Avaliação da toxidade e efeitos antidiabéticos de um extrato aquoso das sementes torradas de açaí

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic syndrome that directly impacts on the daily lives of those affected. The use of "açaí coffee" by riverside communities to treat diabetes sparked interest in research into the antidiabetic effects of açaí seeds. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and antidiabetic effects of an extract of roasted açaí seeds (ESA) in an experimental murine model. The seeds were obtained in the municipality of Careiro, Amazonas, and underwent cleaning, drying, roasting, and grinding. The powder was then granulometrically determined and determined to be a fine powder with a particle size of 462.5µm, a moisture content of 8.40%, and a dry residue of 0.1179g. The ESA was obtained from an infusion of colloidal silicon dioxide in a spray dryer, yielding 0.4% after drying. The percentages of protein, fiber, and ash were 4.32 ± 0.04, 5.25 ± 0.05, and 5.2 ± 0.79%, respectively. The pulverized ESA was chemically characterized and showed a phenol and flavonoid content of 6.21 ± 0.29 and 5.15 ± 3.9%, respectively. Epicatechin was quantified by HPLC at a concentration of 3.5%. In the evaluation of in vitro biological activities, ESA showed DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity in a concentration-dependent manner; however, it did not show the ability to inhibit glycation by the oxidative and non-oxidative pathways. ESA was also unable to significantly inhibit the enzymes α-glucosidase, lipase, and α-amylase. ESA did not interfere with the viability of human fibroblasts even at higher concentrations. ESA was not toxic when administered orally at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg in a zebrafish model. It also did not cause changes such as hemorrhage, lysis, or coagulation in the chorioallantoic membrane of hen eggs. It did not cause any deaths when administered by gavage at a dose of 2000 mg/kg in mice. In the hypoglycemic assay, diabetic mice were treated orally with ESA for 28 days at two different doses: 200 and 400 mg/kg. At the end of the experiment, both doses were able to reduce blood glucose levels compared to the untreated group. This study explores the toxicological aspects of roasted açaí seed extract for the first time, demonstrating that it appears to be safe for human use. The study also demonstrated the hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extract of roasted açaí seeds, corroborating the popular use of "açaí coffee." The results presented here may serve as a basis for future studies exploring the toxicity and efficacy of foods based on roasted açaí seeds. Keywords: Acai, roasted seeds, aqueous extract; toxicity; diabetes