Friday Nov 22, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in Neuroscience Letter suggests consuming cai berry extract may render a neuroprotection against brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease.

D. Y. Wong from Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide in South Australia and colleagues conducted the study and found Acai better extract protected PC12 cells from being affected by Aβ1-42 and helped maintain regular cell morphology indicating that the Acai extract may help prevent the cells from being attacked by β-amyloid - the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease as a major form of dementia is believed to have something to do with oxidative stress.   And antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin D have been found to preserve cognitive function or protect against cognitive decline in people with this disease.

Acai berry extract used in the study was the native South American palm açaí berry (Euterpe oleraceae Mart.) which is high in polyphenolics and antioxidants.  Researchers proposed acai berry extract may help protect against "β-amyloid (Aβ)-mediated loss of cell viability and oxidative stress associated with anti-fibrillar effects." 

To test such a hypothesis, PC12 cells were exposed to either Aβ1-42, Aβ25-35 or tert butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP), alone or together with açaí extract in a dose of 0.5-50μg/ml, and then assessed for Aβ1-42 fibril morphology.

PC12 is a cell line prepared from a pheochromocytoma of the rat adrenal medulla which is used to study neuronal differentiation when exposed to nerve growth factor etc.  Aβ1-42 is synthetic beta-amyloid which may be used as a vaccine to offer neuroprotection against disorders like Alzheimer's disease.  Aβ25–35 is the fragment of the Alzheimer's amyloid β -peptide.

PC12 cells lost viability when they were alone exposed to Aβ1-42, Aβ25-35 or t-BHP.  However, when exposed to Aβ1-42 at the presence of acai extract, PC12 cells retained their viability.  But Acai extract did not seem to protect PC12 cells from losing viability when exposed to Aβ25-35 or t-BHP.

Açai extract also disrupted Aβ1-42 fibril and aggregate morphology.  Acai was found more effective than other testes phenolic compounds in inhibiting Aβ1-42 aggregation.  Inhibition of β-amyloid aggregation could mean that Acai berry extract may help prevent Alzheimer's disease.

An estimated 5 million older American men and women live with Alzheimer's disease - a disease that has no cure.   The disease can eventually disable and kill the patients.  Early research suggests that antioxidant supplements such as vitamin c, vitamin E, and cholesterol lowering supplements like spirulina and red yeast rice may help prevent the disease or delay the onset of the disease. (David Liu, PHD)