Anti-inflammatory and Anti-tumorigenic Effects of Açai Berry in Helicobacter felis-infected mice

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic effect of açai berry after chronic Helicobacter felis colonization in the stomachs of C57BL/6 mice. METHODS: A total of 57 four-week-old female C57BL/6 mice (18 control mice and 39 experimental mice) were used. The mice were administered orogastrically with vehicle only or vehicle containing H. felis, 5 times every other day. After inoculation of H. felis, mice were fed either a standard or an açai-containing diet and then sacrificed at 4, 24, and 52 weeks. The infection status and degree of inflammation were determined by culture and histopathology. The level of gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO), TNF-α, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: At 24 weeks after inoculation, mucosal atrophy and mucous metaplasia appeared in all infected mice. At 52 weeks after inoculation, dysplastic change was noted in 10%, 25%, and 50% of mice in the H. felis-control, H. felis-açai 5%, and H. felis-açai 10% groups, respectively. The neutrophil, monocyte, atrophy, and metaplasia grades of infected mice showed no significant difference among the H. felis-infected groups. H. felis-infected mice fed with açai berry showed no significant difference compared with H. felis-infected control mice in gastric mucosal MPO, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels. CONCLUSIONS: H. felis that colonized the stomachs of C57BL/6 mice provoked inflammation, and induced mucosal atrophy, metaplasia, and dysplasia. However, açai berry did not effectively prohibit the gastric carcinogenesis which was induced by chronic H. felis infection.

Forest biomass and wood consumption In the lower course of the Amazon: a case study of rhe Urubueua Island

Várzea and terra-firme forests in the lower course of the Amazon were compared in terms of forest structure, wood volume increments and forest biomass. The wood volume of várzea forests was smaller than that of terra-firme forests, particularly when severe human intervention such as the cultivation of açaí palm occurred. The difference was even greater in the forest weight comparison because of the lower wood density of várzea trees. These trees are not directly influenced by water stress during the dry season, while late wood with a high density is formed in the terra-firme trees. The annual forest disappearance area due to firewood for tile factories was estimated to be about 276 ha on the island investigated, which had an area of 36,200 ha. Assuming that the forests are rotatively cultivated every 25 to 30 years, the total deforestation area is 6,870-6,948 ha in 25 years and 8,244~8,337 ha in 30 years. This result means that the balance between forest biomass and utilization is not in crisis, however, this balance might be lost as long as substitutive energy such as electricity is not supplied.

Florestas de várzea e de terra-firme na foz do Amazonas foram comparadas, com relação à sua estrutura, incrementos de volume madeireiro e biomassa florestal. O volume madeireiro de floresta de várzea é menor que o de florestas de terra-firme, especialmente quando se considera a intervenção humana (o cultivo da palmeira açaí) na referida análise. Esta diferença é ampliada na comparação de peso florestal, pelo fato das árvores de várzea apresentarem uma baixa densidade madeireira. As árvores de florestas de várzea não são diretamente influenciadas pela escassez característica do período prolongado de seca, devido a madeira de alta densidade ser formada em árvores de terra-firme. Na ilha em estudo, cuja área é de 36.200 ha, o desaparecimento anual da área florestal devido às queimadas provocadas pelas olarias, é cerca de 276 ha. Assumindo-se que as florestas têm um período de rotação de 25 a 30 anos, a área total deflorestada está entre 6.87-69480 ha/25 anos a 8.244-8.337 ha/30 anos. Este resultado demonstra que o balanço entre a biomassa e sua utilização não está em crise; entretanto este balanço pode sofrer alterações, caso não sejam substituídos os meios de produção de energia na região.