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Comparative Analysis of Phenolic Content and Profile, Antioxidant Capacity, and Anti-inflammatory Bioactivity in Wild Alaskan and Commercial Vaccinium Berries
Abstract
Wild Alaskan Vaccinium berries, V. vitis-idaea (lowbush cranberry) and V. uliginosum (bog blueberry), were investigated in parallel to their commercial berry counterparts; V. macrocarpon (cranberry) and V. angustifolium (lowbush blueberry). Lowbush cranberry accumulated about twice the total phenolics (624.4 mg/100 g FW) and proanthocyanidins (278.8 mg/100 g) content as commercial cranberries, but A-type proanthocyanidins were more prevalent in the latter. Bog blueberry anthocyanin and total phenolic contents of 220 and 504.5 mg/100 g, respectively, significantly exceeded those of the lowbush blueberry. Chlorogenic acid, however, was quite high in lowbush blueberry (83.1 mg/100 g), but undetected in bog blueberry, and the proanthocyanidins of lowbush blueberry had significantly higher levels of polymerization. Antioxidant capacity (DPPH, APTS and FRAP) correlated with phenolic content for each berry. A polyphenol-rich fraction from lowbush cranberry exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of LPS-elicited induction of IL-1β in RAW 264.7 cells, indicative of strong anti-inflammatory activity. These results corroborate the historic use of wild Alaskan berries as medicinally-important foods in Alaska Native communities.
... However, there is some variation between the content and profile of the phenolics in lingonberry fruit, depending on the region they grow in, cultivar, growing environment, ripening stage, weather, soil conditions, and extraction methods. The total phenolics content in wild lingonberry growing in Alaska was in the range of 624.4 mg/100 g FW [18], while lingonberry grown in the forests in central Poland had total phenolics in the range of 582-760 mg/100 g FW for the ethanol-water extract and 436-636 mg/100 g FW for the water extract [19]. The solubility of phenolics is higher in alcohols; thus, for the ethanol-water extract, higher results were obtained [19]. ...
... In cultivated lingonberries (US), the total anthocyanin (ACN) content ranged from 27.4 to 52.6 mg/100 g, depending on the cultivar [16], while total anthocyanins in wild fruits were in the range of 33-47 mg/100 g FW in Poland [19] and 77.5 mg/100 g FW for berries grown in Finland [21]. The highest ACN concentration accumulated in lingonberry from Alaska (194.6 mg/100 g FW) [18]. The total flavonoids content in wild lingonberry from Poland ranged from 522-647 μmol/100 g FW for the ethanol-water extract and 255-353 μmol/100 g FW for the water extract (Poland) [19]. ...
... The total flavonoids content in wild lingonberry from Poland ranged from 522-647 μmol/100 g FW for the ethanol-water extract and 255-353 μmol/100 g FW for the water extract (Poland) [19]. Proanthocyanidins (PAC) exhibited the highest levels in wild Alaskan lingonberry (278.8 mg/100 g FW), which was comparable to the PAC content of the same species in Finland (260 mg/100 g FW) [18,22]. Anthocyanin glycosides, the pigments responsible for the blue and red colors in berries, are the most abundant phenolic compounds in lingonberries. ...
Berries, especially members of the Ericaceae family, are among the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial health effects. The most popular berries are in the genus Vaccinium, such as bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon, V. oxycoccos), and blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) is less prevalent in the daily human diet because they are collected from the wild, and plant breeding of lingonberry is still on a small scale. Lingonberries are classed as “superfruits” with the highest content of antioxidants among berries and a broad range of health-promoting effects. Many studies showed various beneficial effects of lingonberries, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Lingonberries have been shown to prevent low-grade inflammation and diet-induced obesity in diabetic animals. Moreover, lingonberry intake has been associated with a beneficial effect on preventing and treating brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders. The consumption of berries and their health-promoting activity is a subject receiving a great deal of attention. Many studies investigated the natural compounds found in berries to combat diseases and promote healthy aging. This article’s scope is to indicate the potential beneficial effect of lingonberry consumption on health, to promote well-being and longevity.
... Previous studies have reported a CTF of 0.767 ± 0.026 mg QE/g DW in V. myrtillus fruits and 0.875 ± 0.083 mg QE/g DW in 'Bluegold' [61], which is lower than that in V. leucanthum (84 and 82%, respectively). Research has reported that the higher the CTF, the greater the antioxidant response [62,63], which could benefit the consumer. ...
... In V. corymbosum, 79.42 µmol TE/g DW was reported [82], which was 63% higher than that presented in 'Biloxi' but 17% lower than that reported in V. myrtillus (250 µmol ET/g DW) [59]. Regarding the ABTS •+ method, used to analyze both hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants [63], the highest antioxidant activity was found in 'Biloxi' (Table 5), which was 51% higher than that found in V. leucanthum. Previous studies have reported 192.32 µmol TE/g DW in V. corymbosum [82] and 72.76 ± 6.5 µmol TE/g DW in 'Huron' [83], which were lower than those presented in 'Biloxi' fruit (26 and 72%, respectively). ...
Around 450 species of blueberries of the genus Vaccinium are known, of which some have gained preferential breeding, such as the ‘Biloxi’ variety. Some little studied species, such as Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl. located in Mexico, could be a potential source of bioactive compounds. In this study, the phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid content, hyperoside, phenols, flavonoids, tannins and total anthocyanins content) as well as the potential biological activity (antioxidant, antimicrobial, xanthine oxidase converting enzyme inhibition and angiotensin I inhibition) of Vaccinium leucanthum Schltdl. were studied, making a comparison with the Biloxi variety, which is the most widely cultivated one. The extract of V. leucanthum showed the highest content of flavonoids (4.853 ± 0.341 mg QE/g DW), total anthocyanins (0.303 ± 0.008 mg CGE/g DW), petunidin-3-glucoside (6.92 ± 0.12 mg PGE/g DW), malvidin-3-glucoside (11.80 ± 0.10 mg MGE/g DW) and hyperoside (5.137 ± 0.100 mg HE/g DW). It should be noted that V. leucanthum showed the same total tannin content and the same efficacy in the inhibition of Angiotensin I-converting enzyme as ‘Biloxi’, as well as the same antibacterial effect against the enterobacteria Salmonella choleraesuis ATCC 12022, Escherichia coli ATCC 12792and Shigella flexneri ATCC 10708. These findings demonstrate that V. leucanthum extracts could be an important source of preservatives as well as nutraceutical compounds for use in foods and medicines.
... In some communities, climate change is thought to have changed the distances required to travel for harvesting blueberries. 80 Bog blueberries are a very healthy food due to their extraordinarily high levels of antioxidants from anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds, [122][123][124] with especially high levels at higher latitudes. 125 They also have high levels of vitamin C. 126 Health benefits associated with bog blueberry consumption include prevention of cancer, vascular, and neurodegenerative diseases, 127,128 reduction of the risk of type 2 diabetes 129 and anti-inflammatory properties. ...
... 125 They also have high levels of vitamin C. 126 Health benefits associated with bog blueberry consumption include prevention of cancer, vascular, and neurodegenerative diseases, 127,128 reduction of the risk of type 2 diabetes 129 and anti-inflammatory properties. 123,128 Photo credit: K. Schroder. ...
In the “Berries in Alaska’s Changing Environment” series, we examine what we know about the impacts of climate change on our berry species based on scientific research and observations by community members across the state. We identify potential threats to the growth, health, and fruit production of each species. We also look at opportunities: ways that Alaskans may be able to preserve or even expand the availability of fruits. And third, we identify gaps in our knowledge that limit our current abilities to predict what will happen with our berry species. We hope this information will inspire berry lovers to find ways to take advantage of new opportunities, protect what we have, and adapt when that is not possible. The reports will look at growth, flowers, pollination, fruits and seeds, mutualists (like fungi that help plants obtain nutrients) and plant enemies (like herbivores and pathogens), briefly discuss human use, and highlight threats and opportunities for each aspect of the plant life cycle under a changing climate.
... The antioxidant capacity of the SP and Spirulina-polyphenol particles via DPPH • (2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-hydrazinyl method was determined according to a previous report [45]. Briefly, samples (100 µL) were mixed with 3.9 mL of freshly prepared DPPH solution (0.08 M in 95% ethanol). ...
... The antioxidant capacity of samples was estimated by the iron reduction method (FRAP), which is based on the ability of an antioxidant to reduce Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ . It was conducted according to a previous report using ferrous sulfate as the standard reference [45]. The antioxidant capacity results were expressed in mmol ferrous sulfate equivalent/g DW. ...
Spray drying (SD) microencapsulation of phytochemicals from berry pomaces with Spirulina protein (SP) was incorporated into a cosmeceutical topical formulation to mitigate pollution skin damage. Initially, microparticles produced with SP and polyphenols recovered from fruit pomaces (elderberry SP-EB and muscadine grape SP-MG) were characterized regarding physicochemical and phytochemical content (polyphenol load, carotenoid and phycocyanin contents and antioxidant activity). SP had low total phenolic content (7.43 ± 0.23 mg GAE/g DW), but complexation with elderberry or muscadine grape pomaces polyphenols led to a substantial increase (27.63 ± 1.15 SP-EB and 111.0 ± 2.6 mg GAE/g DW SP-MG). SP-MG particles had higher anthocyanin (26.87 ± 1.25 mg/g) and proanthocyanidin (9.02 ± 0.74 mg/g) contents compared to SP-EB particles. SP-MG were prioritized to prepare a topical gel to attenuate skin oxinflammatory markers and prevent skin barrier disruption using ex vivo human biopsies exposed to diesel engine exhaust (DEE). The immunofluorescence results showed increased oxidative protein damage and inflammation associated with impaired skin barrier function after DEE exposure while topical application of gel formulated with SP-MG mitigated these effects. Overall, this study demonstrated that protein-polyphenol complexation is a synergistic strategy to stabilize and deliver residual fruit/algae phytoactives into cosmeceutical products for skin health applications.
... where MW and ε are the molecular weight and molar absorptivity of cyanidin-3-Oglucoside, 449.2 g mol −1 and 26,900 L cm −1 mol −1 , respectively. Total proanthocyanin (PAC) concentration was measured using the 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC) method [34,35]. In a 96-well plate, 150 µL of 0.1% DMAC in acidified ethanol was added to 50 µL of BPE (1 mg mL −1 ) or proanthocyanidin A 2 (PA 2 ) standard (1-100 µg mL −1 ) dissolved in 80% ethanol. ...
... The total proanthocyanidin concentration was measured to be 19.39 ± 1.2 mg PAC A 2 equivalents per g extract. Each of these values is within the anticipated range based on previously published reports [35,[41][42][43]. ...
Polyphenols are widely known for their benefits to human health; however, dietary intake of this class of compounds is low in the United States due to low intake of fruits and vegetables. Dairy foods (i.e., milk, yogurt) have been shown to increase polyphenol bioavailability via protein–polyphenol interactions, which may have important implications for human health. Increasing consumer interest in sustainability and health has led to the introduction of a variety of novel plant-based proteins and related food products as dairy alternatives. This study compared whey, a popular dairy-based food protein, to pea and hemp proteins for their abilities to form complexes with polyphenols from blueberries, which are a widely consumed fruit in the US with demonstrated health effects. Physical and chemical characteristics of each protein extract in the presence and absence of blueberry polyphenols were investigated using a variety of spectroscopic methods. The influence of polyphenol complexation on protein digestion was also assessed in vitro. While all proteins formed complexes with blueberry polyphenols, the hemp and pea proteins demonstrated greater polyphenol binding affinities than whey, which may be due to observed differences in protein secondary structure. Polyphenol addition did not affect the digestion of any protein studied. Solution pH appeared to play a role in protein–polyphenol complex formation, which suggests that the effects observed in this model food system may differ from food systems designed to mimic other food products, such as plant-based yogurts. This study provides a foundation for exploring the effects of plant-based proteins on phytochemical functionality in complex, “whole food” matrices, and supports the development of plant-based dairy analogs aimed at increasing polyphenol stability and bioavailability.
... vitis-idaea), which are mostly utilized as a wild crop [1]. Cranberries and lingonberries share similarities in their red color ( Figure 1) as well as astringent taste, which are both affected by the abundance of phenolic compounds [2,3]. In addition to these similarities, they share closely related genomes [4,5]. ...
... In addition to these similarities, they share closely related genomes [4,5]. However, wild lingonberries generally contain higher level of phenolic compounds [2,3] and are more valued in the world market than cultivated cranberries and can therefore potentially be substituted by cranberries in products. Mislabeled and fraudulent lingonberry products with partial or total replacement with American cranberries have been reported [6,7]. ...
