Evaluation on hot/cold drug property of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) by cytological study methods

• Main Authors: Wei-Ming Lin, Wen-Jing Wu, Zi-Chen Wang, Wen-Ting Fei, Jian-Jun Zhang, Ping Xiong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
• Series: World Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Subjects: Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.); hot/cold drug property; cytological study
• Online Access: http://www.wjtcm.net/article.asp?issn=2311-8571;year=2018;volume=4;issue=3;spage=112;epage=120;aulast=Lin

Objective: To determine the hot/cold of South American Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.). Materials and Methods: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to compare the influence of Açaí and phellodendron bark (Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis) on the growth and proliferation of HepG2 and Hep3B cell strains. The morphological changes of the two cell strains treated with Açaí and C. Phellodendri were observed using an inverted phase contrast microscope. Trypan blue dye exclusion assay was used to compare and analyze the toxicity effects of Açaí. The content of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and the ratio of NADH/NAD+ of the treated cells were detected using a spectrophotometer to determine the influence of Açaí to the energy metabolism of the two cell strains. Results: Within the range of measured concentrations, both Açaí and C. Phellodendri displayed separately the stronger inhibitory effects on cell growth, proliferation, and energy metabolism of the two cell strains. By MTT assay, Açaí showed significant (P < 0.05) or highly significant (P < 0.01) inhibitory effects on cell proliferation within the concentration range of 0.25–40 μg/mL, which was similar to the effects of C. Phellodendri. From the results of microscopic examination, the morphological of lower cell density, attenuated granularity, and more outstretched cells in irregular polygonal shape could be observed in the cells treated with Açaí, which was also similar to that of C. Phellodendri. In trypan blue staining assay, all concentrations of Açaí showed negligible toxicity effects, exactly as that of C. Phellodendri. Açaí showed a highly significant effect of decreasing the content of intracellular NADH as well as the ratio of NADH/NAD+ (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: The effect of Açaí on HepG2 and Hep3B strains just as C. Phellodendri can reduce energy metabolism and inhibit the growth and proliferation. All performance characteristics of two cell strains treated with Açaí belong to that characteristic of cold property drug. From the study results, we can deduce that the drug property of Açaí is cold.