Monograph: Acai - Euterpe oleracea

Date: 2018-08-28

NHPID name

Euterpe oleracea ( Germplasm Resources Information Network Taxonomy )

Proper name(s)

Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae) ( USDA 2018 , McGuffin et al. 2000 )

Common name(s)

• Acai ( NS 2018 , derMarderosian and Beutler 2008 )
• Açai ( USDA 2018 , Mors et al. 2000 )
• Assai palm ( USDA 2018 , McGuffin et al. 2000 )
• Cabbage palm ( USDA 2018 , McGuffin et al. 2000 )

Source material

Fruit ( Unavailable ) References: Schreckinger et al. 2010, Schauss et al. 2006, Lichtenthäler et al. 2005.

Route Of administration

Oral

Dosage form(s)

• Acceptable dosage forms for the age category listed in this monograph and specified route of administration are indicated in the Compendium of Monographs Guidance Document.
• This monograph excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of Monographs Guidance Document.

Use(s) or purpose(s)

Statement(s) to the effect of:

Source of/Provides antioxidants.  (Mertens-Talcot et al. 2008, Schauss et al. 2006, Lichtenthäler et al. 2005)

Dose(s)

Adults:

Duration of use

No statement is required

Risk information

Statement(s) to the effect of:

Caution(s) and Warning(s): Consult a health care practitioner/health care provider/health care professional/doctor/physician prior to use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.  (NS 2018, derMarderosian and Beutler 2008) Contraindication(s): No statement is required Known Adverse Reaction(s): Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs.  (NS 2018, derMarderosian and Beutler 2008)

Non-medicinal ingredients

Must be chosen from the current Natural health products ingredients database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Storage conditions

No statement required.

Specifications

• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the NHPD Quality of natural health products guide.
• The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the Natural health products ingredient database (NHPID).
• The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) Quality of Natural Health Products Guide.The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the NHPID.

References cited

• derMarderosian A, Beutler JA, editors. The Review of Natural Products. [Acai: Date of issue January 2008]. St Louis (MO): Facts and Comparisons, Wolters Kluwer Health; Printed in 2008 and Updated to April 2012.
• Faccolia S. Cornucopia II A source book of edible plants. Vista (CA): Kampong Publications; 1998.
• Lichtenthäler R, Rodrigues RB, Maia JG, Papagiannopoulos M, Fabricius H, Marx F. Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) fruits. International Journal of Food Sciences And Nutrition 2005;56(1):53-64.
• McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. Herbs of Commerce. 2nd edition. Silver Spring (MD): American Herbal Products Association; 2000.
• Mertens-Talcott SU, Rios J, Jilma-Stohlawetz P, Pacheco-Palencia LA, Meibohm B, Talcott ST, Derendorf H. Pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins and antioxidant effects after the consumption of anthocyanin-rich açai juice and pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in human healthy volunteers. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2008;56(17):7796-7802.
• Mors WB, Toledo Rizzini C, Alvares Pereira N, Defilipps RA. Medicinal Plants of Brazil. Algonac (MI): Reference Publications Inc.; 2000.
• NS 2018: Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. Acai (Euterpe oleracea) Natural Standard Professional Monograph, Copyright © 2018 [Internet]. [Accessed 2018 June 29]. Available from: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/
• Schauss AG, Wu X, Prior RL, Ou B, Huang D, Owens J, Agarwal A, Jensen GS, Hart AN, Shanbrom E. Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried Amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (açai). Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2006;54(22):8604-8610.
• Schreckinger ME, Lotton J, Lila MA, Gonzalez de Mejia E. Berries from South America: a comprehensive review on chemistry, health potential, and commercialization. Journal of Medicinal Food 2010;233-246.
• Tonon RV, Brabet C, Hubinger MD. Anthocyanin stability and antioxidant activity of spray-dried açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) juice produced with different carrier agents. Food Research International 2010;43(3):907-914.
• USDA 2018: USDA ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) [Internet]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville: (MD). [Accessed 2018 June 15]. Available from: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

References reviewed

• Duke JA, Vazquez Martinez R. Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 1994.
• Important Information about Acai Berry Products containing Prescription Medication. Ottawa (ON): Marketed Health Products Directorate. Date Modified 2010 January 15; [Accessed 2012 January 20]. Available from: http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2009/13357a-eng.php
• McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, editors. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 1997.
• Pozo-Insfran DD, Brenes CH, Talcott St. Phytochemical composition and pigment stability of açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.). Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2004;52(6):1539-1545.
• Rocha APM, Carvalho LCRM, Sousa MAV, Madeira SVF, Sousa PJC, Tano T, Schini-Kerth VB, Resende AC, Soares de Moura R. Endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) extracts in mesenteric vascular bed of the rat. Vascular Pharmacology 2007;46:97-104.
• Sosnowska J, Balslev H. American palm ethnomedicine: a meta-analysis. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2009;5:43