acai

General

Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.

Pronunciation:
ah-sah-ee

Trade Name(s)

• acai berry
• acai extract
• acai fruit
• amazon acai
• cabbage palm

Ther. Class.

lipid-lowering agents

Common Uses

• Hypercholesterolemi.
• Osteoarthritis, erectile dysfunction, weight loss and obesity, detoxification, aging skin, and metabolic syndrome.

Action

In vitro, acai pulp and skin powder has potent antioxidant activity against superoxide and peroxyl radical. It also inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 in vitro.

Therapeutic Effect(s):

Reduced total cholesterol levels.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Unknown.

Distribution: Unknown.

Metabolism and Excretion: Unknown.

Half-life: Unknown.

TIME/ACTION PROFILE

Contraindication/Precautions

Contraindicated in:

• No known contraindications.

Use Cautiously in:

Pregnancy.

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

Misc: None reported.

* CAPITALS indicate life-threatening.
Underline indicate most frequent.

Interactions

Natural Drug Interaction

None reported.

Natural-Natural:

None reported.

Route/Dosage

PO (Adults): 100 g acai pulp twice daily for metabolic syndrome.

Availability

Acai Smoothie Pack: 100 g acai pulp

Assessment

• Assess areas relevant to rationale for taking acai.

Potential Diagnoses

• Deficient knowledge, related to medication regimen (Patient/Family/Teaching) 

Implementation

• As a food, the acai berry is eaten raw and as a juice. The juice is also used commercially as a beverage and in ice cream, jelly, and liqueurs.

Patient/Family Teaching

• Discuss with patient purpose for taking acai.
• Advise patient to notify health care professional of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and to consult with health care professional before taking other medications.
• Advise female patient to notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breastfeeding.

Evaluation/Desired Outcomes

• Decrease in cholesterol.
• Evaluate based on rationale for taking acai.