Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Seed Extract Induces ROS Production and Cell Death in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açai) is a native palm from the Amazon region. There are various chemical constituents of açai with bioactive properties. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and cytotoxic effects of açai seed extract on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) was applied to identify chemical compounds present in açai seed extract. LC-MS/MS and molecular networking were employed to detect the phenolic compounds of açai. The antioxidant activity of açai seed extract was measured by DPPH assay. MCF-7 breast cancer cell line viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell death was evaluated by flow cytometry and time-lapse microscopy. Autophagy was evaluated by orange acridin immunofluorescence assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was evaluated by DAF assay. From the molecular networking, fifteen compounds were identified, mainly phenolic compounds. The açai seed extract showed cytotoxic effects against MCF-7, induced morphologic changes in the cell line by autophagy and increased the ROS production pathway. The present study suggests that açai seed extract has a high cytotoxic capacity and may induce autophagy by increasing ROS production in breast cancer. Apart from its antioxidant activity, flavonoids with high radical scavenging activity present in açai also generated NO (nitric oxide), contributing to its cytotoxic effect and autophagy induction.

Antitumor Effect of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Seed Extract in LNCaP Cells and in the Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma Model

“…The association between mitochondrial dysfunction, generation of ROS, and chromatin changes with autophagy is well reported [33,34], and the ultrastructural changes observed after treatment with E. oleracea indicate a mechanism of action in this sense. Nevertheless, there are reports in line with our results that E. oleracea seed extract induced ROS production and increased mitochondria numbers, suggesting ROS enrollment in autophagy and cell death, possibly by autophagy, which were confirmed by the autophagolysosome formation in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line [35,36]. Another study demonstrated a reduction in MCF-7 cell viability and death by necroptosis after E. oleracea treatment, revealing that the in vitro mechanism of action still needs enlightenment.…”

Açai Berry Mitigates Vascular Dementia-Induced Neuropathological Alterations Modulating Nrf-2/Beclin1 Pathways

“…Numerous pharmacological benefits of açai berry extract and its bioactive components include anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties through modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and Nrf2 expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. However, more data are needed to confirm the neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect.…”

Potential of Brazilian berries in developing innovative, healthy, and sustainable food products

“…Cancer is one of the most researched diseases in the world and this fruit has already demonstrated benets against various mechanisms of this disease, such as a positive cytoprotective action for estrogen receptors (MCF-7), chemopreventive potential, effective for cytotoxic effects in breast cancer cell lines, induces autophagy and morphological changes in treated cells, increase mitochondria production aer 24 hours of treatment and reduction of tumor cells (Table 6). [147][148][149][150] Besides cancer, açaí has also been effective in managing obesity, through a positive inuence against pro-inammatory biomarkers, in addition to also being effective against metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, dyslipidemias, inammation, oxidative stress and hypertension. 33 Some of the benets found from açaí against metabolic disorders are the ability of glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, control of lipid metabolism, decreased protein expression of genes involved in lipogenesis and increased expression of transport proteins involved in the excretion of lipids.…”