Antioxidant properties of acai (Euterpe oleracea) in the metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Foods rich in polyphenols, considered to have high antioxidant power, mainly those in the class of anthocyanins, are increasingly being used in the prevention of diseases related to the metabolic syndrome. Acai (Euterpe oleracea) is a fruit that stands out for presenting this property, and even though Brazil is the largest producer of this fruit, the foreign market has been investing in its exportation for use in both the food and pharmaceutical industries. The objective of this study was to carry out an extensive review of the literature on the functional properties of the acai berry as related to the metabolic syndrome. The data search was carried out in databases such as Pubmed, Web of Science, Scielo and Science Direct. Thus it was observed that Euterpe oleracea is a fruit rich in anthocyanins, which act by modulating the lipid metabolism to overcome the damage caused in the body by the oxidative stress unleashed by chronic diseases.