Comparative Evaluation of Ethanolic Extracts Obtained From the Seeds of White and Black Açai Exhibit Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Activity In Vitro

The açai fruit (Euterpe oleracea) is valued for bioactive properties beyond nutrition, with its seed typically discarded as waste. This study evaluated ethanolic extracts from black (BA) and white (WA) açai seeds for antioxidant, cytotoxic, cytoprotective, and genotoxic activities in vitro. Using DPPH, MTT, and micronucleus assays on normal (MNP01) and gastric adenocarcinoma (ACP02) cell lines, both extracts showed antioxidant activity (BA ∼30% more effective than WA). Neither cytotoxic nor genotoxic effects were observed, but both exhibited cytoprotective properties in short-term assays. In clonogenic assays, BA (200 µg/mL) inhibited colony formation in both lines but did not interfere with cisplatin's efficacy. The findings suggest açai seed extracts offer transient cytoprotection, likely due to phenolic content and free radical scavenging, warranting further study for potential therapeutic applications.