Protective effects of spray-dried açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart) fruit pulp against initiation step of colon carcinogenesis

• Published in: Food research international 2015-11, Vol.77, p.432-440
• Main Authors: Romualdo, Guilherme Ribeiro, Fragoso, Mariana Franco, Borguini, Renata Galhardo, de Araújo Santiago, Manuela Cristina Pessanha, Fernandes, Ana Angélica Henrique, Barbisan, Luis Fernando
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Azoxymethane; Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.); Colon carcinogenesis; DNA damage; Male Swiss mice
• ISSN: 0963-9969; 1873-7145
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2015.08.037

The present study aims to evaluate whether açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart) fruit pulp powder (AP) feeding attenuates the initiation step of chemically-induced mouse colon carcinogenesis. Male Swiss mice were fed low fat diet containing 2.5% or 5.0% of AP (weeks 1 to 4) produced by a spray-drying system. All groups received an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of colon carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM, 15mg/kg of body weight) at week 3. After the first administration of carcinogen, blood samples were collected to perform Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis Assay. Some mice were euthanized at week 3 (n=5 mice/group) and liver samples were collected for immunohistochemical and glutathione analysis. Other mice received a second i.p. injection of AOM at week 4 and were fed a high-fat diet to accelerate the development of preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) until week 14 (n=10 mice/group). Cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside, lutein, α-carotene and β-carotene were identified as the main anthocyanins and carotenoids in AP, respectively. At week 3, both dietary AP interventions (2.5% or 5.0%) reduced (p