g | Intragastric gavage | The use of açaí prevented an increase in IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α, while IL-6 and IL-10 levels remained unchanged | [102] | |
| Açaí frozen pulp with 1.19 ± 0.20 mg/100 g of catechin | The frozen açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Wistar rats | Açaí pulp was diluted in distilled water at a concentration of 40% wt/vol | Orally | Açaí exerted antioxidant effects against neurodegenerative diseases in a rat model of hydrogen peroxide-induced nervous damage | [72] | |
| Freeze-dried açaí powder | The freeze-dried açaí powder was purchased commercially and stored | Male Fischer rats | 2% of the freeze-dried açaí powder | Oral by feeding | The freeze-dried açaí powder modulated the Nrf2 pathway and protected neuronal cells against ubiquitin–proteasomal degradation | [103] | |
| Clarified açaí juice containing no lipids, proteins, or fibers, but with >1400 mg GAE/L | Microfiltrated and centrifugated açaí juice |
Male Swiss mice | 10 µL/g | Intragastric gavage | The treatment effectively abolished despair-like and anhedonia behaviors and protected the hippocampus, striatum, and prefrontal cortex from oxidative damage related to depression | [104] | |
| Antilipidemic | Açaí oil | The açaí oil was purchased commercially and stored | Male Wistar rats | 1226 mg/kg/day | Orally | The results suggested that the use of açaí oil was effective in reducing atherosclerosis in rats with dyslipidemia | [105] |
| Açaí oil | The açaí oil was purchased commercially and stored | Male Wistar rats | 1226 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The açaí oil was able to antagonize cholesterol and triglycerides increases among rats | [106] | |
| Pasteurized açaí pulp | The frozen açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Female Fischer rats | Standard or a high-fat diet supplemented with 2% of açaí pulp | Orally by feeding | The supplementation promoted an anticholesterolemic effect by increasing the expression of subfamily G transporters, ATP-binding cassette, and LDL-R genes | [107] | |
| Pasteurized açaí pulp | The frozen açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Female Fischer rats | Standard and a high-fat diet supplemented with 2% of açaí pulp | Oral by feeding | The açaí pulp supplementation improved antioxidant status and diminished cholesterol serum levels | [36] | |
| Açaí seed flour | The açaí flour was purchased commercially and stored | Male C57BL/6 mice | Diet supplemented with 15% or 30% of açaí flour | Oral by feeding | Açaí flour increased cholesterol excretion among mice fed a high-fat diet and prevented the development of obesity and NAFLD | [108] | |
| Fresh açaí berries extract | The açaí berries were obtained and stored for further aqueous extract production | Male New Zealand rabbits | 80 mL of fresh açaí extract was dissolved in water | Oral by drinking water | Fresh açaí berries extract significantly improved the lipid profile and the atherosclerosis statuses in an atherosclerosis-induced rabbit model | [109] | |
| Hepatoprotective | Açaí pulp with 549.5 mg GAE/100 g of polyphenols | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Female Fisher rats | Standard and high-fat chow with 2% of açaí pulp | Oral by feeding | The supplementation had protective effects in dams against NAFLD and protected the offspring from the effects of a maternal high-fat diet with lipid excess | [110] |
| Lyophilized açaí pulp | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Male Fischer rats | Standard chow with 2% of the lyophilized açaí pulp | Oral by feeding | The lyophilized açaí pulp diminished inflammation and reduced liver steatosis | [111] | |
| Açaí pulp with 0.035 g/100 g of procyanidin | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Wistar rats | 1 mL/100 g | Intragastric gavage | The treatment reduced alcohol-induced liver injury in rats by diminishing inflammation and oxidative stress | [112] | |
| Açaí seed extract with 265 mg/g of polyphenols | Hydroalcoholic extract | Male Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The extract, in conjunction with exercise training, decreased glucose and lipid serum levels, serum hepatic enzymes, and liver triglycerides | [113] | |
| Filtered açaí pulp with 458.6 mg GAE/100 g of polyphenols and 13.59 mg/100 g of monomeric anthocyanins | The açaí oil was purchased commercially and stored | Female Fischer rats | 2 g/day | Intragastric gavage | The açaí supplementation protected liver steatosis and injuries in a high-fat diet-rats | [114] | |
| Açaí water extract | The açaí pulp was obtained commercially and stored for future aqueous extract preparation | Male Swiss mice | 3 g/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The extract prevented liver damage, attenuated inflammation, and decreased oxidative stress | [115] | |
| Açaí water extract with 118.13 mg GAE/100 g of phenolic compounds and 9.23 mg/100 g of flavonoid compounds |
The açaí pulp was obtained commercially and stored for future aqueous extract preparation | Male Swiss mice | 3 g/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The use of açaí increased the production and effectiveness of adiponectin, improving insulin sensitivity and increasing PPAR-α-mediated fatty acid oxidation | [116] | |
