Frozen fruit pulp of Euterpe oleraceae Mart. (Acai) prevents hydrogen peroxide-induced damage in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus of rats.
Oxidative stress is implicated in several human illnesses, including neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Acai is largely consumed in Brazil and contains high levels of antioxidant compounds. This work aims to study the antioxidant activity of acai frozen fruit pulp in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of rats treated with the oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Pretreatment of tissue with acai decreased H(2)O(2)-induced damage of both lipids and proteins in all tissues tested. This fruit was also able to reduce the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase to basal levels. We observed a negative correlation between the polyphenol content of acai and the levels of lipid (r = -0.689; P <or= .05) and protein damage (r = -0.569; P <or= .05), suggesting the participation of polyphenols in the observed antioxidant activity. These data suggest that acai has a positive contribution in the development of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
Patricia D S
PD
Spada
Caroline
C
Dani
Giovana V
GV
Bortolini
Claudia
C
Funchal
João A P
JA
Henriques
Mirian
M
Salvador
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D028321:Plant Preparations; D059808:Polyphenols; D011506:Proteins; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase