nutrition facts

A recently completed University of Florida study has added to the buzz surrounding the Brazilian acai berry. The study is one of the first to research the many claims attributed to the acai fruit.

In it's study
six different chemical extracts were made from acai berry pulp
and each extract was prepared in seven concentrations.

At least 4 of the extracts killed a great many cancer cells when applied for 24 hours or more. Anywhere from 35 percent to 86 percent of the cancer cells were destroyed
depending on the particular extract and concentration.

According to Stephen Talcott
an assistant professor with UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
the study showed extracts from acai berries triggered a self-destruct response (apoptosis) in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested

Talcott
however
cautioned against reading too much into the results
noting that the tests were run against cancer cell cultures and not on human test subjects.

Still
the results are exciting. In the last year
the Brazilian berry has really taken off in the United States. It has also caught the attention of many companies who are now creating products that include the acai berry.

Although
acai berries are thought to be one of the richest fruit sources of antioxidants
other antioxidant rich fruits have been shown to kill cancer cells in similar studies.

Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage is theorized to be one of the main causes of cancer. A sufficient amount of antioxidants are thought by many to short-circuit this process by interacting with and stabilizing the free radicals and may stopping the damage that they do to healthy cells.

Experts are divided on just what effect antioxidants have on cancer cells in the human body
because of the many other lifestyle factors that have to be factored into the equation.

Many anecdotal claims have been made for the acai berry. And traditionally Indians in the Brazilian rain forest have used it in ways as diverse as food
house thatching
drink
diarrhea
jaundice
fevers
and as treatment for many other health diseases.

The University of Florida study is a welcome step towards getting away from some of the claims of acai and subjecting it to controlled studies.

"A lot of claims are being made
but most of them haven't been tested scientifically
Talcott said.
We are just beginning to understand the complexity of the acai berry and its health-promoting effects."