title: Anti-inflammatory and Anti-tumorigenic Effects of Açai Berry in Helicobacter felis-infected mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic effect of açai berry after chronic Helicobacter felis colonization in the stomachs of C57BL/6 mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 57 four-week-old female C57BL/6 mice (18 control mice and 39 experimental mice) were used. The mice were administered orogastrically with vehicle only or vehicle containing H. felis, 5 times every other day. After inoculation of H. felis, mice were fed either a standard or an açai-containing diet and then sacrificed at 4, 24, and 52 weeks. The infection status and degree of inflammation were determined by culture and histopathology. The level of gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO), TNF-α, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 24 weeks after inoculation, mucosal atrophy and mucous metaplasia appeared in all infected mice. At 52 weeks after inoculation, dysplastic change was noted in 10%, 25%, and 50% of mice in the H. felis-control, H. felis-açai 5%, and H. felis-açai 10% groups, respectively. The neutrophil, monocyte, atrophy, and metaplasia grades of infected mice showed no significant difference among the H. felis-infected groups. H. felis-infected mice fed with açai berry showed no significant difference compared with H. felis-infected control mice in gastric mucosal MPO, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  H. felis that colonized the stomachs of C57BL/6 mice provoked inflammation, and induced mucosal atrophy, metaplasia, and dysplasia. However, açai berry did not effectively prohibit the gastric carcinogenesis which was induced by chronic H. felis infection.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Yup
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Nayoung
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Jeong
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ryoung Hee
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Seonmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Açai (Euterpe oleracea); Helicobacter felis; Inflammation; Stomach