Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review

Abstract

The açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a species belonging to the Arecaceae 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.

Spermatogenesis recovery treatment in less than four months from zero to almost 16 million sperms per milliliter after several cycles of steroids in 44‐year‐old healthy man

“…For the lunch and dinner, he also increased his meals for 20%–25% (due to higher calories needed), which was all covered by vegetables. In the period of vacation (in Brazil), he did have everyday portion of 300 mL acai, which is very well know super‐antioxidant 24 . Clinical trials have suggested that acai 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, acai shows a promising future in health promotion and disease prevention, including also male infertility. 24 Obesity in combination with aging and potentially diabetes could be a problem in male low sperm count. However, in this case, patient was having healthy situation with fat percentage between 11 and 18, and muscular percentage of the body between 42 and 49 (Figure 1).…”

Domestication of Euterpe oleracea (Arecaceae) to provide food from peatlands

“…Açai has become more popular and exported worldwide, as it does not only provide foods, but also possesses numerous bioactive properties in the leaf, pulp, fruit, bark, and seeds [8]. Roots can be used as herbal medicine and tonic [10].…”

“…(Arecaceae) is a native tropical peat swamp forest of Central and South America; it distributes in the Amazonian, Peruvian, Venezuela and Suriname. E. oleracea is known as açai in Portuguese [7][8] or 'podosiri' in Surinamese [9]. Açai grows naturally along the riverbank, 1315 (2024) 012063 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1315/1/012063 2 forest-dominant palm species grow on marginal land that is unsuitable for agriculture.…”

“…The inflorescences can be used as fertilizers. The roots can be used as herbal tea and anthelmintic [8,11]. Owing to large benefit of the trees and adaptation to flooding condition, it is potential to be domesticated in Indonesia; however the study of Açai in Indonesia is not known yet.…”