Investigation of the differences between the “Cold” and “Hot” nature on immune endocrine metabolism levels of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.)

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) has emerged as a source of herbs in South America [1]. According to the theory of traditional Chinese herbal properties we hypothetically describe the Chinese herbal properties of Açaí [2]. The description and differentiation of the “Cold” and “Hot” natures of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) [3], have various pharmacological actions on serum metabolites [4]. In this study, the divergency between the “Cold” and the “Hot” natures was investigated through examining the metabolites of rats affected by hydrocortisone (HYD) and dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP). In TCM theory, DSP-induced rats express “Hot”, which were i.p. injection of DSP at the dose of 0.35 mg/kg per day for 21 days. While HYD-induced rats express “Cold”, which were induced by i.p. injection of HYD at the dose of 20 mg/kg per day for 21 days [5]. Phellodendri chinensis cortex (a “cold” TCM) and Cortex cinnamomi (a traditional “hot” TCM) served as the positive control. Therefore, the principle for the treatment is to warm and cool the organism. Furthermore, the rats with DSP-induced or HYD-induced rats were administered orally, starting from the 7thday, with Acaí at the dose of 1.6 g/kg and 0.8 g/kg for 14 days. Besides, blood samples were collected for the radioimmunoassay to determine the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), cortisol (COR), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), free fatty acids (FFA), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (HL), Immunoglobulin G (IgG), Immunoglobulin M (IgM), complement C3(C3), complement C4 (C4) in two different model were detected by radioimmunoassay. Our results demonstrated that Acaí increased serum levels of CORT, T, IgG, IgM, C3 in DSP-induced rats. In addition, Acaí decreased the levels of cGMP, cAMP, cAMP/cGMP, E2, NEFA, LPL, HL and C4. However, Acaí have no obviously effect on these targets in HYD-induced rats. Pharmacological verified the Chinese herbal properties “cold” of Acaí.