Abstract
The palm
Euterpe oleracea Martius, commonly known as açai has been promoted to have a wide range of health and therapeutic benefits due to its reportedly high levels of antioxidants. Google searches (normalised for ‘açai’) highlight first a steady (2004–2008) and in the period 2008–2009 a dramatic increase of interest in açai and a subsequent drop. It is a poster child of the power of the Internet to promote products for which only limited phytochemical and pharmacological information is available. Consequently, claims about alleged health benefits were evaluated but can generally only be substantiated to a very limited degree.
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The palm
Euterpe oleracea Martius (açai) has been acclaimed to have a wide range of health-promoting and therapeutic benefits due to its reportedly high levels of antioxidants: ▶ This Brazil palm has a range of traditional uses like for treating fevers, skin complications, digestive disorders and parasitic infections and in recent years, açai berry has been advertised widely, for example, via the Internet. ▶ This is based to a relatively high content of polyphenols, which in turn has been linked to a range of reported (mostly
in vitro) antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and cardioprotective properties. Claims about alleged health benefits can generally only be substantiated to a very limited degree. ▶ As a novel approach we also assess the interest this botanical has received in Internet searches using the search engine ‘Google’. First a steady (2004–2008) and in the period 2008–2009 a dramatic increase of interest in açai is notable and a subsequent drop. This highlights the power of the Internet in the commercialisation of such food supplements and the fast changing framework how such health supplements are commercialised.
The palm
Euterpe oleracea Martius (açai) has been acclaimed to have a wide range of health-promoting and therapeutic benefits due to its reportedly high levels of antioxidants. Açai has a history of use as a medicinal plant and as a staple food in many parts of Brazil. Traditionally, it has been used to treat fevers, skin complications, digestive disorders and parasitic infections. Açai has also been of great economic importance in Brazil. In recent years, açai berry has been advertised widely, for example, via the Internet. This is based to a relatively high content of polyphenols, which in turn has been linked to a range of reported (mostly
in vitro) antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and cardioprotective properties.
This review highlights the scientific knowledge about its phytochemistry and pharmacology (and its limitations).
In vitro and
in vivo studies have been assessed in order to determine the therapeutic potential of açai. Since there have been very limited studies the results are mostly inconclusive. Açai demonstrates promising potential with regard to antiproliferative activity and cardioprotection but further studies are required. Claims about alleged health benefits can generally only be substantiated to a very limited degree.
Strategies need to be developed in order to prioritise lesser studied ‘novel’ herbal, medicines or nutraceuticals generally distributed/popularised via the Internet and to assess the benefits and risks of such products which also allows for the evaluation of the claims made.