| Açaí seeds extract rich in catechin and epicatechin | Hydroalcoholic | Male C57BL/6 mice | 300 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The use of the extract significantly reduced obesity and hepatic steatosis | [35] | |
| Antidiabetic | Açaí seed extract with 265 mg/g of polyphenols | Hydroalcoholic extract | Male Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The extract exerted an antidiabetic effect in the diabetic-induced rats by potentializing the insulin-signaling pathway in skeletal muscles cells and adipose tissue, increasing GLP-1 levels |
[117] |
| Antihypertensive | Açaí stones extract with 265 mg/g of polyphenols | Hydroalcoholic | Male Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Orally | The supplementation with açaí protected against vascular changes and endothelial dysfunction due to antihypertensive and antioxidant effects | [118] |
| Açaí seed extract with high amounts of proanthocyanidins | Hydroalcoholic | Female Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Oral by drinking water | The açaí seed extract protected against cardiovascular changes and intrauterine growth restriction | [22] | |
| Açaí seed extract with 265 mg/g of phenolic compounds | Hydroalcoholic | Female Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg | Intragastric gavage | Açaí promoted vasodilator and antioxidant effects | [119] | |
| Cardioprotective | Açaí pulp with 170 mg/100 g of gallic acid and 15.6 mg/100 g of total anthocyanins | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored at −80 °C for later use in standard chow | Male Wistar rats | Standard chow with 2% and 5% of açaí pulp | Orally by feeding | Supplementation with açaí pulp attenuated cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction. | [6] |
| Açaí seed extract | Aqueous | Male Wistar rats | Açaí seed extract in a dose of 200 mg/kg/day | Orally by drinking water | Reduced SBP, restored of endothelial and renal functions, decreased inflammation and oxidative stress, and attenuated of the endothelial dysfunction | [120] | |
| Lyophilized açaí pulp with 3300 mg/100 g of total polyphenols and 6.45 to 31.0 mg/100 g of anthocyanins | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Male Fischer rats | High-fat diet supplemented with 1% of the lyophilized açaí pulp | Orally by feeding | Açaí supplementation may decrease cardiac remodeling and increase cardiac function | [121] | |
| Açaí pulp extract | Aqueous extract | Male Wistar rats | 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg | Intravenous | There were elevations in acute blood flow induced by açaí extract | [122] | |
| Açaí pulp | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Male Wistar rats | Standard chow with 5% of açaí pulp | Oral by feeding | The supplementation reduced left ventricular dysfunction, oxidative stress, changes in the myocardium metabolism, and MMP-2 activation | [123] | |
| Açaí seed extract | Hydroalcoholic | Male Wistar rats | 100 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | Açaí prevented the development of exercise intolerance, cardiac fibrosis, cardiac dysfunction, and cardiac hypertrophy | [124] | |
| Açaí seed extract | Hydroalcoholic | Young male Wistar rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Orally | Açaí seed extract prevented vascular remodeling and decreased the percentage of elastic fibers, media/lumen ratio, hypertension, and oxidative damage | [125] | |
| Renoprotective | Açaí seed extract with 265 mg/g of polyphenols | Hydroalcoholic lyophilized extract | Male Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Orally by drinking water | The extract significantly reduced renal injury and prevented renal dysfunction | [126] |
| Açaí seed extract with 265 mg/g of polyphenols | Lyophilized açaí seed extract | Male Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Orally | The açaí seed extract exerted renoprotective effects, diminished renal injury, and prevented renal dysfunction | [127] | |
| Açaí berry extract | Not reported | Male Wistar albino rats | Doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day | Orally | The extract was capable of attenuating renal damage | [128] | |
| Açaí fruit extract | Not reported | Male Wistar albino rats | Doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg) | Intragastric gavage | The açaí fruit extract ameliorated the ischemia–reperfusion kidney-induced syndrome bilaterally in a dose-dependent manner | [129] | |
| Anticancer | Lyophilized açaí pulp with 214.09 ± 17.32 mg/100 g of cyanidin 3-rutinoside and 1908.5 ± 24.4 mg/100 g of β-carotene | The lyophilized açaí pulp was purchased commercially and stored | Male Wistar rats | Standard chow with 5% or 7.5% of the lyophilized açaí pulp | Oral by feeding | The pulp exerted potential antitumor activity | [76] |
| Açaí fruit extract | Hydroalcoholic extract | Female Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg | Intragastric gavage | The extract promoted anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic effects | [130] | |
