Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria

Background. Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart), a Brazilian fruit, is considered a “superfruit” due its energetic properties and bioactive compounds. The açai’s anti-inflammatory effects could attenuate the undesirable metabolic and pro-inflammatory side effects triggered by some antipsychotic drugs, such as Olanzapine (OLZ). It is possible to infer that açai supplement could potentially minimize the adverse effects of OLZ.

Aim. This study tested the potential in vitro effects of açai hydroalcoholic extract on the inflammatory activation of the RAW 264.7 macrophage line triggered by OLZ antipsychotic drugs.

Materials and methods. An in vitro protocol was performed using commercial RAW 264.7 macrophages, cultured under sterile conditions at 37°C with 5% CO2 saturation. Initially, a pharmacological curve was defined to determine the concentration of Olanzapine to be used. After this, the cells were supplemented with different concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract of açaí, which had been previously chemically characterized. After 24 and 72 hours of treatment, oxidative and inflammatory tests were performed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify whether the hydroalcoholic extract of açaí can modulate the oxy-inflammatory response of olanzapine in vitro.

Results. From a preliminary analysis, the açai extract at 5 mg/mL presented higher activity against inflammation triggered by OLZ (0.03 μg/mL). At this concentration, açai was able to reduce several oxidative and inflammatory markers triggered by OLZ (0.03 μg/mL) exposure, such as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-a, IFN-g) caused by OLZ (0.03 μg/mL). Moreover, açaí reverted the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 that had been dropped by OLZ exposure to their pre-exposure treatments.

Conclusions. The results suggest that açai extract could be useful in attenuating the peripheral inflammatory states triggered by OLZ. Additional pre-clinical and clinical investigations could be useful in testing therapeutic açai extract supplements.