Berries of the genus Vaccinium are highly valued health-beneficial superfoods, which are commonly subjected to adulteration and mixed with each other, or with other common berry species. A quantitative DNA-based method utilizing a chip-based digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) technique was developed for identifying and quantifying wild lingonberry (V. vitis-idaea) and cultivated American cranberry (V. macrocarpon). The dPCR method with species-specific primers for mini-barcoding was designed based on the indel regions found in the trnI-CAU–trnL-CAA locus in the chloroplast genome. The designed primers were able to amplify only target species, enabling to distinguish the two closely related species with good sensitivity. Our results illustrated the ability of the method to identify lingonberry and American cranberry DNA using PCR without the need for probes or further sequencing. The dPCR method could also quantify the DNA copy number in mixed samples. Based on this study, the method provides a basis for a simple, fast, and sensitive quantitative authentication analysis of lingonberry and American cranberry by dPCR. Moreover, it can also provide a platform for authentication analyses of other plant species, as well by utilizing the indel regions of chloroplast genomes.
... Liu et al. found that triterpene compounds have lower antiradical activity, as assessed by the ABTS and DPPH methods, compared to phenolic compounds [39]. The antioxidant activity is thus closely related to the content of phenolic compounds [40]. The stronger antioxidant properties found in aqueous extracts OW and MW than in ethanolic extracts OE and ME were attributed to the higher content of phenolic compounds, which determined the stronger antioxidant activity under in vitro conditions. ...
The phytochemical diversity and potential health benefits of V. oxycoccos and V. macrocar-pon fruits call for further scientific inquiry. Our study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of extracts from these fruits and assess their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties in vitro. It was found that the ethanolic extracts of V. oxycoccos and V. macrocarpon fruits, which contained more lipophilic compounds, had 2-14 times lower antioxidant activity compared to the dry aqueous extracts of cranberry fruit, which contained more hydrophilic compounds. All tested cranberry fruit extracts (OE, OW, ME, and MW) significantly inhibited the growth of bacterial strains S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae in vitro compared to the control. Cytotoxic activity against the human prostate carcinoma PPC-1 cell line, human renal carcinoma cell line (CaKi-1), and human foreskin fibroblasts (HF) was determined using an MTT assay. Furthermore, the effect of the cranberry fruit extract samples on cell migration activity, cancer spheroid growth, and viability was examined. The ethanolic extract from V. macrocarpon fruits (ME) showed higher selectivity in inhibiting the viability of prostate and renal cancer cell lines compared to fibroblasts. It also effectively hindered the migration of these cancer cell lines. Additionally, the V. macrocarpon fruit extract (ME) demonstrated potent cytotoxicity against PPC-1 and CaKi-1 spheroids, significantly reducing the size of PPC-1 spheroids compared to the control. These findings suggest that cranberry fruit extracts, particularly the ethanolic extract from V. macrocarpon fruits, have promising potential as natural remedies for bacterial infections and cancer therapy.
... These berries, as well as their derivatives, have a high phenolic content (Sun et al., 2002;Vinson et al., 2008). For example, lowbush cranberries accumulate up to 6.2 mg/g fresh weight (FW) of total phenolics and 2.8 mg/g FW of PAs, which are much higher than blueberries (Grace et al., 2014). Although PAs are present in almost all berry fruits, PAs isolated from cranberry have an unusual A-type linkage structure. ...
A‐type proanthocyanidins (PAs) are a subgroup of PAs that differ from B‐type PAs by the presence of an ether bond between two consecutive constitutive units. This additional C–O–C bond gives them a more stable and hydrophobic character. They are of increasing interest due to their potential multiple nutritional effects with low toxicity in food processing and supplement development. They have been identified in several plants. However, the role of A‐type PAs, especially their complex polymeric form (degree of polymerization and linkage), has not been specifically discussed and explored. Therefore, recent advances in the physicochemical and structural changes of A‐type PAs and their functional properties during extraction, processing, and storing are evaluated. In addition, discussions on the sources, structures, bioactivities, potential applications in the food industry, and future research trends of their derivatives are highlighted. Litchis, cranberries, avocados, and persimmons are all favorable plant sources. Α‐type PAs contribute directly or indirectly to human nutrition via the regulation of different degrees of polymerization and bonding types. Thermal processing could have a negative impact on the amount and structure of A‐type PAs in the food matrix. More attention should be focused on nonthermal technologies that could better preserve their architecture and structure. The diversity and complexity of these compounds, as well as the difficulty in isolating and purifying natural A‐type PAs, remain obstacles to their further applications. A‐type PAs have received widespread acceptance and attention in the food industry but have not yet achieved their maximum potential for the future of food. Further research and development are therefore needed.
... In fact, antioxidant compounds have been demonstrated as presenting vasorelaxant and hypotensive activities (Estrada-Soto et al., 2021;Parsamanesh et al., 2021;Arias-Durán et al., 2021). Similar results have been demonstrated for in natura foods rich in phenolic compounds as grapes (Yang et al., 2022), strawberries (Ariza et al., 2016) and blueberries (Grace et al., 2014). Hymenaea showed similar total phenolic concentrations to some grape varieties with higher antioxidant capacity (Lutz et al., 2011;Yang et al., 2022). ...
We investigated the vasodilatory effects of Hymenaea rubriflora Ducke stem bark extract (HRHAc). Vascular reactivity of the aortic rings of Wistar rats was tested by in vitro cumulative doses (0.1 - 729 μg/mL). Rats (n=5) were treated with 25 (G25), 50 (G50) and 100 (G100) mg/kg of HR-HAc or saline (control group - CG) for four weeks. An in vitro assay resulted in dose-dependent relaxation of the aortic rings with functional endothelium, which was inhibited in the presence of L-NAME. Rings of the treated animals increased acetylcholine relaxing potency at all doses, with a greater effect on G50 (pD2 = 7.8±0.1, Emax = 95.6±1.1) and a decreased contractile potency to phenylephrine in G25 (pD2 = 6.9±0.06, Emax = 61.5±6.0%) and G50 (pD2= 6.6±0.06, Emax = 71.0±8.5%) when compared to the CG in the presence and absence of endothelium (pD2= 6.4± 0.1, 6.4±0.1 and 6.9±0.1, respectively). Cumulative doses of nitroprusside resulted in increased relaxing potency in all treated groups and maintained
Emax at 100%. It is concluded that HR-HAc has vasorelaxant capacity and inhibitory vascular contraction activity applied either directly to aortic rings or after treatment with in vivo supplementation, which places this extract as a potential nutraceutical or pharmacological agent for treating diseases associated with vascular dysfunction.
... A significant part of harvests is processed into various food products having longer shelf-life and pharmaceutical products (Bujor et al., 2018;Jin et al., 2019). Possessing potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial and neuroprotective potential (Grace et al., 2014;Isaak et al., 2017;Kelly et al., 2017), dietary consumption of fresh or processed lingonberries may reduce the risk or eliminate the development of metabolic (Kowalska et al., 2019), cardiovascular (Kivimäki et al., 2013), gastrointestinal (Brown et al., 2014), renal (Isaak et al., 2017) and neurodegenerative (Vyas et al., 2013) disorders. ...
In vitro propagation is an advanced vegetative propagation technology employed to produce a large number of high-quality plants in a limited time and space. Year- round production of relatively uniform disease and pest-free plants could be obtained using in vitro technologies. With the increasing demand for micropropagated plants, different micropropagation methods using both semi-solid and liquid media have been implemented. However, maintaining genotypic and phenotypic integrity sometimes becomes an issue in the plants regenerated by tissue culture. Due to alterations in the tissue culture microenvironment, plant cells pass through additional stress, which stimulates genetic and epigenetic instability in the genome of regenerated plants, leading to variations in the clones called somaclonal variation. In commercial micropropagation, the exclusion of such variants is a challenge. Several methods have been developed to detect variants in micropropagation, which can be achieved using morphological, biochemical or molecular markers. On the other hand, epigenetic variation mainly occurs due to cytosine methylation, which involves the transfer of a methyl group onto the cytosine’s 5th Carbon position to form 5-methylcytosine resulting in the turning on or off the gene. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing is a recent method utilized to identify the epigenetic variants with their relative position in the coding or non-coding regions in the genome. With the advancements in gene sequencing techniques and more information on the genome sequence being available, such variations can be utilized in plant improvement programs. In this review, tissue culture-induced variations in plants are highlighted, methods of detection of genetic and epigenetic variation are described, and the possible utilization of the tissue culture-induced variations in crop improvement programs are discussed, mainly focused on Vaccinium plants.
... Additionally, berry fruits contain phytochemicals like phenolic acids (hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acid), flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin), flavanols (catechins and epigallocatechin [EC]), anthocyanins (cyanidin glycosides and pelargonidin glucosides) and flavonoids like tangilanins. Anthocyanins responsible for the color of the fruit are found in abundant amounts in the skin of the fruit [15][16][17][18][19][20]. Due to these rich bioactive components, there is increasing demand for berry fruits in recent years. ...
Global climate change and possible drought scenarios have forced researchers, breeders and producers to create new plant patterns that will adapt to changing climate and soil conditions for production of horticultural plants in the future. Here, the most important topic is the shortening of the physiological growth period of plants due to abiotic stress. In other words, reductions experienced in both cooling needs and matu-ration periods cause negative impacts on flowering times and amounts, and this causes significant loss of yield. In recent years, the production of berry fruits that will adapt to drought conditions has attracted the attention of breeders and producers. The aim of this study is to discuss in detail the possibilities of producing berry fruits that are resistant to drought and negative climate conditions and to present research results and recommendations about this topic. In this study, the production opportunities in arid and negative climate conditions for the berry fruits of strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.), mulberry (Morus spp.), fig (Ficus carica L.), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.), choke-berry (Aronia melanocarpa L.), rosehip (Rosa canina L.), raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) were researched and recommendations are made about production methods for some varieties and types resistant to drought in berry fruit cultivation.
... The radical scavenging activity (RSA) of extracts was evaluated using the ABTS •+ radical cation assay. According to Grace et al. [39], species derived from Vaccinium, especially lingonberry, possess remarkable antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Lingonberries were found to have an ABTS •+ RSA ranging from 35.3 µmol TE/g fw (FIN L4 in 2020) to 88.8 µmol TE/g fw (NOR L3 in 2019) (Figure 8). ...
In recent years, much attention has been devoted to Vaccinium L. berries because of their substantial potential to be adapted for the development of innovative food and pharmaceutical applications. The accumulation of plant secondary metabolites is extremely dependent on climate and other environmental conditions. In order to increase the reliability of the findings, this study was conducted with samples collected in four regions in Northern Europe (Norway, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania) and analyzed in a single laboratory using a standardized methodology. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional (biologically active compounds (phenolic (477–775 mg/100 g fw), anthocyanins (20–57 mg/100 g fw), pro-anthocyanidins (condensed tannins (141–269 mg/100 g fw)) and antioxidant activity in different systems (ABTS•+, FRAP). Physicochemical properties (acidity, soluble solids, color) of wild Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. were also evaluated. The results may contribute to the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals with potential health benefits in the future. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive report on the evaluation of the biologically active compounds of wild lingonberries from different Northern European countries based on one laboratory’s validated methods. The results indicated a geomorphological influence on the biochemical and physicochemical composition of wild Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. depending on their place of geographical origin.
... However, catechin, a B-type dimer, and an A-type dimer could be quantified. Chemical composition of ripe lingonberries has been investigated in several publications, and the composition of anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols were in line to what has been previously reported [7,15,36,[38][39][40][41][42]. Table 3. Content of phenolic compounds in lingonberries picked at five ripening stages a . ...
Wild lingonberries are a traditional source of food in the Nordic countries and an important contributor to economic activity of non-wood forest products in the region. Lingonberries are a rich source of bioactive compounds and can be a valuable contributor to a healthy diet. However, there are few studies available on how the bioactive compounds in lingonberries develop as they ripen. In this investigation, we examined the content of 27 phenolic compounds, three sugars, four organic acids, and 71 volatile organic compounds at five ripening stages. The study showed that, while the highest content of phenolic compounds was found early in the development, the organoleptic quality of the fruits improved as they ripened. From the first to the last stage of development, anthocyanins went from being nearly absent to 100 mg/100 g fw, and there was an increased content of sugars from 2.7 to 7.2 g/100 g fw, whereas the content of organic acids decreased from 4.9 to 2.7 g/100 g fw, and there were several changes in the profile of volatiles. The contents of flavonols, cinnamic acid derivatives, flavan-3-ols, and the total concentration of phenolic compounds were significantly lower in the fully ripe berries compared to berries in the early green stage. In addition to the changes occurring due to ripening, there was observed variation in the profile of both phenolic compounds and volatiles, depending on the growth location of the berries. The present data are useful for the assessment of harvest time to obtain the desired quality of lingonberries.