| Spray-dried açaí powder | Açaí pulp was purchased commercially and dried to be sprayed | Male Wistar rats | A diet containing 5% of spray-dried açaí powder | Oral by feeding | The results showed that spray-dried açaí powder could effectively reduce the development of chemically-induced carcinogenesis | [131] | |
| Açaí pulp powder with 0.5% of polyphenolic content and freeze-dried açaí powder | The açaí pulp was purchased commercially and transformed into powder, then and the freeze-dried product was stored | Azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium-treated mice | 0.5 g/5 mL of phosphate-buffered saline was administered as pellets containing 5% of açaí powder | Orally | The use of açaí protected the mice model of colon tumorigenesis against cancer development | [132] | |
| Spray-dried açaí fruit pulp containing high amounts of anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside) and carotenoids (lutein, α-carotene, β-carotene, and 9-cis β-carotene) | The açaí pulp was dried and stored | Male Swiss albino mice | A low-fat diet containing 2.5% or 5.0% of açaí fruit pulp powder | Oral by feeding | The use of açaí attenuated carcinogenesis principally by increasing antioxidant glutathione capacity and attenuating DNA damage | [133] | |
| Kinetically stable açaí oil nanoemulsion in a concentration of 50 mg oil/mL | Nanodroplets | C57BL/6 female mice | Rats were treated five times with nanodroplets containing the nanoemulsion with 50 mg of açaí oil/mL | Nanodroplets, orally | The açaí oil nanodroplets showed a significant reduction in the tumor volume | [78] | |
| Açaí flakes extract | Dehydration of açaí berries | Male F344 rats | Diet containing 5% berry flakes | Oral by feeding | The flakes exerted inhibitory effects on esophagus tumor progression | [134] | |
| Wound-healing | Açaí berry extract | Aqueous extract | Sprague–Dawley rats | Treatments with 1%, 3%, or 5% of açaí berries aqueous extract were conducted | Application on lesions | The extract was not cytotoxic and significantly increased fibroblast migration and fibronectin expression | [135] |
| Açaí berry extract | Aqueous extract | Sprague–Dawley rats | Treatments with 1%, 3%, or 5% of açaí berries aqueous extract were conducted | Application on oral lesions | The use of açaí extract significantly improved the healing progress in wounds of rats’ oral mucosa | [136] | |
| Miscellaneous effects | Extract of açaí seeds with 25.12 mg/g of polyphenols, 9.048 mg/g of CAE, 0.258 mg/g of MRE, and 9.798 mg/g of CE | Ethanol extract | Male Wistar rats | Doses of 200 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 400 mg | Intraperitoneal | The açaí extract demonstrated myorelaxant activities in the animals | [137] |
| Açaí seeds extract with 265 mg/g of polyphenols | Hydroalcoholic | Male Wistar rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The extract improved the aerobic physical performance (↑ vascular function), reduced oxidative stress, and upregulated mitochondrial biogenesis key proteins | [138] | |
| Açaí fruit extract | Hydroalcoholic | Female Sprague–Dawley rats | 200 mg/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The extract significantly suppressed the establishment and growth of endometriosis | [139] | |
| Dried açaí | Açaí-enriched diet | Male Wistar rats | The dried açaí was mixed with the standard diet but was not calculated | Oral by feeding | The açaí-supplemented diet exerted eye protection and antioxidant effects | [140] | |
| Açaí extract | Not reported | C57BL/6NCrSlc mice | 10 mL/kg/day | Intragastric gavage | The use of açaí can stimulate erythropoietin production by inducing a hypoxic renal condition | [141] |
Abbreviations: ↑: increase; ATP: adenosine tri-phosphate; CAE: catechin equivalents; CAT: catalase; CE: cyanidin equivalents; CO: carbonyl protein; COX-2: cyclooxygenase-2; DMBA: 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene; eNOS: endothelial nitric oxide synthase; GAE: gallic acid equivalent; GLP-1: glucagon-like peptide 1; GPx: glutathione peroxidase; HDL: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR: homeostatic model for insulin resistance assessment; IL-1β: interleukin-1β; IL-6: interleukin-6; IL-10: interleukin-10; IL-18: interleukin-18; LDL: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-R: low-density lipoprotein receptor; MAB: mesenteric arterial bed; MDA: malonaldehyde; MMP-2: metalloproteinase-2; MPO: myeloperoxidase; MRE: myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside equivalents; mRNA: RNA messenger; NAFLD: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NF-ĸB: nuclear factor-κB; NO-BDNF-TRKB: nitric oxide-brain-derived neurotrophic factor- tropomyosin receptor kinase B; NOS: nitric oxide synthase; Nrf2: nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; ROS: reactive oxygen species; RT–PCR: real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction; SBP: systolic blood pressure; SOD: superoxide dismutase; TC: total cholesterol; TG: triglycerides; TLR 4: toll-like receptor 4; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; VLDL: very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.