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

描述(申请人提供)：细胞氧化应激是全球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刺梨(Eurpe holacea Mart.)中的化学成分。(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有关的致病条件。此外，这项研究将确定这些成分的生物靶标，从而深入了解这种“超级水果”对人类具有这些保护作用的机制。ACAI的流行并没有转化为关于其影响的丰富的科学研究，因此这项研究也填补了科学上的一个重要空白，如果填补这一空白，将极大地加强利用该产品对健康有益的努力。这项拟议研究的一个基本要素是，北卡罗来纳大学格林斯伯勒分校的本科生和硕士研究生将有机会从事有意义的科学研究，旨在阐明市场上最受欢迎的抗氧化剂天然产品之一的作用机制细节。该项目的长期目标是提供有关ACAI产品在减少细胞氧化应激和改善人类健康方面的作用模式的科学知识。本研究的两个主要目的是证明ACAI的化学成分(1)抑制细胞色素P450酶，该酶启动包括活性氧物种(ROS)在内的活性化学物种的产生，以及(2)诱导依赖于Nrf2的转录途径，激活一整套抗氧化基因。目标2的另一个组成部分是证明ACAI的组成部分协同作用，导致抗氧化剂基因表达增加。将采用的方法包括对两种人细胞色素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，在该系统中，将使用包含称为“抗氧化反应元件”的遗传元件的报告质粒来评估刺梨提取物中的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。活性导向分馏和协同导向分馏将用于分离ACAI的活性成分，现代核磁共振和质谱学方法将用于确定它们的化学特性。

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.