Acai (acai, acai berry, açaí, Euterpe oleracea, Euterpe badiocarpa) palm tree, native to tropical Central and South America, produces a deep purple fruit. The acai fruit has long been an important food source for indigenous peoples of the Amazon region. Acai products have become popular in the United States, where they have been promoted for weight-loss and anti-aging purposes. And here, we review a few articles on Acai.
RECENT RESEARCH
Sérgio Scherrer Thomasi and colleagues conducted analysis of açai berry pulp extracts with LC-UV-BPSU and LC-UV-SPE/NMR. Those techniques identified 23 metabolites: Valine (1), citric acid (2), tachioside (3), isotachioside (4), α-guaiacylglycerol (5), syringylglycerol (6), uridine (7), adenosine (8), dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (9), koaburaside (10), protocatechuic acid (11), eurycorymboside B (12), 7',8'-dihydroxy-dihydrodehydroconiferyl alcohol-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (13), orientin (14), homoorientin (15), dihydrokaempferol-3-glucoside (16), isolariciresinol-9'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (17), 5'-methoxyisolariciresinol-9'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (18), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (19), cyandin-3-O-rutenoside (20), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester (21), linolenic acid (22), and 1,2-di-O-α-linolenoyl-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (23). (Reference 2)
There is limited reference for its application on weight-loss and weight management. While a few research articles were found on its "anti-aging" application mainly on animals. One study tested its effects in mice and found it improved mood and protected brain cells, offering similar benefits to existing antidepressants but with potentially fewer side effects. The juice may also have anti-aging properties by helping maintain healthy brain cells. (Reference 3)
In another study, açai extract was found to be able to strongly protect cells from oxidative stress. Mass spectrometry analyses of HPLC fractionated extract led the researchers to the identification of malvidin and cyanidin derivatives as the most active molecules able to counteract the negative effects induced by UV-A irradiation. (Reference 4)
Very little research has been done in people on the health effects of acai products. More studies are needed to understand how it works exactly.
REFERENCE
1. Acai, Health Information, NIH, May 04, 2024.
2. Sérgio Scherrer Thomasi et al, Chemical constituents of açai berry pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) by LC-UV-BPSU/NMR and LC-UV-SPE/NMR, Nat Prod Res. 2024 Apr 13:1-8.
3. José Rogério Souza-Monteiro et al, Antidepressant and Antiaging Effects of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in Mice, Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019 Jul 24:2019:3614960.
4. Ganna Petruk et al, Malvidin and cyanidin derivatives from açai fruit (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) counteract UV-A-induced oxidative stress in immortalized fibroblasts, J Photochem Photobiol B. 2017 Jul:172:42-51.