title: Açaí juice attenuates atherosclerosis in ApoE deficient mice through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Açaí fruit pulp has received much attention because of its high antioxidant capacity and potential anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, athero-protective effects of açaí juice were investigated in apolipoprotein E deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ApoE(-/-) mice were fed AIN-93G diet (CD) or CD formulated to contain 5% freeze-dried açaí juice powder (AJ) for 20 weeks. The mean lesion areas in the aorta for apoE(-/-) mice fed AJ were 58% less (P<0.001) compared to that for CD fed mice. HDL-cholesterol was higher in AJ fed mice. Biomarkers of lipid peroxidation, including F(2)-isoprostanes and isomers of hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids were significantly lower in serum and in liver of AJ fed mice. Expression of the two antioxidant enzyme genes, Gpx3 and Gsr, were significantly up-regulated in the aorta from AJ fed mice. The activity of GPX, GSR and PON1 increased in serum and/or liver of mice fed AJ. In the second experiment, ApoE(-/-) mice were fed CD or AJ for 5 weeks. Serum levels, gene expression and protein levels of the two proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in the resident macrophages with or without LPS stimulation were lower in mice fed AJ. SEAP reporter assay determined that AJ reduced NF-κB activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing lipid peroxidation through boosting antioxidant enzymes and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production are proposed as major underlying mechanisms for the athero-protective effects of the açaí juice tested in these experimental in vivo models.
authors.affiliation: USDA Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 15 Children's Way, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
authors.forename: Chenghui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burris
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Schauss
authors.forename: Shanmugam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagarajan
authors.forename: Xianli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001628:Beverages; D015415:Biomarkers; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015415:Biomarkers; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C495366:hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid