Anthocyanins in Mesocarp/Epicarp and Endocarp of Fresh Acai {Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and their Antioxidant Activities and Bioavailability

摘要

We measured anthocyanin levels in fresh acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a native Amazonian palm fruit; cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (C3R) in mesocarp/epicarp portion were 5.49 and 13.0 mg/g extracts, respectively, and these amounts were remarkably higher than that in endocarp. Hydrophilic ORAC assay suggested that acai mesocarp/epicarp extracts had potent antioxi-dant activity compared to blueberry extract. Following, absorption and excretion of acai anthocyanins were evaluated. After oral administration of acai extracts (400 mg/kg body weight) to rats, C3G and C3R appeared as intact forms in the plasma as maximum amounts of 101.0 ± 55.6 nmol/L at 60 min and 537.0 ± 99.1 nmol/L at 120 min after administration, respectively. Most of these anthocyanins were excreted in urine by 2 h post-administration time. In conclusion, fresh acai contained hydrophilic antioxidants including C3G and C3R, and therefore has strong antioxidant potency especially in the mesocarp/epicarp portion. Upon consumption, acai anthocyanins appeared as intact forms in plasma.