... This activity was also observed for extracts obtained from other species rich in pro-anthocyanidin derivatives, which were present in a higher content in PL3 compared to PL1 and PL2. Some examples are extracts of cranberry [51], blueberry [52], elderberry [48], or grape [53]. Similarly, Musa acuminata extracts, rich in acetylated p-coumaroyl sucrose derivatives, such as various mumeoses and prunoses, also produced anti-inflammatory activity [54]. ...
Prunus lusitanica L. is a shrub belonging to the genus Prunus L. (Rosaceae family) that produces small fruits with none known application. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the phenolic profile and some health-promoting activities of hydroethanolic (HE) extracts obtained from P. lusitanica fruits, harvested from three different locations. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of extracts was performed using HPLC/DAD-ESI-MS and antioxidant activity was assessed by in vitro methods. Antiproliferative/cytotoxic activity was determined on Caco-2, HepG2, and RAW 264.7 cells, anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and the antidiabetic, antiaging, and neurobiological action of extracts was determined in vitro by assessing their inhibitory effect against the activity of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, elastase, tyrosinase, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Results showed that P. lusitanica fruit HE extracts from the three different locations showed identical phytochemical profile and bioactivities, although small differences were observed regarding the quantities of some compounds. Extracts of P. lusitanica fruits contain high levels in total phenolic compounds, namely, hydroxycinnamic acids, as well as flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins, primarily cyanidin-3-(6-trans-p-coumaroyl)glucoside. P. lusitanica fruit extracts have a low cytotoxic/antiproliferative effect, with the lowest IC50 value obtained in HepG2 cells (352.6 ± 10.0 μg/mL, at 48 h exposure), but high anti-inflammatory activity (50–60% NO release inhibition, at 100 μg/mL extract) and neuroprotective potential (35–39% AChE inhibition, at 1 mg/mL), and moderate antiaging (9–15% tyrosinase inhibition, at 1 mg/mL) and antidiabetic (9–15% α-glucosidase inhibition, at 1 mg/mL) effects. The bioactive molecules present in the fruits of P. lusitanica deserve to be further explored for the development of new drugs of interest to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.
... Lingonberry samples from Alaska had phenolic compounds of 624.4 mg/100 g FW (Grace et al., 2014). Lingonberry contains three major anthocyanins: cyanidin-3-galactoside (79%), cyanidin-3-glucoside (10%), and cyanidin-3-arabinoside (11%); its total content in cultivated lingonberry cultivars from Oregon was 27.4 to 51.6 mg/100 g FW (Lee & Finn, 2012). ...
A review using the information on the problem in domestic and foreign sources of literature was carried out. Selected wild berries of Yakutia in their composition contain anthocyanins, flavanols and other biologically active compounds with experimentally proven anticancer effect in vitro against breast cancer cells. It has been noted that there is an insufficient study of wild berries as preventive agents against breast cancer. Experimental studies have proven the role of lingonberry in inhibiting the development of carcinogen-induced epithelial cancer, and cell culture of lingonberry and cloudberry can reduce the viability and proliferative activity of breast cancer cells. It is recommended to conduct researches on the effect of extracts, juice of northern berries on the development of breast cancer cell culture and find out their possible preventive and therapeutic effect.
... However, catechin, a B-type dimer, and an A-type dimer could be quantified. Chemical composition of ripe lingonberries has been investigated in several publications, and the composition of anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols were in line to what has been previously reported [7,15,36,[38][39][40][41][42]. Table 3. Content of phenolic compounds in lingonberries picked at five ripening stages a . ...
Lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) from two locations, northern (69°N, 18°E) and southern (59°N, 10°E) Norway, were grown under controlled conditions in a phytotron at two temperatures (9 and 15 °C) to study the effects of the ripening temperature and origin on the chemical composition of the berries. The concentrations of phenolic compounds, sugars, and organic acids as well as the profile of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were determined using chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. Five anthocyanins, eleven flavonols, eight cinnamic acid derivatives, three flavan-3-ols, three sugars, three organic acids, and 77 VOCs were identified, of which 40 VOCs had not previously been reported in lingonberries. Berries from both locations, were found to have higher contents of anthocyanins and cinnamic acid derivatives when ripened at lower temperature (9 °C), compared to the higher temperature (15 °C). Lingonberries of northern origin had a different VOC profile and higher contents of anthocyanins and organic acids than berries originating from the south. Lingonberries from the northern location also had higher proportions of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside than lingonberries from the southern location. The results show that the composition of lingonberries is influenced by both the environment and the origin of the plants, with phenolic compounds mainly influenced by the growth temperature and VOCs mainly influenced by plant origin.
... A significant part of harvests is processed into various food products having longer shelf-life and pharmaceutical products (Bujor et al., 2018;Jin et al., 2019). Possessing potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial and neuroprotective potential (Grace et al., 2014;Isaak et al., 2017;Kelly et al., 2017), dietary consumption of fresh or processed lingonberries may reduce the risk or eliminate the development of metabolic (Kowalska et al., 2019), cardiovascular (Kivimäki et al., 2013), gastrointestinal (Brown et al., 2014), renal (Isaak et al., 2017) and neurodegenerative (Vyas et al., 2013) disorders. ...
Micropropagation is an advanced vegetative propagation technology used to produce a large number of high-quality plants in limited time and space and has been used extensively in Vaccinium species. Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) is a health-promoting fruit crop containing a high number of antioxidant properties. Different types of medium and bioreactors are available to produce high-quality propagation material. However, the effectiveness of the propagation system is not the same for different species. Here we compare the shoot proliferation of two lingonberry genotypes on a semi-solid medium and in two liquid cultures consisting of stationary bioreactor and temporary immersion bioreactor systems. Shoot regeneration from leaf explants was achieved on an agar gelled semi-solid medium containing 1 mg L‑1 zeatin, keeping two weeks in the dark and six weeks under the light. Nodal segments obtained were evaluated for shoot proliferation on a semi-solid medium and in a liquid medium using a stationary bioreactor or temporary immersion bioreactor system after eight weeks of culture. Shoots explant‑1 and leaves shoot‑1 were counted, shoot height was measured, shoot vigour was scored, and hyperhydric plants were expressed in percentage. Cultures in a liquid medium producing 3-4 times more number shoots than on a semi-solid medium were found to be effective for shoot proliferation. However, there were differences between the bioreactors in the liquid cultures for some parameters, and the effect was genotype specific.
... Tannins have important physiological activities such as free radical scavenging and inhibition of pro-oxidative enzymes and lipid peroxidation (Koleckar et al. 2008). Terpenoids reduces diastolic blood pressure and sugar level in the blood (Grace et al. 2014). All phytochemicals have medicinal properties and are useful against various kinds of diseases. ...
Two species of the genus Bacopa (B. monnieri and B. procumbens) were studied for examination of cytomorphological and palynological characteristics as well as the screening of phytochemical from the Malwa region of Punjab during the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. Primarily both species are differentiated based on morphological features then identity was authenticated by examination of chromosome number. There is a great difference in chromosome number between the two species (B. monnieri, 2n=64; B. procumbens, 2n=22). Pollen size of B. monnieri is larger (22.5 × 21.25 μm to 27.5 ×25 μm) with less viability (77.87%) whereas in case of B. procumbens pollen size is small (15 × 13.75 μm to 17.5 × 16.25 μm) with high viability (88.75%). The phytochemicals of both species are almost similar with minor variations. This study will be helpful for scientists in the identification of these important medicinal plant species. The phytochemical profile throws light on medicinally important compounds which will be utilized by pharmaceutical departments for the development of appropriate drugs.
... In that study, procyanidin B2 was found to enhance the expression of Arg-1, found in inflammatory zone 1 (Fizz1), and chitinase-3-like protein 3 (Ym1) in RAW 264.7 macrophages [47], supporting the current data. In addition, there are two studies in which proanthocyanidin-rich lingonberry extracts have been investigated in LPS-treated murine macrophages and found to suppress M1-type activation [48,49]. Moderate inhibition of M1-type macrophage activation by proanthocyanidins was found also in the present study; however, most importantly, the enhancing effect of proanthocyanidins on M2 activation was discovered, and it is likely to contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of lingonberry supplementation found previously in obesity models. ...
Macrophages are pleiotropic immune cells whose phenotype can polarize towards the pro-inflammatory M1 or anti-inflammatory M2 direction as a response to environmental changes. In obesity, the number of macrophages in adipose tissue is enhanced, and they shift towards the M1 phenotype. Activated M1 macrophages secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines involved in the development of systemic low-grade inflammation, complicating obesity. Polyphenols are widely found in the vegetable kingdom and have anti-inflammatory properties. We and others have recently found that lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) supplementation is able to prevent the development of low-grade inflammation and its metabolic consequences in experimentally induced obesity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of twelve phenolic compounds known to be present in lingonberry (resveratrol, piceid, quercetin, kaempferol, proanthocyanidins, delphinidin, cyanidin, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid) on macrophage polarization, which is a meaningful mechanism determining the low-grade inflammation in obesity. Mouse J774 and human U937 macrophages and commercially available phenolic compounds were used in the studies. Three of the twelve compounds investigated showed an effect on macrophage polarization. Resveratrol, kaempferol, and proanthocyanidins enhanced anti-inflammatory M2-type activation, evidenced as increased expression of Arg-1 and MRC-1 in murine macrophages and CCL-17 and MRC-1 in human macrophages. Resveratrol and kaempferol also inhibited pro-inflammatory M1-type activation, shown as decreased expression of IL-6, NO, and MCP-1 in murine macrophages and TNF-α and IL-6 in human macrophages. In the further mechanistic studies, the effects of the three active compounds were investigated on two transcription factors important in M2 activation, namely on PPARγ and STAT6. Resveratrol and kaempferol were found to enhance PPARγ expression, while proanthocyanidins increased the phosphorylation of STAT6. The results suggest proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, and kaempferol as active constituents that may be responsible for the positive anti-inflammatory effects of lingonberry supplementation in obesity models. These data also extend the previous knowledge on the anti-inflammatory effects of lingonberry and encourage further studies to support the use of lingonberry and lingonberry-based products as a part of a healthy diet.
... [252] Solanum betaceum Cav. Not mentioned Suppresses formalin and acetic acid-induced inflammation in mice [286] Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton Phenolic acids Decreases the activation of nuclear factor-κB and inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) [282] Vaccinium uliginosum L. Fraction rich in polyphenol Suppresses interleukin-1 induction in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells [287] Ziziphus mistol Griseb. Not documented ...
The Himalayan region supports a wide diversity of flora and fauna; hence it is home to many natural resources. Despite this, the people living here are struggling for essential needs such as food and nutrition. However, in Himalayan region, wild plants and their fruits contribute significantly to the livelihood of local people and communities. Several studies recommended that Himalayan wild fruits possess significant biologically active compounds, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. In addition, the presence of secondary metabolites in these plants gives them a prominent place in traditional medicinal systems. However, detailed investigation of health-promoting effects, chemical composition, and nutraceutical profiling is lacking in the variety of Himalayan wild fruits. Therefore, this review article will explore the information about wild edible fruits, such as health-promoting effects, chemical composition, and nutraceutical profiling in the Himalayan region. In this context, a detailed search was done through different search engines including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and Google Scholar. Specific keywords were used to explore available data about Himalayan wild fruits. Several Himalayan wild fruits like Berberis asiatica, Celtis australis, Ficus palmata, Fragaria indica, Morus alba, Myrica esculenta, Phyllanthus emblica, Prunus armeniaca, etc. showed presence of important bioactive compounds responsible for different therapeutic activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anticancer, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, etc. These fruits also possess high nutraceutical value. Hence this study presents detailed information about wild edible fruits which will be helpful in future for researchers, food industries, pharmaceutical industries, and several other government and non-government organisations in developing strategies to ensure food security by using these important wild fruits.
... and 2.7-4.0% of the total quantified procyanidins, highbush blueberries and lowbush blueberries contained abundant of polymerics of 71.7% to 78.4% [42]. However, different researches revealed the 11 ± 0.7% and 24 ± 1.5% for monomers and dimers in blueberries [14], 32.4% and 25.1% for monomers and procyanidins with DP > 8 [43]. ...
The fruit-based dietary supplement business is flourishing, and many plant bioactive compounds exhibit beneficial effects on health. Polyphenols, including anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavanols, phenolic acids and flavanols in bilberry, blueberry and chokeberry, are the bio-factors that determine the biological activities of the three berries. Many reports on phenolic compounds and their biological activities in berries have been published. Therefore, it is urgent to make a systematic comparison among them. We reviewed these scientific researches about phenolic substances including their compositions, contents and bioavailability from the bilberry, blueberry and chokeberry. On this basis, the phenolic compounds regarding monomer components and their contents in the three berries were systematically summarized. Variations of anthocyanidins within interspecies and different families were explained. Biological properties including biostability and bioavailability of anthocyanin and prospects for further study on berries were contained.
