The açai flavonoid velutin is a potent anti-inflammatory agent: blockade of LPS- mediated TNF-x and IL-6 production through inhibiting NF-kB activation and MAPK pathway.
Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 23 (2012) 1184-1191 (Available at ScienceDirect.com)
RESULT OF STUDY:
Açaí pulp has been found to contain various flavonoids, which have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effects. Velutin, a unique flavone found in açai pulp, was found to exhibit superior inhibitory effect in the vascular inflammation underlying atherosclerosis.
TERMINOLOGY:
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-x: is a multifunctional cytokine that plays important roles in diverse cellular events such as cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and death. As a pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF is secreted by inflammatory cells, which may be involved in inflammation-associated carcinogenesis.
Cytokines: A type of protein that is made by certain immune and non-immune cells and has an effect on the immune system. Some cytokines stimulate the immune system and others slow it down. They can also be made in the laboratory and used to help the body fight cancer, infections, and other diseases. Examples of cytokines are interleukins, interferons, and colony-stimulating factors (filgrastim, sargramostim).
interleukin (IL)-6: Interleukin-6 is one of a large group of molecules called cytokines. Cytokines have multiple roles to play within the body and act especially within the immune system to help direct the body’s immune response. They are a part of the “inflammatory cascade” that involves the coordinated, sequential activation of immune response pathways. IL-6 can be elevated with inflammation, infection, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers.
Flavonoids: are a class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in plants, and thus commonly consumed in the diets of humans. Flavonoids help regulate cellular activity and fight off free radicals that cause oxidative stress on your body. In simpler terms, they help your body function more efficiently while protecting it against everyday toxins and stressors. Flavonoids are also powerful antioxidant agents.
Velutin: a unique flavone isolated from the pulp of Açai fruit (Euterpe oleracea Mart.)
SUMMARY:
Epidemiological studies indicated that a diet rich in flavonoids, especially those from fruits and vegetables, is associated with a lowered incidence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Tumor necrosis factor-x and IL-6 are key players in the vascular inflammation underlying atherosclerosis. Increased production of these cytokines has been associated with the incidence of heart failure as well as with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and obesity.
Açaí pulp has been found to contain various flavonoids, including luteolin and apigenin, which have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effects. Velutin, a unique flavone found in açai pulp, was also found to exhibit superior inhibitory effect in nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. (Kang J, Xie C, Li Z, Nagarajan S, Schauss AG, Wu T, et al. Flavonoids from acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp and their antioxidant and anti- inflammatory activities. Food Chem 2011;128:152–7.)