• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the physiological activity of acai berry (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) extracts from three different solvents (water, methanol, and ethanol). We measured total polyphenol and total flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, nitrite scavenging activity, metal chelating effect, and reducing power. The extraction yield from water, methanol, and ethanol was 17.10, 9.50, and 37.51%, respectively. The highest total polyphenol content (10.54 mg/100 g) and total flavonoid contents (1.88 mg/100 g) was observed in water extract. DPPH radical scavenging activity was the highest in both water extract (72.03%) and methanol extract (74.79%) at levels of 5 mg/mL, which was similar to that of BHT (78.90%). Water extract yielded the highest metal chelating effect (92.54%) and reducing power (1.09) at levels of 5 mg/mL. Taken together, these findings suggest that extracts of acai berry can be used as functional food materials with antioxidative and nitrite scavenging activities.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to determine the oral wound healing effects of acai berry water extracts (ABWE) in rat oral mucosa. To estimate the anti-oxidative effects of ABWE, the contents of phenolic compounds, and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) abilities were evaluated. Wound healing effects of ABWE were tested following 6-day exposure after induction of wound by applying 50% acetic acid to oral mucosa of Sprague-Dawley rats. Macroscopic and histopathological analyses were performed to determine wound healing effects of ABWE. Sodium fusidate (20 mg/g) was used as positive control. ABWE showed significantly high antioxidant effects in all assays, although its potency was weaker than the positive control. From day 3 after treatment, wound healing effects of ABWE were observed in oral mucosa. These wound healing effects were also consistent with histopathological evaluation results. Taken together, these results indicate that ABWE might have potential as an oral wound healing agent in the future.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the wound healing effect of acai berry water extracts (ABWE) and a possible underlying mechanism involved in its action using various in vitro and in vivo models. The wound healing effect of ABWE was evaluated by migration assay using HS68 fibroblast cells. In addition, its effect on mRNA expression of procollagen, fibronectin, and MMP-1 was determined. Moreover, the wound healing effect of ABWE was evaluated in in vivo wound models through macroscopic and microscopic observation. In addition, mRNA expression levels of wound related genes were determined. Results revealed that ABWE was not cytotoxic. It increased migration of HS68 fibroblast cells. ABWE increased mRNA expression levels of fibronectin but decreased the mRNA expression levels of MMP-1. ABWE also showed significantly potent wound healing effect in vivo based on macroscopic and histopathological observation and mRNA expression evaluation for wound related genes. Taken together, our results indicated that ABWE might have potential as a wound healing agent.