... Vaccinium berries are widely praised worldwide for their medical value. Different countries have conducted systematic investigations on lingonberry berries, such as the United States (Grace et al., 2014), Canada (Kalt et al., 2008), Italy (Prencipe et al., 2014), and Finland (Latti et al., 2011). The results showed that wild lingonberry berries obviously had higher anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity than their varieties (Feng et al., 2016). ...
The application of Ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi is considered to be an important strategy for increasing plant yield and drought resistance. In this study, we isolated and identified two ErM fungi that can promote the growth of lingonberry. We tried to understand the potential of these two ErM fungi to promote the growth of lingonberry and the strategies to help plants cope with water shortage. The use value of ErM fungi was evaluated by inoculating Oidiodendron maius FC (OmFC) or Lachnum pygmaeum ZL6 (LpZL6), well-watered (WW) and severe drought stress (SDS). The results showed that the mycelium of LpZL6 was denser than that of OmFC, and both ErM fungi significantly increased the biomass of lingonberry stems and roots. They also significantly increased the chlorophyll content by 65.6 and 97.8%, respectively. In addition, inoculation with LpZL6 fungi can improve drought resistance, promote root growth and increase root wet weight by 1157.6%. Drought reduced the chlorophyll content and soluble sugar content of lingonberry but increased significantly after inoculation with LpZL6. Inoculation with LpZL6 decreased lingonberry’s malondialdehyde (MDA) content but increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Overall, these results indicated that the successful coexistence of ErM fungi and lingonberry alleviated the adverse effects of drought stress through higher secondary metabolites and photosynthetic pigment synthesis.
... So the majority of the human studies were moderate to high evidence quality.3.3. Blueberry's phenolic and anthocyanin content, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacityTotal phenolics and total Anthocyanin (ANC) content of BB is measured by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent 83,84 and pH differential spectrophotometric method,84,85 respectively. The majority of studies used highbush BB (50/50 mixture of tifblue [Vaccinium virgatum] and rubel [Vaccinium corymbosum]) and only three studies used lowbush BB (Vaccinium angustifolium).64,72,78 ...
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of interconnected disorders that puts a heavy burden on society. This study investigated the impact of blueberry (BB) supplementation on components of MetS. A systematic search for studies in Embase, Science Direct, Cochrane and PubMed was done. Interventions for at least 2 weeks and studies which investigated the effects of BB on components of MetS in human subjects were included. 25 studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. 21 studies were included in the meta-analysis and the remaining 4 studies in the systematic review. The time range of the assessed studies was from 2007 to 2021. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that BB had no significant effect on waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), glucose level and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); however, studies showed a significant improvement in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and insulin levels. In conclusion, the data in this meta-analysis show that BB supplementation is a beneficial option for the management of MetS in humans.
... Vaccinium berry fruits are widely known for their health benefits. These particular, berry species present high concentrations of antioxidants, including phenolic compounds, and the presence of specific, particularly potent polyphenolic compounds [31,32]. ...
Mastitis is the inflammation of one or several mammal lobes which can be accompanied by a mammary gland infection, and is the leading cause of undesired early weaning in humans. However, little information exists regarding the changes that this disease may induce in the biochemical composition of human milk, especially in terms of oxidative status. Given that newborns are subject to a significant increase in total ROS burden in their transition to neonatal life and that their antioxidant defense system is not completely developed, the aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant defense (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), total polyphenol content (TPP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) in milk samples from mothers suffering from mastitis and controls. We also measured the oxidative damage to lipids (malondyaldehyde (MDA)) and proteins (carbonyl group content (CGC)) in these samples. Finally, we tested whether dietary supplementation with cranberries (a product rich in antioxidants) in these breastfeeding mothers during 21 days could improve the oxidative status of milk. GPx activity, TPP, and TAC were increased in milk samples from mastitis-affected women, providing a protective mechanism to the newborn drinking mastitis milk. MDA concentrations were diminished in the mastitis group, confirming this proposal. Some oxidative damage might occur in the mammary gland since the CGC was increased in mastitis milk. Cranberries supplementation seems to strengthen the antioxidant system, further improving the antioxidative state of milk.
... It is a fruit species that attracts the attention of researchers, producers and consumers with its importance in human health and nutrition due to its delicious taste, pleasant flavour (Zia-Ul-Haq et al., 2014) and presence of basic nutrients, fiber, essential micronutrients, such as minerals, vitamins and various phenolic compounds (Souza et al., 2014). In blackberry, which can easily adapt to different ecological conditions, the fruit quality characteristics and bioactive compounds content, which determines the fruit's potential in terms of health and nutrition, can vary depending on the ecology in which it grows (Grace et al., 2014;Lila, 2006). However, these wild fruit species (Bell, 1995), which are the most important elements of biodiversity, are very valuable with their potential to be an important genetic resource for breeding studies. ...
The study was carried to determine the pomological, biochemical and antimicrobial properties of wild blackberry fruit, which we think that is different with its taste and fruit size in the Kelkit valley where is a very rich region in terms of biology diversity due to its different and favorable ecological conditions. At the harvest, 5 kg fruit was collected. Fruit was immediately transported at 10±1.0 °C and 80±5.0 for 2 h by frigorific vehicles to postharvest physiology laboratory of Horticulture Department of Ordu University. Pomological, biochemical and antimicrobial measurements and analyses were made on fruits. Fruit width, length, height and weight were 15.84 mm, 15.37 mm, 15.72 mm and 2.16 g respectively. In the study, the soluble solids content (SSC) ratio, titratable acidity and vitamin C concentration of the genotype was determined as 9.2%, 1.34% and 20.1 mg 100 g−1 FW respectively. Total phenolic content was 2158 mg GAE kg −1 FW, total flavonoid was 544 mg QE kg −1 FW, DPPH and FRAP (antioxidant activity) values were 2749 μmol TE kg −1 and 6379 μmol TE kg −1 respectively. The solution obtained in blackberry in the study had an antimicrobial effect on all bacteria and fungi. The highest antimicrobial activity against bacteria was obtained against Escherichia coli, while the lowest effect was against Klebsiella pneumonial bacteria. In fungi, it was determined that the effect on Candida albicans was higher. The study is very important in terms of being a source for future breeding studies in this sense. Keywords: Escherichia coli, bioactive compounds, fruit size, Rubus fruticosus.
... Anthocyanin (ANC) profiles were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, using an Agilent 1200 series HPLC (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) equipped with a photodiode array detector (DAD) set at 520 nm. The chromatographic separation was performed on an RP Supelcosil-LC-18 column, 250 mm × 4.6 mm× 5G µm (Supelco, Bellefonte, PA, USA), according to our previously described method [29]. ...
Our body is continuously exposed to various exogenous aggressors, and, in particular, the skin represents the main target for outdoor stressors, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV exposure is well-known to be associated with the development/worsening of extrinsic photoaging and a multitude of skin conditions. Considering the role of photoprotection in skin health, the research of natural photoprotective molecules becomes of great importance. Therefore, in this work we wanted to evaluate the beneficial protective effects of ripe berries of Vaccinium uliginosum (Alaska bog blueberry (BB)) extract (100 μg/mL) for preventing the cutaneous oxidative, inflammatory, and structural damage induced by exposure to 200 mJ of UVA/UVB radiation. We observed that the topical application of BB extract on human ex vivo skin explants averted the UV-induced cutaneous OxInflammatory phenomenon by quenching the increase in the oxidative and inflammatory marker levels, such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE), heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR); as well as by counteracting the loss of structural proteins (filaggrin and involucrin) induced by UV radiation. Our data propose the use of a topical application of Alaska bog blueberry extract as a natural and valuable approach to ensure photoprotection against UV-induced skin damage and premature aging.
... Lingonberry has been found a high amount of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in the fruit 9 . In contrast, avonoid content exists between 27-42% in leaf tissues 10 . ...
Epigenetic variation plays a role in developmental gene regulation and responses to the environment. An efficient interaction of zeatin induced cytosine methylation and secondary compounds has been displayed for the first time in tissue-culture shoots of lingonberry ( Vaccinium vitis-idaea ) in vitro, in vivo and its cutting-cultivar Erntedank. Through MSAP assay, we observed highest methylated sites in leaf regenerants (LC1) from all primer combinations (108 bands), with their highest variation in secondary metabolites. We measured that four tissue-culture plants showed higher methylation bands than cutting propagated donor plants (ED) which exhibited 79 bands of methylation, which is comparatively low. On the other hand, we observed the highest total phenolic content in node culture-derived greenhouse grown plants, NC3 but leaf culture-derived greenhouse grown plants, LC1 represented low phenolic content. Our study showed more methylation in micropropagated plants (NC1, NC2, NC3, LC1) than those derived from cutting propagated ED plants, where methylation was not present. On the contrary, we observed higher secondary metabolites in ED plants but comparatively less in micropropagated shoots (NC1, NC2) and plants (NC3, LC1). Our study displayed that higher methylation sites observed in micropropagated plants possessed less amount of secondary metabolites.
... Quercetin glycosides, together with myricetin derivatives, are the predominant flavonols in cranberries (Borges et al. 2010;M. H. Grace et al. 2014;Vvedenskaya and Vorsa 2004). However, kaempferol derivatives have also been identified in some cultivars (e.g., 'Ben Lear' , 'Early Black' , and 'Stevens') (Bilyk and Sapers 1986;. ...
The consumption of small fruits has increased in recent years. Besides their appealing flavor, the commercial success of small fruits has been partially attributed to their high contents of phenolic compounds with multiple health benefits. The phenolic profiles and contents in small fruits vary based on the genetic background, climate, growing conditions, and post-harvest handling techniques. In this review, we critically compare the profiles and contents of phenolics such as anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and phenolic acids that have been reported in bilberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, black and red currants, raspberries, and strawberries during fruit development and post-harvest storage. This review offers researchers and breeders a general guideline for the improvement of phenolic composition in small fruits while considering the critical factors that affect berry phenolics from cultivation to harvest and to final consumption.
... A 50/50 (w/w) blend of freeze-dried Tifblue/Rubel blueberries was used as a phytophenol extraction source, and extractions were conducted as described by Grace et al. (33). Briefly, blueberries were blended (Waring, Inc., Torrington, CT, USA) at a ratio of 1:12 blueberry powder to acidified 70% methanol (0.5% acetic acid) w/v for 2 min. ...
Obesity is considered a primary contributing factor in the development of many diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular illnesses. Phytochemical-rich foods, associated to healthy gastrointestinal microbiota, have been shown to reduce obesity and associated comorbidities. In the present article, we describe the effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus johnsonii N6.2 and blueberry extracts (BB) on the gut microbiota and lipid profile of rats under a high-fat (HF) or low-calorie (LC) diet. L. johnsonii was found to increase the levels of long chain fatty acids (LCFA) in the serum of all animals under HF diet, while reduced LCFA concentrations were observed in the adipose tissue of animals under HF diet supplemented with BB extracts. All animals under HF diet also showed lower protein levels of SREBP1 and SCAP when treated with L. johnsonii. The gut microbiota diversity, β-diversity was significantly changed by L. johnsonii in the presence of BB. A significant reduction in α-diversity was observed in the ileum of animals under HF diet supplemented with L. johnsonii and BB, while increased α-diversity was observed in the ilium of animals under LC diet supplemented with L. johnsonii or BB. In summary, L. johnsonii and BB supplementation induced significant changes in gut microbiota diversity and lipid metabolism. The phospholipids pool was the lipidome component directly affected by the interventions. The ileum and colon microbiota showed clear differences depending on the diet and the treatments examined.
... Кроме того, в программе, по которой мы проводили оценку питания (АСПОН-питание) отсутствуют данные по содержанию микронутриентов в северных ягодахдикоросах: клюкве, бруснике, морошке, чернике, голубике. Тем не менее ученые предполагают, что уровень концентрации антиоксидантов (в частности, витамина С и каротиноидов -предшественников витамина А) высок именно в северных дикорастущих ягодах в отличие от культивируемых [19]. Учитывая широкую распространенность употребления дикорастущих ягод в питании некоренным населением Севера, можно предположить все-таки лучшую обеспеченность витамином С и другими антиоксидантами жителей Тюменского Севера, в том числе и женщин репродуктивного возраста. ...
