PMC

Amplification of triatomine DNA in açai samples with primers P2B/P6r. Lanes 1 and 14: 100 bp DNA ladder; Lanes 2 and 3: no template; Lane 4: uninfected triatomine (positive control); Lanes 5–7 and 9–10: açai with fruit; Lane 8: açai with guaraná; Lanes 11–13: açai; Lanes 15 and 16: açai fruit; Lanes 17 and 18: açai; Lane 19: T. cruzi; Lane 20: T. rangeli; Lane 21: açai pulp; Lane 22: açai fruit; Lane 23: T. cruzi; Lane 24: Triatomine spiked with T. cruzi (positive control); Lanes 25 and 26: T. cruzi; Lane 27: uninfected triatomine (positive control); Lane 28: T. rangeli, Lane 29: T. cruzi

(a) A chromatograph of the 80-2 vital dye extracted from the acai fruit in a 10% concentration (equivalent to 100 mg of a lyophilized sample extracted from the acai pulp diluted in 1 ml PBS (pH 7.00; 300 mOsm). (b) A chromatograph of 81-2 vital dye extracted from the acai fruit in a 25% concentration (equivalent to 250 mg of a lyophilized sample extracted from the acai pulp diluted in 1 ml PBS (pH 7.00; 300 mOsm). (c) A chromatograph of 82-2 vital dye extracted from the acai fruit in a 35% concentration (equivalent to 350 mg of lyophilized extracted from the acai pulp diluted in 1 ml PBS (pH 7.00; 300 mOsm)).

COX-2 mRNA transcripts in the control group were higher than the açaí group (A). COX-2 immunoreactivity was detected predominantly in the glandular epithelial cells (#) in the control group (B) compared to lesions treated with açaí (C). PGE₂ levels (D) and NO production (E) were higher in the control group than in the açaí group.

Açaí was shown to have antitumoral functions due its antiinflammatory, antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties.