Chapter 10 - Advances in the study of the health benefits and mechanisms of action of the pulp and seed of the Amazonian palm fruit, Euterpe oleracea Mart., known as “Açai”

Abstract

Numerous advances have been made in recent years to demonstrate the health benefits of açai pulp and seed while also elucidating their mechanisms of action. Studies have confirmed it to be one of the most potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory food sources available, attributable to a class of flavones, as well as other polyphenols, lignans, saccharides. This is the first review of studies reporting on the chemistry, properties and attributes of the seed, including surprising immune system affects potentially able to attenuate the long-term damaging effect of cigarette smoke exposure, resulting in emphysema, COPD and lung cancer. Recent research has shown certain extracts of the pulp can overcome lethal antibiotic-resistant pathogens. New studies on açai pulp report promising neuroprotective properties in preventing, slowing the progression, and treating neurodegenerative diseases, and other diseases of aging, including cardiovascular diseases (eg, atherosclerosis) and stroke, related to its epigenetic effects on transcription and gene expression.