Safety Assessment of Palm-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) reviewed the safety of 8 palm tree (Euterpe edulis (juçara) and Euterpe oleracea (açaí))-derived ingredients as used in cosmetic products; these ingredients are reported to function mostly as skin conditioning agents. The Panel reviewed relevant data relating to the safety of these ingredients in cosmetic formulations. Industry should continue to use good manufacturing practices to limit impurities. The Panel concluded that palm tree (açaí and juçara)-derived ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.

Retinal Toxicity of Acai Fruit (Euterpe Oleracea) Dye Concentrations in Rabbits: Basic Principles of a New Dye for Chromovitrectomy in Humans.

PURPOSE: Evaluate toxicity of acai fruit (Euterpe oleracea) dye concentrations in a rabbit model. METHODS: Rabbits were injected intravitreously with 10%, 25%, and 35% acai dye concentrations. Control eyes received balanced salt solution (BSS). Electroretinogram (ERG), fundus imaging, fluorescein angiography (FA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and light and transmission electron microscopy (LM/TEM) were performed. RESULTS: Fundus imaging showed increased vitreous opacity with increased dye concentrations. FA and OCT showed normality with all concentrations. Comparisons between BSS and dye concentrations were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mood's median test (p < 0.05). At 24 h, ERGs showed reduced amplitudes from baseline in all eyes. Median b-wave amplitudes nonsignificantly decreased and latency increased with 10% and 25%; findings were significant (p < 0.05) for 35%. LM and TEM showed no abnormalities for 10% and 25%. With 35%, TEM showed ganglion cell edema at 24 h that resolved after 7 days. Vacuolization, multilamellar bodies, and nerve bundle damage occurred at 24 h/7 days in the inner nuclear layer. Mitochondrial cristae disruption occurred in the inner photoreceptor segment at 24 h that decreased by 7 days. CONCLUSION: Ten and twenty-five percent concentrations were safe and may improve identification of the posterior hyaloid and internal limiting membrane during chromovitrectomy in humans.

Estudo do efeito farmacológico e da toxicidade do extrato de Euterpe oleracea em modelo experimental de câncer de mama

O câncer de mama é um problema de saúde pública, com uma alta incidência e sendo a principal causa de morte por câncer em mulheres no Brasil e no mundo. Dentre os processos envolvidos no microambiente tumoral da mama, destacam-se a angiogênese e a inflamação, tendo o fator de crescimento vascular endotelial (VEGF), a ciclo-oxigenase 2 (COX-2) e os macrófagos, como os principais fatores desses processos. Recentemente, o extrato de Euterpe oleracea (açaí), um fruto abundantemente encontrado na região amazônica, apresentou efeito antitumoral in vitro em linhagens de células de carcinoma mamário humano. Desse modo, o presente estudo teve como objetivo estabelecer um modelo experimental de carcinoma mamário e avaliar o potencial efeito farmacológico do açaí no câncer de mama. (...)

Breast cancer is a public health problem with high incidence among women and the leading cause of cancer death in women in Brazil and the world. Among the processes involved in the breast tumor microenvironment, angiogenesis and inflammation plays a central role, with the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and macrophages, as the main factors of these processes. Recently, the extract of Euterpe oleracea (açaí), a fruit that is widely found in the Amazon region, already showed antitumorigenic effect in vitro in human breast cancer cell lines. The present study aimed to establish a breast carcinoma experimental animal model and investigate the potential pharmacological effect of açaí on breast cancer. Forty female Wistar rats were randomized into two groups: treated with 200 mg/kg of açaí extract or vehicle, via gastric tube for 16 consecutive weeks. (...)