title: Dietary supplementation with the polyphenol-rich açaí pulps (Euterpe oleracea Mart. and Euterpe precatoria Mart.) improves cognition in aged rats and attenuates inflammatory signaling in BV-2 microglial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was carried out to determine if lyophilized açaí fruit pulp (genus, Euterpe), rich in polyphenols and other bioactive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, is efficacious in reversing age-related cognitive deficits in aged rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The diets of 19-month-old Fischer 344 rats were supplemented for 8 weeks with 2% Euterpe oleracea (EO), Euterpe precatoria (EP), or a control diet. Rats were tested in the Morris water maze and then blood serum from the rats was used to assess inflammatory responses of BV-2 microglial cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 8 weeks of dietary supplementation with 2% EO or EP, rats demonstrated improved working memory in the Morris water maze, relative to controls; however, only the EO diet improved reference memory. BV-2 microglial cells treated with blood serum collected from EO-fed rats produced less nitric oxide (NO) than control-fed rats. Serum from both EO- and EP-fed rats reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). There is a relationship between performance in the water maze and the production of NO and TNF-α by serum-treated BV-2 cells, such that serum from rats with better performance was more protective against inflammatory signaling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Protection of memory during aging by supplementation of lyophilized açaí fruit pulp added to the diet may result from its ability to influence antioxidant and anti-inflammatory signaling.
authors.affiliation: a Neuroscience and Aging , USDA HNRC on Aging at Tufts University , Boston , MA , USA.|b Department of Psychology , Simmons College , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Amanda N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.affiliation: a Neuroscience and Aging , USDA HNRC on Aging at Tufts University , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Marshall G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: a Neuroscience and Aging , USDA HNRC on Aging at Tufts University , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: a Neuroscience and Aging , USDA HNRC on Aging at Tufts University , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Donna F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Bielinski
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , Simmons College , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Casey K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.affiliation: a Neuroscience and Aging , USDA HNRC on Aging at Tufts University , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Shibu M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Poulose
authors.affiliation: a Neuroscience and Aging , USDA HNRC on Aging at Tufts University , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shukitt-Hale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D065748:Euterpe / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D028321:Plant Preparations; D059808:Polyphenols; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Aging; Açaí; Cognition; Inflammation; Memory; Oxidative stress