Products
Acai berries (pronounced ass-a-i) are commercially available in many countries as juice, powder, in the form of capsules and cosmetics, among other products. They belong to the so-called superfoods.
Stem plant
The parent plant of the berries is the palm Mart. (Arecaceae), which is native to South America and grows in the regularly flooded soils of the Amazon. The slender palms reach a height of about 20 to 30 meters and are cultivated for the extraction of the hearts of palm and the fruits.
Medicinal drug
The fruits are used as the medicinal drug. They are round, blackish-purple, edible berries between 1 to 2.5 cm in size, containing a single large seed and virtually no pulp. They can be eaten raw, processed into a juice and other preparations, such as drinks, ice cream,energy drinks and yogurt. The fruits have a special nutty flavor.
Ingredients
The ingredients include proteins, amino acids, lipids, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, polysaccharides, flavonoids, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. Anthocyanins such as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, which also give the berries their intense coloration, are considered to be the most relevant antioxidants.
Effects
Acai berries and corresponding preparations are known for their strong antioxidant effects. Furthermore, studies have found anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, cytoprotective, and immunostimulatory properties, among others.
Indications for use
Acai berries and corresponding preparations are consumed as dietary supplements in Western industrialized nations. The “super berries,” “miracle berries,” or “power berries” have been aggressively promoted, especially in the United States, for a wide variety of applications such as obesity, anti-aging, cancer, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. There is little evidence in the scientific literature to support these uses. Although the fruits represent a possible source of potentially valuable nutrients, a medical or medical-preventive application is not indicated from our point of view at present. On the other hand, there is nothing to be said against taking them as an exotic stimulant, as a tonic, or for use in gastronomy.
Adverse effects
We have little literature on possible adverse effects. The berries have been consumed regularly and in large quantities by local people for a long time (locally even as a staple food). When ingested, it should be noted that acai may affect MRI examinations because it acts as a natural contrast agent.