Introduction: Healthy nutrition is an important determinant of physical and mental wellbeing. A significant amount of evidence has been accumulated on the effect of nutrition on health promotion, disease prevention, resiliance to unfavorable climatic factors, longevity and life quality. Insufficient intake of micronutrients is often combined with an excess intake of macronutrients, particularly fats and simple carbohydrates increasling the risk of developing chronic diseases. Nutrition of women is of particular importantce not only for the present, but also for future generations. Aim: To assess dietary intake of vitamins A, C, E, D and trace elements, such asFe, Mn, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn and Se in women of fertile age in Khanty-Mansiysk and Salekhard, North-Eastern Siberia. Methods: A cross-sectional study. A total of 137 non-indigenous women aged 18-44 years living in Khanty-Mansiysk (n = 75) and Salekhard (n = 62) participated in a cross-sectional dietary survey. A 3-day diet was assessed by a questionnaire and the ASPON-nutrition software. Dietary intake of the abovementioned vitamins and nutrients were compared with the naitonal recommended daily amounts (RDA). Results: No statistically significant differences in the intake of vitamines and nutrients were observed between the two settings. Women from the Northen city of Salekhard had insufficient intake of Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn (70-89 % RDA) and Se in partlicular (49 % RDA). They also consumed insufficient amounts ofvitamins E (82-87 % RDA), C (62-73 % RDA) D ( 54-55 % RDA). We also oserved excess intake of vitamin A (111-115 % RDA). Conclusion: A substantial proportion of fertile-age women in North-Eastern Siberia have insufficient intake of vitamines C, E and D as well as Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn and Se warranting development of public health programms including activities to promote dietary supplements and food fortification to improve nutrition of residents in general and women in particular in North-Eastern Siberia.
... Previous studies have evaluated the pharmacological effects of LB on obesity [13], glucose metabolism [14], inflammation [15], oxidative stress [16], antibacterial activity [17], and cancer [18]. Moreover, the phenolic content of LB has anti-oxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects on RAW264.7 cells [19]. To date, however, the effect of LB on UC has not been studied. ...
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory chronic intestinal disease with pathological characteristics, including imbalanced immune function and the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines and mediators. Inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6) were oversecreted in UC condition. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin (PG)E2 were also overexpressed in colon tissue. Lingonberry (LB) (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) possesses pharmacological activities, including anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity effects. To explore LB’s effects on UC, BALB/c mice were administered with 3% (w/v) dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) and LB extract (70% ethanol) orally for nine days. The severity of UC was measured by the change in body weight and colon length. To evaluate LB’s regulatory effect on inflammatory cytokines, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was used to measure the inflammatory cytokines in mouse serum. Mouse peritoneal microphages were used to detect LB’s anti-inflammatory effect. The results showed that LB treatment ameliorated less weight loss and longer colon length compared to the DSS-treated group. LB treatment also ameliorated the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. These results indicated that LB has potential as an herbal medicine to treat UC.
... The total phenolics content was 18.42% for E1 and 12.09% for E2. Both extracts showed lower total phenolics amount than similar preparations obtained previously from fruits of different Vaccinium species [46]. However, measured contents are significantly higher than in the case of previously investigated extracts prepared from the skins of fruits from two berry species [47]. ...
Growing blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L., Highbush blueberry) as a berry crop is developing dynamically, especially in warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions of the world. When blueberry is cultivated on plantations, the bushes are pruned annually, and tons of leaves become waste. Thus, the aim of the present study was to create a preparation from blueberry leaves, study their chemical composition and determine their potential as a dietary supplement for the prophylactic and correction of the metabolic syndrome. Several schemes for obtaining extracts from blueberry leaves have been developed, including one with addition of arginine. A total of 18 phenolic substances were identified and quantified in the extracts by TLC and HPLC methods. Chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, and rutin were shown to be dominating constituents. Quantitative determination of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoids and other phenolics in the extracts was performed by spectrophotometric method. The extracts administration led to a significant decrease in the level of glucose, insulin and triacylglycerols in blood serum of adult mature inbred rats with insulin resistance induced by the fructose-enriched diet. The most promising one was the extract modified with arginine. The determined hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of chemically standardized extracts from highbush blueberry leaves indicate the potential of this crop residue in utilization as a dietary supplement recommended in prevention of ailments associated with metabolic syndrome.
Предмет. Сучасна медицина продемонструвала багато потенційних переваг для здоров’я людини ягід дикорослих рослин, які є джерелом вітамінів та інших біологічно активних речовин взагалі, макро- і мікроелементів, антиоксидантів тощо. Як досліднцький матеріал, що широко використовується у медицині та харчовій промисловості України, взято ягоди брусниці (Vaccinium vitis – idaea L.) і журавлини (Oxycoccus palustris). Мета. Аналіз особливості харчової цінності і здатності до накопичення небезпечних хімічних сполук брусницею та журавлиною та експериментальні дослідження вмісту в ягодах рослин есенціальних та токсичних елементів. Методи та експериментальні дослідження. Вміст есенціальних та токсичних елементів у ягодах рослин проводили фізико-хімічними методами, а саме: вміст арсену – фотометрично (ДСТУ ISO 6634:2005), вміст цинку, міді, мангану, кобальту, нікелю, свинцю та кадмію – методом атомно-абсорбційної спектрофотометрії (ДСТУ EN 14082:2019). Було проаналізовано по 3 зразки свіжих ягід з рослин, які зібрані в різних місцевостях Карпатського регіону Львівщини. Дані вимірювань представляли як середнє значення та зазначали сумарну розширену невизначеність результату в абсолютних одиницях (коефіцієнт охоплення рівний 2). Результати. Дослідження показали, що вміст есенціальних мікроелементів у деяких зразках брусниці в рази вищий ніж у журавлині: цинку – приблизно у чотири рази, міді – у дев’ять разів та мангану – більше ніж у два рази. Сфера застосування результатів. Порівнюючи отримані дані з добовою потребою дорослого населення у мінеральних речовинах слід сказати, що і брусниця і журавлина можуть бути ефективним джерелом збагачення організму міддю та манганом.
Emerging evidence indicates the association between an unhealthy gut and chronic diseases. A healthy gut comprises an intact gut epithelium and balanced gut microbes. Diet is one of the critical factors that modulate gut health by positively or negatively affecting the intestinal barrier and gut microbes. Blueberries are an excellent source of health-promoting bioactive components, and this systematic review is conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary blueberries on gut health. A literature search is conducted on PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases to review relevant studies published between 2011 and 2022 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation Risk of Bias (SYRCLE-RoB) tool is used for methodological quality assessments. Sixteen studies included from four countries are reviewed and the results are synthesized narratively. This data analysis indicates that blueberry supplementation improves gut health by improving intestinal morphology, reducing gut permeability, suppressing oxidative stress, ameliorating gut inflammation, and modulating the composition and function of gut microbes. However, there are significant knowledge gaps in this field. These findings indicate that further studies are needed to establish the beneficial effects of blueberries on gut health.
Objective: To test the effectiveness of a novel dietary supplement as a support for cognitive function in healthy younger and older adults Design: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the dietary supplement, Braini® in two age cohorts with 60 participants: 31 healthy younger adults (18-30 years) and 29 healthy older adults (55-80 years). Intervention: A 28-day intervention of a dietary supplement (active or placebo) taken daily with cognitive assessment using CNS Vital Signs computer-based testing at day 0 and 28. Participants were asked to fill out a daily survey regarding compliance with supplement protocol, changes in health, adherence to the protocol, and reported side effects. CNS Vital Signs provides aged normed aggregated outcome measures for Processing Speed, Psychomotor Speed, Reaction Time, Cognitive Flexibility, Executive Function, and Motor Speed. Results: Significant improvements in performance were found for two CNS Vital Signs domains, Cognitive Flexibility (p = 0.048), and Executive Function (p = 0.025) in the treated younger adults (n = 12) compared with the placebo group (n = 19) at day 28 compared with baseline. The Shifting Attention Test Reaction Time (SAT-RT), a measure of shifting attention correct response reaction time, showed significant improvement at 28 days in those taking Braini in both younger (p = 0.004) and older adult cohorts (p = 0.05) with an average improvement over the control subjects of 44%. No serious side effects were reported. Conclusions: The dietary formulation, Braini, safely and significantly improved cognitive flexibility and executive function in younger adults and trended positively in older adults in this study that was stopped prematurely due to pandemic restrictions. Scores on SAT-RT significantly improved in both younger and older adults. Further studies are needed to confirm that Braini reliably improves cognitive function in additional CNS domains in healthy adults (Clinicaltrials.gov under registration number: NCT04025255).
Nutraceuticals are mostly referred as functional foods that provide health benefits reducing the risk of chronic diseases. To avoid the side effects of medicines, nutraceuticals have lots of advantages over medicines. Based on their natural sources, most of the nutraceuticals are categorized as nutrients, herbals, dietary supplements, or dietary fiber, etc. Especially, plants play prominent roles as nutraceuticals. They are rich in phytochemicals that are gaining more attention among the growing populations. Plants are ecofriendly promising affordability, accessibility, and efficiency comparable to high‐cost synthetic drug agents. Plants have the heterogeneous group of natural metabolic products used as nutraceuticals. These natural compounds are named as secondary metabolites that are not essential for the growth and development that are also divergent in their structure and metabolic pathways. Secondary metabolites mainly function as a signaling molecules or defense agents that are classified as steroids, saponin, terpenes, lipids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and enzyme cofactors. Diverse types of secondary metabolites are produced by using plant tissue culture such as in vitro callus and cell suspension. Present chapter focuses on the production and/or extraction of these compounds, even at elevated levels using elicitors, from in vitro ‐derived plantlets.
The consumption of cultivated berry species (e.g., strawberries, blueberries) has increased dramatically in the last two decades after consumers appreciated them as flavorful, convenient and healthy fruits. Wild berries and similar small wild fruits are traditionally consumed around the world by local people as safe, nutritious, tasty, and versatile foods. These wild fruits have played an important role in the nutrition and bio-cultural aspects of rural communities. Like their commercial counterparts, wild berries contain important nutrients and bioactive compounds that may prevent or delay some chronic diseases attributed to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. This review provides a comprehensive appraisal of the chemical and bioactive components in wild berry species and their traditional uses as foods around the globe. Presently, wild berries and similar wild small fruits are novel food sources that inspire applications as culinary products, processed foods, and nutraceuticals. Further research is needed to validate the content and action of bioactive components responsible for health claims. Sustainable commercial exploitation of wild berries should consider biocultural, environmental, and socio-economic aspects.
The various ecosystems of the Carpathian Mountains spanning Europe, are a rich refuge for culturally important, endemic plant species as well as large carnivores. These biologically diverse landscapes are a principal source of subsistence to 16 million people, including various ethnographic groups. This paper focuses on a case study involving Hutsul communities, an ethnographic group of traditional pastoral highlanders, in the Southeastern Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine. Given ecosystem, climatic, and cultural challenges, especially the rise of illegal logging, commercial harvesting, increased frequencies of flooding, and now a war, Hutsul communities face extensive threats to maintaining socio-ecological resilience in the region. A contributing factor to the region's centuries-long resilience is traditional ecological knowledge upholding food sovereignty as seen through traditional foods derived from Carpathian Mountain ecosystems. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is as a dynamic, generationally-held knowledge base, where language, gathering practices, landscape and culture inform livelihoods. In this article, we seek to answer the following series of questions within Hutsul communities: (1) What does TEK look like in the region? (2) What are the regional environmental challenges? (3) Given these challenges, what are coping mechanisms and adaptive strategies grounded in TEK, ensuring a resilient food sovereign system? Mixed methodologies guided by community-based participatory action research methods (CBPAR) between 2017 and 2019 provide a rich, context-driven perspective on regional TEK. Radiating out from the historical, cultural Hutsul capital, Verkhovyna, 40 experts (including knowledge holders, elders, foresters, and community members) were interviewed in 8 neighboring villages. We, along with Hutsul experts, explore the presence of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in Hutsulshchyna by identifying 108 culturally important species including wild plants (74 species), cultivated plants (23 species), fungi (9 species) and lichens (2 species); these species are gathered in 10 habitats with varying degrees of human interaction. We analyze species' presence in traditional foods in the past and present day, as well as contextualize regional environmental challenges impacting TEK practices, and responses to these challenges (coping mechanisms and adaptive strategies). Despite various regional challenges, we conclude that TEK provides a resilient foundation for supporting food sovereignty as seen through the presence of traditional foods.
