Antioxidant activities of freeze dried acai berry (Euterpe Oleracea)extracts

描述（由申请人提供）：细胞氧化应激是世界范围内疾病和死亡的主要原因，许多人正在转向天然产品或补充和替代药物来对抗这种情况。目前的研究旨在鉴定非常受欢迎的巴西莓（Euterpe oleracea Mart）中的成分。（槟榔科）)具有减少氧化应激的潜力，从而防止与氧化还原平衡破坏相关的致病条件。此外，该研究将确定这些成分的生物学靶点，从而深入了解这种“超级水果”对人类产生这些保护作用的机制。巴西莓的受欢迎程度并没有转化为大量关于其功效的科学研究，因此这项研究也填补了科学上的一个重要空白，如果填补了这一空白，将大大加强利用这种产品的健康益处的努力。这项拟议研究的一个基本要素是，北卡罗来纳大学格林斯博罗分校的本科生和硕士生将有机会参与有意义的科学研究，旨在阐明市场上最受欢迎的抗氧化天然产品之一的作用机制的细节。该项目的长期目标是提供有关巴西莓产品在减少细胞氧化应激和改善人体健康方面的作用方式的科学知识。本研究的两个主要目的是证明巴西莓的化学成分(1)抑制细胞色素P450酶，该酶可启动活性化学物质的产生，包括活性氧（ROS），以及(2)诱导nrf2依赖的转录途径，激活整个抗氧化基因电池。Aim 2的另一个组成部分是证明巴西莓的成分协同作用，增加抗氧化基因的表达。将采用的方法包括对两种人类细胞色素P450同工酶P4502E1和P4502A6的体外催化分析，以及基于荧光素酶的细胞培养系统，其中报告质粒含有一种称为“抗氧化反应元件”的遗传元件，将用于评估巴西莓提取物中成分上调基因转录的能力。这种类型的元素存在于大量与抗氧化功能相关的人类基因中。活性引导分馏和协同引导分馏将用于分离巴西莓的活性成分，并将使用核磁共振和质谱表征的现代方法来确定其化学特性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cellular oxidative stress is a major cause of illness and death worldwide, and many are turning to Natural Products or Complementary and Alternative Medicines to combat this condition. The current study is intended to identify constituents in the very popular acai berry (Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae)) with the potential to reduce oxidative stress, thereby preventing the pathogenic conditions associated with disruptions in redox balance. In addition, the study will identify biological targets for thes constituents, thus providing insight into the mechanism by which this "super fruit" confers these protective effects in humans. The popularity of the Acai has not translated to a wealth of scientific research regarding its effects, thus the study also fills an important void in science, hat if filled could greatly enhance efforts to capitalize on the health benefits of this product. An essential element of the proposed study is that undergraduate and Master's level students at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro will have opportunities to engage in meaningful scientific research aimed at elucidating details regarding the mechanism of action of one of the most popular anti-oxidant natural products on the market. The long terms goals for the project are to provide scientific knowledge concerning mode of action of acai products in reducing cellular oxidative stress, and improving human health. The two main aims of this study are to demonstrate that chemical constituents of the acai (1) inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes that initiate production of reactive chemical species, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), and (2) induce the Nrf2-dependent transcriptional pathway, activating an entire battery of anti-oxidant genes. An additional component of Aim 2 is to demonstrate that components of the acai act synergistically to bring about increased antioxidant gene expression. The methods to be employed include in vitro catalytic assays for the two human cytochrome P450 isozymes, P4502E1 and P4502A6, and a luciferase-based cell culture system in which a reporter plasmid containing a genetic element called an "antioxidant response element" will be used to assess the ability of constituents in the acai berry extract to up-regulate gene transcription. Elements o this type are present in a large number of human genes associated with anti-oxidant functions. Activity-guided fractionation and synergy-guided fractionation will be used to isolate active components of the acai and modern methods of NMR and mass spectral characterization will be used to determine their chemical identity.