Açaí, lychee, mamey, passion fruit and jackfruit are some lesser-consumed tropical fruits due to their low commercial production. In 2018, approximately 6.8 million tons of these fruits were harvested, representing about 6.35% of the total world production of tropical fruits. The present work reviews the nutritional content, profile of bioactive compounds, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of these fruits and their by-products, and their ability to modulate oxidative stress due to the content of phenolic compounds, carotenoids and dietary fiber. Açaí pulp is an excellent source of anthocyanins (587 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents/100 g dry weight, dw), mamey pulp is rich in carotenoids (36.12 mg β-carotene/100 g fresh weight, fw), passion fruit peel is rich in dietary fiber (61.16 g/100 dw). At the same time, jackfruit contains unique compounds such as moracin C, artocarpesin, norartocarpetin and oxyresveratrol. These molecules play an important role in the regulation of inflammation via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (including p38, ERK and JNK) and nuclear factor κB pathways. The properties of the bioactive compounds found in these fruits make them a good source for use as food ingredients for nutritional purposes or alternative therapies. Research is needed to confirm their health benefits that can increase their marketability, which can benefit the primary producers, processing industries (particularly smaller ones) and the final consumer, while an integral use of their by-products will allow their incorporation into the circular bioeconomy.
Epigenetic variation plays a role in developmental gene regulation and responses to the environment. An efficient interaction of zeatin-induced cytosine methylation and secondary compounds has been displayed for the first time in tissue-culture shoots/plants of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) cultivar Erntedank in vitro (NC1, in a liquid medium; NC2, on a semi-solid medium), ex vitro (NC3, node culture-derived plants; LC1, leaf culture-derived plants) and its cutting-propagated (ED) plants. Through methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) assay, we observed highest methylated sites in leaf regenerants (LC1) from all primer combinations (108 bands), along with the highest secondary metabolites. The four types of tissue culture-derived shoots/plants (NC1, NC2, NC3, LC1) showed higher methylation bands than cutting propagated donor plants (ED) that exhibited 79 bands of methylation, which is comparatively low. Our study showed more methylation in micropropagated shoots/plants than those derived from ED plants. On the contrary, we observed higher secondary metabolites in ED plants but comparatively less in micropropagated shoots (NC1, NC2) and plants (NC3, LC1).
Berries come from hundreds of different species of plants spread around the world. Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries, for instance, are popular berries that have attracted attention for providing several benefits to human health. Wild berries from the Melastomataceae family are commonly encountered in the Amazon, although these small blue fruits are poorly consumed. Although domesticated fruits give better monetary profits, a consumption of wild fruits is a desirable option to afford food communities at the same time as keep the Amazon region preserved. Aiming the divulgation of the nutritional potentials of these plants, this paper describes the study of six species of Amazonian blueberries, five of them from the Clidemia genus and one from the Tococa genus, in regard to their nutritional and chemical composition and antioxidant activity (AA). The levels of moisture, ash, protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and the total caloric value obtained for the Amazonian blueberries were comparable to other common edible berries. Although the six species are similar in terms of nutritional composition, their anthocyanin profile and content are quite peculiar. Two non-methylated anthocyanins, cyanidin and delphinidin, which bound to a variable number of sugars, characterize berries of the genera Clidemia and Tococa. Clidemua japurensis, C. hirta and Tococa bullifera were dominated by tri-glycosylated anthocyanins, although differences are notable between them. C. pustulata and C. capitellata were characterized by mono-glycosylated anthocyanins, and C. rubra showed a unique profile with mono- and di-glycosylated homologous as the main anthocyanins. In addition to their different chemical profiles, the concentrations of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds varied a lot among the six species studied. The species C. rubra had the highest total concentration of phenolic acids and flavonoids. The concentrations of phenolic compounds were related to AA, which were evaluated via ABTS and DPPH assays, and revealed that these Amazonian blueberries represent an important source of bioactive molecules. This study shows that the blueberries analyzed have potential to be better explored, which we suggest that has to be done in a sustainable way, aiming at the preservation of the Amazon’s biodiversity.
Blueberries have been extensively studied for the health benefits associated with their high phenolic content. The positive impact of blueberry consumption on human health is associated in part with modulation of pro-inflammatory molecular pathways and oxidative stress. Here, we review in vitro studies examining the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of blueberry phytochemicals, discuss the results in terms of relevance to disease and health, and consider how different blueberry components modulate cellular mechanisms. The dampening effects of blueberry-derived molecules on inflammation and oxidative stress in cell models have been demonstrated through down-regulation of the NF-κB pathway and reduction of ROS and lipid peroxidation. The modulatory effects of blueberry phytochemicals on the MAPK pathway and antioxidant system are not as well described, with inconsistent observations reported on immune cells and between models of endothelial, dermal, and ocular inflammation. Although anthocyanins are often reported as the being the main bioactive compound in blueberries, no individual phytochemical has emerged as the primary compound when different fractions are compared; rather, an effect of whole blueberry extracts or synergy between different phenolic and non-phenolic extracts seems apparent. The major molecular mechanisms of blueberry phytochemicals are increasingly defined in cell models, but their relevance in more complex human systems needs further investigation using well-controlled clinical trials, in which systemic exposures to blueberry-associated molecules are measured concurrently with physiologic indices of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry) fruits are promising sources of bioactive components with high potential in biomedical applications. Selection in plant breeding, determination of perspective wild clones with optimal growing conditions, and appropriate harvesting time leading to standardized extracts are key factors for achieving phytochemical quality to meet consumer’s needs. In the present study, lingonberry fruits collected along different phenological stages and from different geographical locations were analyzed for the composition of 56 constituents using validated chromatographic techniques. Early stages of lingonberries vegetation were determined as the best stages for obtaining high levels of most phenolics and triterpenoids, while the end of berry vegetation could be chosen as the optimal harvesting time in terms of anthocyanins. Furthermore, intensified continuous biosynthesis of triterpenoids and phenolic acids precursors after vegetation season in the winter sample was observed. Chemodiversity of lingonberries was affected by geographical factors as well as climatic and edaphic conditions, indicating different favorable growing conditions for the accumulation of particular compounds. Present findings could serve for breeders to obtain the highest yields of desirable lingonberry constituents, relevant in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are a class of polyphenolic compounds that are attracting considerable interest in the nutraceutical field due to their potential health benefits. However, knowledge about the chemistry, biosynthesis, and distribution of PACs is limited. This review summarizes the main chemical characteristics and biosynthetic pathways and the main analytical methods aimed at their identification and quantification in raw plant matrices. Furthermore, meta-analytic approaches were used to identify the main plant sources in which PACs were contained and to investigate their potential effect on human health. In particular, a cluster analysis identified PACs in 35 different plant families and 60 different plant parts normally consumed in the human diet. On the other hand, a literature search, coupled with forest plot analyses, highlighted how PACs can be actively involved in both local and systemic effects. Finally, the potential mechanisms of action through which PACs may impact human health were investigated, focusing on their systemic hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering effects and their local anti-inflammatory actions on the intestinal epithelium. Overall, this review may be considered a complete report in which chemical, biosynthetic, ecological, and pharmacological aspects of PACs are discussed.
Plant polyphenols have a natural binding affinity for proteins, and their interaction can be exploited to form diverse aggregate particles. Protein–polyphenol particles utilized as food ingredients allow consumers to incorporate more health-benefiting plant bioactives into their diets. The functional properties of the protein–polyphenol particles can be influenced by many factors, including complexation conditions and starting material properties. Here, cranberry polyphenols extracted from pomace were complexed with nine pea protein isolate starting materials with different physical (particle size and protein content) and chemical (hydrolyzed and oxidized) properties to investigate the impact of protein characteristics on particle functionality. Chemical differences between proteins affected polyphenol binding; oxidized protein isolate (specifically, VegOtein N) bound 12%–27% more polyphenols than other isolates. Polyphenol binding to proteins decreased digestion rates in vitro, averaging 25% slower gastric (pepsin) digestion and a 35% slower intestinal (pancreatin) digestion. Physical differences in protein starting materials affected digestibility; isolate with the largest particle size (specifically, Nutralys F85G) produced particles with the lowest digestion rate. Solubility was impacted by both the process of forming particles and by polyphenol binding; control particles were 56% less soluble, and protein–polyphenol particles up to 75% less soluble, than unmodified proteins. The solubility of unmodified protein isolate starting materials varied widely according to the manufacturing process, but, after complexation, protein–polyphenol particles produced from all protein sources exhibited a similar depressed level of solubility. The desired functional properties of the protein–polyphenol particle food ingredients will be considerably influenced by the properties of the protein isolate starting material.
Alaska wild berries were harvested in 2003 to evaluate levels of antioxidants in non-cultivated fruit. Berries were stored frozen for up to 20 months until analysis for levels of quercetin and hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORACFL). H-ORACFL levels were highest in lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.(119-320, average 203 µmol of Trolox Equivalents (TE)/g fresh weight (FW), n = 13). H-ORACFL levels in other berries from interior Alaska averaged 174 µmol TE/g for highbush cranberry Viburnum edule (Michx.) Raf., 107µmol of TE/g for crowberry Empetrum nigrum L., and 77 µmol of TE/g for bog blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum L. Quercetin levels ranged from 0.5 to 14.6 µg/g FW in these 4 species from interior Alaska. Lingonberry and bog blueberry had higher levels of quercetin than most other berries tested. Alaskan wild berries are rich sources of antioxidants.
Few studies have evaluated the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and cardiovascular disease.
To examine the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and ischemic stroke.
Prospective cohort studies, including 75 596 women aged 34 to 59 years in the Nurses' Health Study with 14 years of follow-up (1980-1994), and 38683 men aged 40 to 75 years in the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study with 8 years of follow-up (1986-1994). All individuals were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes at baseline.
Incidence of ischemic stroke by quintile of fruit and vegetable intake.
A total of 366 women and 204 men had an ischemic stroke. After controlling for standard cardiovascular risk factors, persons in the highest quintile of fruit and vegetable intake (median of 5.1 servings per day among men and 5.8 servings per day among women) had a relative risk (RR) of 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-0.92) compared with those in the lowest quintile. An increment of 1 serving per day of fruits or vegetables was associated with a 6% lower risk of ischemic stroke (RR, 0.94; 95 % CI, 0.90-0.99; P =.01, test for trend). Cruciferous vegetables (RR, 0.68 for an increment of 1 serving per day; 95% CI, 0.49-0.94), green leafy vegetables (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.62-0.99), citrus fruit including juice (RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68-0.96), and citrus fruit juice (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61-0.93) contributed most to the apparent protective effect of total fruits and vegetables. Legumes or potatoes were not associated with lower ischemic stroke risk. The multivariate pooled RR for total stroke was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93-1.00) for each increment of 2 servings per day.
These data support a protective relationship between consumption of fruit and vegetables-particularly cruciferous and green leafy vegetables and citrus fruit and juice-and ischemic stroke risk.
The emerging research evidence regarding functional food health benefits, coupled with the modern rise in degenerative and lifestyle-related health conditions, has created a growing market in the United States: the super-fruit. Wild berries, which contain bioactive phytochemicals with demonstrated efficacy against metabolic syndrome, have fulfilled important nutritional, medicinal, and social roles in Native American/Alaska Native lifestyles for generations. In this article, a SWOT analysis was used to explore the opportunities and obstacles for native development of wild Alaskan berries as a commercial product. On one hand, the novelty, market appeal and abundance of these phytochemically enriched berries suggest an entrepreneurial prospect for native communities. On the other hand, historical traditions typically dictate community ownership of the wild indigenous berries, and a natural inclination to protect common resources is prevalent in most communities. The factors that influence this complex juxtaposition between internal culture and external development are highlighted.
Epidemiological evidence links high intake of ascorbic acid (AA) and other antioxidant micronutrients to health promotion. It would be useful to know the overall, or 'total' antioxidant capacity of foods, to establish the contribution of AA to this, and to assess how this information may translate into dietary intakes to meet the new US daily reference intake for AA. In this study, the total antioxidant capacity, as the ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP) value, and AA content of thirty-four types of fruits and vegetables were measured using a modified version of the FRAP assay, known as FRASC. This measures AA (reduced form only) simultaneously with the FRAP value. Results covered a wide range: 880-15940 micromol/kg fresh wet weight and <20-540 mg/kg fresh wet weight respectively, for FRAP and AA, which comprised < 1-73 % and < 1-59 % total antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables respectively. We estimate that 100 mg AA is contained in one orange, a few strawberries, one kiwi fruit, 1-2 slices of pineapple, several florets of raw cauliflower or a handful of uncooked spinach leaves. Apples, bananas, pears and plums, the most commonly consumed fruits in the UK, contain very little AA. Results indicate also that the antioxidant capacity of vegetables decreases rapidly and significantly after fragmentation. Results of this, and future studies, using FRASC as a biomonitoring tool will be useful in food production, preparation, preservation, and aid dietary choices to increase antioxidant and AA intake. Furthermore, FRASC will facilitate bioavailability studies of antioxidants from different foods of known antioxidant capacity and AA content.
Epidemiological evidence suggests that diets rich in fruit and vegetables decrease the risk of premature mortality from major clinical conditions, including cancer and heart disease. However, it is not yet clear which components or combination of components in fruit and vegetables are protective and what is their mechanism of action. Such scientific uncertainty does not seem to inhibit the marketing of a huge range of plant-based concoctions, promoted as 'magic bullets' for optimum health. For example, the purported health-giving properties of plant polyphenols represent a case in which enthusiastic marketing claims may far exceed the current scientific evidence. Even when good experimental evidence exists, results need to be interpreted with caution in relation to human health benefits, as polyphenols may have limited bioavailability and may also be extensively metabolised. In addition, some polyphenols can be toxic and mutagenic in some cell culture systems. Until more is known about the activity and metabolic fate of polyphenols in the body, it would be better for the consumer to increase fruit and vegetable intake, and also to be wary of claims that these compounds are a panacea for good health.
This collaborative study was conducted to determine the total monomeric anthocyanin concentration by the pH differential method, which is a rapid and simple spectrophotometric method based on the anthocyanin structural transformation that occurs with a change in pH (colored at pH 1.0 and colorless at pH 4.5). Eleven collaborators representing commercial laboratories, academic institutions, and government laboratories participated. Seven Youden pair materials representing fruit juices, beverages, natural colorants, and wines were tested. The repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) varied from 1.06 to 4.16%. The reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) ranged from 2.69 to 10.12%. The HorRat values were < or = 1.33 for all materials. The Study Director recommends that the method be adopted Official First Action.
PCR has the potential to detect and precisely quantify specific DNA sequences, but it is not yet often used as a fully quantitative method. A number of data collection and processing strategies have been described for the implementation of quantitative PCR. However, they can be experimentally cumbersome, their relative performances have not been evaluated systematically, and they often remain poorly validated statistically and/or experimentally. In this study, we evaluated the performance of known methods, and compared them with newly developed data processing strategies in terms of resolution, precision and robustness.
Our results indicate that simple methods that do not rely on the estimation of the efficiency of the PCR amplification may provide reproducible and sensitive data, but that they do not quantify DNA with precision. Other evaluated methods based on sigmoidal or exponential curve fitting were generally of both poor resolution and precision. A statistical analysis of the parameters that influence efficiency indicated that it depends mostly on the selected amplicon and to a lesser extent on the particular biological sample analyzed. Thus, we devised various strategies based on individual or averaged efficiency values, which were used to assess the regulated expression of several genes in response to a growth factor.
Overall, qPCR data analysis methods differ significantly in their performance, and this analysis identifies methods that provide DNA quantification estimates of high precision, robustness and reliability. These methods allow reliable estimations of relative expression ratio of two-fold or higher, and our analysis provides an estimation of the number of biological samples that have to be analyzed to achieve a given precision.
The antioxidant activity of phenolics in fruits of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum cv. Sierra), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon cv. Ben Lear), wild chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea cv. Amberland) was determined in this study. The phenolic constituents and contents among the different berries varied considerably. Anthocyanins were found to be the main components in all these berries. Chlorogenic acid in blueberry, quercetin glycosides in cranberry and lingonberry, and caffeic acid and its derivative in chokeberry were also present in relatively high concentrations. Chlorogenic acid, peonidin 3-galactoside, cyanidin 3-galactoside, and cyanidin 3-galactoside were the most important antioxidants in blueberry, cranberry, wild chokeberry, and lingonberry, respectively. The contribution of individual phenolics to the total antioxidant capacity was generally dependent on their structure and content in the berries. Phenolics such as quercetin and cyanidin, with 3',4'-dihydroxy substituents in the B ring and conjugation between the A and B rings, had highly effective radical scavenging structures in blueberries, cranberries, chokeberries, and lingonberries. Phenolic acids such as caffeic acid also showed high antioxidant activity, probably due to its dihydroxylation in the 3,4 positions as hydrogen donors.
Phenolic acids in commercially important sweet potato cultivars grown in the United States were analyzed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid were well separated with an isocratic elution in less than 25 min compared to about 120 min for analyzing and re-equilibrating the column with a gradient method. The isocratic elution order of these caffeoylquinic acid derivatives was confirmed by LC-MS/MS. Chlorogenic acid was the highest in root tissues, while 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and/or 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid were predominant in the leaves. Steam cooking resulted in statistically nonsignificant increases in the concentration of total phenolics and all the individual phenolic acids identified. Sweetpotato leaves had the highest phenolic acid content followed by the peel, whole root, and flesh tissues. However, there was no significant difference in the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity between purees made from the whole and peeled sweet potatoes.
This collaborative study was conducted to determine the total monomeric anthocyanin concentration by the pH differential method, which is a rapid and simple spectrophotometric method based on the anthocyanin structural transformation that occurs with a change in pH (colored at pH 1.0 and colorless at pH 4.5). Eleven collaborators representing commercial laboratories, academic institutions, and government laboratories participated. Seven Youden pair materials representing fruit juices, beverages, natural colorants, and wines were tested. The repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) varied from 1.06 to 4.16%. The reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) ranged from 2.69 to 10.12%. The HorRat values were ≤1.33 for all materials. The Study Director recommends that the method be adopted Official First Action.
A method for the screening of antioxidant activity is reported as a decolorization assay applicable to both lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants, including flavonoids, hydroxycinnamates, carotenoids, and plasma antioxidants. The pre-formed radical monocation of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS*+) is generated by oxidation of ABTS with potassium persulfate and is reduced in the presence of such hydrogen-donating antioxidants. The influences of both the concentration of antioxidant and duration of reaction on the inhibition of the radical cation absorption are taken into account when determining the antioxidant activity. This assay clearly improves the original TEAC assay (the ferryl myoglobin/ABTS assay) for the determination of antioxidant activity in a number of ways. First, the chemistry involves the direct generation of the ABTS radical monocation with no involvement of an intermediary radical. Second, it is a decolorization assay; thus the radical cation is pre-formed prior to addition of antioxidant test systems, rather than the generation of the radical taking place continually in the presence of the antioxidant. Hence the results obtained with the improved system may not always be directly comparable with those obtained using the original TEAC assay. Third, it is applicable to both aqueous and lipophilic systems.
The anthocyanin constituents of thirty samples of Vaccinium myrtillus fruits of various origin were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The data, characterized by 15 peaks for each chromatogram, were subjected to principal component analysis in order to reveal differences in the chromatograms. The vector space generated by eigenvector projection produced a clear separation between a group composed of Norwegian and Swedish berries and a group of berries of Italian or Romanian origin. Cyanidin glycosides are highly better represented in all the samples of the first group, while delphinidin glycosides are better represented in the latter.
Defatted soy flour (DSF), soy protein isolate (SPI), hemp protein isolate (HPI), medium roast peanut flour (MPF) and pea protein isolate (PPI) stably bind and concentrate cranberry (CB) polyphenols, creating protein/polyphenol-enriched matrices. Proanthocyanidins (PAC) in the enriched matrices ranged from 20.75 mg/g (CB-HPI) to 10.68 mg/g (CB-SPI). Anthocyanins (ANC) ranged from 3.19 mg/g (CB-DSF) to 1.68 mg/g (CB-SPI), while total phenolics (TP) ranged from 37.61 mg/g (CB-HPI) to 21.29 mg/g (CB-SPI). LC-MS indicated that the enriched matrices contained all identifiable ANC, PAC and flavonols present in CB juice. Complexation with matrices stabilized and preserved the integrity of the CB polyphenolic components for at least 15 weeks at 37 °C. PAC isolated from enriched matrices demonstrated comparable anti-adhesion bioactivity to PAC isolated directly from CB juice (MIC 0.4 to 0.16 mg/mL), indicating their potential utility for maintenance of urinary tract health. Approximately 1.0 g of polyphenol-enriched matrix delivered the same amount of PAC available in one cup (300 mL) of commercial CB juice cocktail; which has been shown clinically to be the prophylactic dose for reducing recurring urinary tract infections. CB-SPI inhibited gram- positive and gram-negative bacterial growth. Nutritional and sensory analyses indicated that the targeted CB-matrix combinations have high potential for incorporation in functional food formulations.
Gut immune system is daily exposed to a plethora of antigens contained in the environment as well as in food. Both secondary lymphoid tissue, such as Peyers patches, and lymphoid follicles (tertiary lymphoid tissue) are able to respond to antigenic stimuli releasing cytokines or producing antibodies (secretory IgA). Intestinal epithelial cells are in close cooperation with intraepithelial lymphocytes and possess Toll-like receptors on their surface and Nod-like receptors (NLRs) which sense pathogens or pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Intestinal microbiota, mainly composed by Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, generates tolerogenic response acting on gut dendritic cells and inhibiting the T helper (h)-17 cells anti-inflammatory pathway. This is the case of Bacteroides fragilis which leads to the production of interleukin-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine from both T regulatory cells and lamina propria macrophages. Conversely, segmented filamentous bacteria rather induce Th17 cells, thus promoting intestinal inflammation. Intestinal microbiota and its toxic components have been shown to act on both Nod1 and Nod2 receptors and their defective signaling account for the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In IBD a loss of normal tolerance to intestinal microbiota seems to be the main trigger of mucosal damage. In addition, intestinal microbiota thanks to its regulatory function of gut immune response can prevent or retard neoplastic growth. In fact, chronic exposure to environmental microorganisms seems to be associated with low frequency of cancer risk. Major nutraceuticals or functional foods employed in the modulation of intestinal microbiota are represented by prebiotics, probiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids, amino acids and polyphenols. The cellular and molecular effects performed by these natural products in terms of modulation of the intestinal microbiota and mostly attenuation of the inflammatory pathway are described.
Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the analysis of total phenols and other oxidation substrates and antioxidants by means of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Analyses of the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) type are convenient, simple, and require only common equipment and have produced a large body of comparable data. Under proper conditions, the assay is inclusive of monophenols and gives predictable reactions with the types of phenols found in nature. Because different phenols react to different degrees, expression of the results as a single number—such as milligrams per liter gallic acid equivalence—is necessarily arbitrary. Because the reaction is independent, quantitative, and predictable, analysis of a mixture of phenols can be recalculated in terms of any other standard. The assay measures all compounds readily oxidizable under the reaction conditions and its very inclusiveness allows certain substances to also react that are either not phenols or seldom thought of as phenols (e.g., proteins). Judicious use of the assay—with consideration of potential interferences in particular samples and prior study if necessary—can lead to very informative results. Aggregate analysis of this type is an important supplement to and often more informative than reems of data difficult to summarize from various techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) that separate a large number of individual compounds .The predictable reaction of components in a mixture makes it possible to determine a single reactant by other means and to calculate its contribution to the total FC phenol content. Relative insensitivity of the FC analysis to many adsorbents and precipitants makes differential assay—before and after several different treatments—informative.
Anthocyanin pigments were isolated from fruits of Vaccinium vliginonosum L. (bog whortleberry) by a combination of droplet countercurrent chromatography and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Fifteen pigments were identified by chromatographic, spectral and chemical properties. The major pigment, malvidin-3-glucoside, accounted for 35.9% of the total pigment content. The relative proportions of the remaining anthocyanins were determined.
Blueberry fruits from five commercial cultivars and 13 breeding selections grown at the same locations over two growing seasons were analysed for total phenolics (TPH), total anthocyanins (ACY), total hydroxycinnamic acids (HCA), total flavonols (FLA), fruit weight and oxygen radical-absorbing capacity (ORAC). Variation in ORAC, TPH, ACY, HCA, FLA and fruit weight among genotypes was much greater than that observed between growing seasons, indicating that genetics plays a more important role than growing season in influencing ORAC and phenolic content in blueberries. Significant main effects for growing season and genotype × growing season observed for ORAC, ACY, HCA and fruit weight demonstrate that environmental growing conditions can impact levels of phenolics and ORAC in blueberries and that certain genotypes vary in their capacity to synthesise phenolics under different growing conditions. In general, genotypes with smaller berries had higher ORAC values and levels of TPH, ACY, HCA and FLA than large-berried genotypes. Over both growing seasons, ORAC correlated highly with TPH, ACY, HCA and FLA, while fruit weight correlated inversely with all phenolics measured. Our results indicate that blueberry genotypes should be screened over multiple growing seasons in order to identify antioxidant- and phenolic-rich germplasm. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Unlabelled:
The human health benefits from consumption of cranberry products have been associated with the fruits' unique flavonoid composition, including a complex profile of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. However, when processed by techniques such as pressing, canning, concentrating, or drying, a number of these natural components may be compromised or inactivated due to physical separation, thermal degradation, or oxidation. Fresh cranberries were compared to freeze-dried berries and individual fruit tissues (skin and peeled fruit). Products examined included cranberry juices (commercial and prepared from concentrate), cranberry sauces (commercial and homemade), and sweetened-dried cranberries (commercial). Freeze-drying resulted in no detectable losses of anthocyanins or proanthocyanidins from cranberry fruits. Anthocyanins were localized in the skin. Proanthocyanins were higher in the skin than in the flesh, with the exception of procyanidin A-2 dimer which was concentrated in the flesh. Anthocyanins were significantly higher in not-from-concentrate juice than in reconstituted juice from concentrate (8.3 mg and 4.2 mg/100 mL, respectively). Similarly, proanthocyanidins were markedly higher in not-from-concentrate juice compared to juice from concentrate (23.0 mg and 8.9 mg/100 mL, respectively). Homemade sauce contained far higher anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins (15.9 and 87.9 mg/100 g, respectively) than canned sauces processed with whole berries (9.6 and 54.4 mg/100 g, respectively) or jelled-type (1.1 and 16 mg/100 g, respectively). Sweetened-dried cranberries were quite low in anthocyanins (7.9 mg/100 g), but they still retained considerable proanthocyanidins (64.2 mg/100 g). Commercially processed products contained significantly lower levels of polyphenols as compared to fresh and home-processed preparations. Anthocyanins were more sensitive to degradation than proanthocyanidins.
Practical application:
As cranberry juices and other products are increasingly consumed for their recognized health benefits (including prophylaxis against urinary tract infection), it is relevant to consider how various degrees of commercial and home processing can alter innate levels of the biologically active flavonoids (especially anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins) characteristic to the intact fruits.
Over the past few decades, inflammation has been recognized as a major risk factor for various human diseases. Acute inflammation is short-term, self-limiting and it's easy for host defenses to return the body to homeostasis. Chronic inflammatory responses are predispose to a pathological progression of chronic illnesses characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells, excessive production of cytokines, dysregulation of cellular signaling and loss of barrier function. Targeting reduction of chronic inflammation is a beneficial strategy to combat several human diseases. Flavonoids are widely present in the average diet in such foods as fruits and vegetables, and have been demonstrated to exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities for human health including an anti-inflammatory property. Numerous studies have proposed that flavonoids act through a variety mechanisms to prevent and attenuate inflammatory responses and serve as possible cardioprotective, neuroprotective and chemopreventive agents. In this review, we summarize current knowledge and underlying mechanisms on anti-inflammatory activities of flavonoids and their implicated effects in the development of various chronic inflammatory diseases.
Cranberries are a major source of procyanidins, an abundant class of bioactive polyphenols found in nature. The objective of this study was to apply a protocol for extraction and normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatograph-fluorescence-mass spectroscopy separation and quantification of procyanidins in cranberry extracts containing varying processing aids and/or methods of production. Cranberry extracts were best extracted using an acetone/water technique versus an acid/alkaline extraction. Procyanidins were semi-purified with C-18 and Sephadex LH-20 SPE cartridges (GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Piscataway, N.J., U.S.A.). Characterization and quantification of procyanidins up to octamers and higher molecular weight compounds, including separation of the A- and B-type dimers to tetramers was achieved.
European, small-fruited cranberries (Vaccinium microcarpon) and lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) were characterized for their phenolic compounds and tested for antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiadhesive, and antiinflammatory effects. The main phenolic compounds in both lingonberries and cranberries were proanthocyanidins comprising 63-71% of the total phenolic content, but anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, and flavonols were also found. Proanthocyanidins are polymeric phenolic compounds consisting mainly of catechin, epicatechin, gallocatechin, and epigallocatechin units. In the present study, proanthocyanidins were divided into three groups: dimers and trimers, oligomers (mDP 4-10), and polymers (mDP > 10). Catechin, epicatechin, A-type dimers and trimers were found to be the terminal units of isolated proanthocyanidin fractions. Inhibitions of lipid oxidation in liposomes were over 70% and in emulsions over 85%, and in most cases the oligomeric or polymeric fraction was the most effective. Polymeric proanthocyanidin extracts of lingonberries and cranberries were strongly antimicrobial against Staphylococcus aureus, whereas they had no effect on other bacterial strains such as Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Escherichia coli. Polymeric fraction of cranberries and oligomeric fractions of both lingonberries and cranberries showed an inhibitory effect on hemagglutination of E. coli, which expresses the M hemagglutin. Cranberry phenolic extract inhibited LPS-induced NO production in a dose-dependent manner, but it had no major effect on iNOS of COX-2 expression. At a concentration of 100 μg/mL cranberry phenolic extract inhibited LPS-induced IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α production. Lingonberry phenolics had no significant effect on IL-1β production but inhibited IL-6 and TNF-α production at a concentration of 100 μg/mL similarly to cranberry phenolic extract. In conclusion the phenolics, notably proanthocyanidins (oligomers and polymers), in both lingonberries and cranberries exert multiple bioactivities that may be exploited in food development.
Total polyphenolic and anthocyanin- and proanthocyanidin-rich fractions from wild blackberry genotypes (WB-3, WB-7, WB-10, and WB-11), a domesticated noncommercial breeding line (UM-601), and a commercial cultivar (Tupy) were evaluated for inhibition of pro-inflammatory responses [nitric oxide (NO) production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)] in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At 50 microM [cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) or catechin equivalent], most fractions significantly (P<0.05) inhibited all markers. The anthocyanin-rich fraction from WB-10 and the proanthocyanidin-rich fraction from UM-601 exhibited the highest NO inhibitory activities (IC50=16.1 and 15.1 microM, respectively). Proanthocyanidin-rich fractions from the wild WB-10 showed the highest inhibition of iNOS expression (IC50=8.3 microM). Polyphenolic-rich fractions from WB-7 and UM-601 were potent inhibitors of COX-2 expression (IC50=19.1 and 19.3 microM C3G equivalent, respectively). For most of the extracts, antioxidant capacity was significantly correlated with NO inhibition. Wild genotypes of Mexican blackberries, as rich sources of polyphenolics that have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, showed particular promise for inclusion in plant improvement programs designed to develop new varieties with nutraceutical potential.
The objective of this study was to validate an improved 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC) colorimetric method using a commercially available standard (procyanidin A2), for the standard method for quantification of proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberry powders, in order to establish dosage guidelines for the uropathogenic bacterial anti-adhesion effect of cranberry.
Commercially available cranberry samples were obtained (five from U.S. sources and six from European sources) for PAC quantification in five different analytical laboratories. Each laboratory extracted and analyzed the samples using the improved DMAC method. Within-laboratory variation (mean +/- SD) was 4.1 +/- 1.7% RSD (range, 2.3-6.1% RSD) and the between laboratory variability was 16.9 +/- 8.5% RSD (range, 8-32% RSD). For comparative purposes, the cranberry samples were alternatively quantified using weights of extracted PACs (gravimetric). The correlation coefficient between the two methods was 0.989.
This improved DMAC method provides a simple, robust and relatively specific spectrophotometric assay for total PACs in cranberry samples using commercially available procyanidin A2 dimer as a standard. DMAC is most useful within a given type of food such as cranberries, but may not be appropriate for comparing concentrations across different food types, particularly in those cases where large differences exist among the relative amounts of each oligomer and polymer.
Wild berries are integral dietary components for Alaska Native people and a rich source of polyphenolic metabolites that can ameliorate metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. In this study, five species of wild Alaskan berries (Vaccinium ovalifolium , Vaccinium uliginosum , Rubus chamaemorus , Rubus spectabilis , and Empetrum nigrum) were screened for bioactivity through a community-participatory research method involving three geographically distinct tribal communities. Compositional analysis by HPLC and LC-MS(2) revealed substantial site-specific variation in anthocyanins (0.01-4.39 mg/g of FW) and proanthocyanidins (0.74-6.25 mg/g of FW) and identified A-type proanthocyanidin polymers. R. spectabilis increased expression levels of preadipocyte factor 1 (182%), and proanthocyanidin-enriched fractions from other species reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Selected extracts reduced serum glucose levels in C57BL/6J mice by up to 45%. Local observations provided robust insights into effects of climatic fluctuations on berry abundance and quality, and preliminary site-specific compositional and bioactivity differences were noted, suggesting the need to monitor this Alaska Native resource as climate shifts affect the region.
The flavonoids, anthocyanins and flavonols, in bog bilberries (Vaccinium uliginosum L.) were studied from 15 populations in Finland on a south-north axis of approximately 1000 km. Four anthocyanidin xylosides and 14 flavonol glycosides were tentatively identified by means of HPLC-ESI-MS. Twenty-five major flavonoids were quantified by HPLC-DAD. The averages (+/-standard deviation) in the contents of anthocyanins and flavonols were 1425+/-398 and 1133+/-290 mg/100 g of dry weight, respectively. The most abundant anthocyanidin was malvidin, followed by delphinidin, petunidin, cyanidin, and peonidin. Quercetin was the major flavonol, followed by myricetin, laricitrin, syringetin, and isorhamnetin. Anthocyanins were mostly glucosides, whereas flavonols were mainly conjugated to galactose. The anthocyanin content in the berries from the south was the lowest. The delphinidin content was the highest but the proportion of malvidin the lowest in the north. The total flavonol content and the level of myricetin and quercetin were the highest in the north.
Blueberry fruits are known as a rich source of anthocyanin components. In this study we demonstrate that anthocyanins from blueberry have the potency to alleviate symptoms of hyperglycemia in diabetic C57b1/6J mice. The anti-diabetic activity of different anthocyanin-related extracts was evaluated using the pharmaceutically acceptable self-microemulsifying drug delivery system: Labrasol. Treatment by gavage (500 mg/kg body wt) with a phenolic-rich extract and an anthocyanin-enriched fraction formulated with Labrasol lowered elevated blood glucose levels by 33 and 51%, respectively. The hypoglycemic activities of these formulae were comparable to that of the known anti-diabetic drug metformin (27% at 300 mg/kg). The extracts were not significantly hypoglycemic when administered without Labrasol, demonstrating its bio-enhancing effect, most likely due to increasing the bioavailability of the administered preparations. The phenolic-rich extract contained 287.0+/-9.7 mg/g anthocyanins, while the anthocyanin-enriched fraction contained 595+/-20.0 mg/g (cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents), as measured by HPLC and pH differential analysis methods. The greater hypoglycemic activity of the anthocyanin-enriched fraction compared to the initial phenolic-rich extract suggested that the activity was due to the anthocyanin components. Treatment by gavage (300 mg/kg) with the pure anthocyanins, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside and malvidin-3-O-glucoside, formulated with Labrasol, showed that malvidin-3-O-glucoside was significantly hypoglycemic while delphinidin-3-O-glucoside was not.
Absorption of cyanidin-based anthocyanins is not fully understood with respect to dose or anthocyanin structure. In feeding studies using whole foods, nonacylated anthocyanins are more bioavailable than their acylated counterparts, but the extent to which plant matrix determines relative bioavailability of anthocyanins is unknown. Using juice of purple carrots to circumvent matrix effects, a feeding trial was conducted to determine relative bioavailability of acylated and nonacylated anthocyanins and to assess dose-response effects. Appearance of anthocyanins in plasma was measured in 10 healthy adults for 8 h following consumption of purple carrot juice. Each subject consumed 50, 150, and 250 mL of juice containing 76 micromol (65 mg), 228 micromol (194 mg), and 380 micromol (323 mg) of total anthocyanins, respectively. Acylated anthocyanins comprised 76% of total anthocyanins in the juice, yet their bioavailability was found to be significantly less than that of nonacylated anthocyanins. Peak plasma concentrations of nonacylated anthocyanins were 4-fold higher than that for acylated anthocyanins. Absorption efficiency declined across the doses administered. Because the treatments were consumed as juice, it could be discerned that the difference in bioavailability of acylated versus nonacylated anthocyanins was not primarily caused by interactions with the plant matrix.
A tetrazolium salt has been used to develop a quantitative colorimetric assay for mammalian cell survival and proliferation. The assay detects living, but not dead cells and the signal generated is dependent on the degree of activation of the cells. This method can therefore be used to measure cytotoxicity, proliferation or activation. The results can be read on a multiwell scanning spectrophotometer (ELISA reader) and show a high degree of precision. No washing steps are used in the assay. The main advantages of the colorimetric assay are its rapidity and precision, and the lack of any radioisotope. We have used the assay to measure proliferative lymphokines, mitogen stimulations and complement-mediated lysis.
Metabolism, like other aspects of life, involves tradeoffs. Oxidant by-products of normal metabolism cause extensive damage to DNA, protein, and lipid. We argue that this damage (the same as that produced by radiation) is a major contributor to aging and to degenerative diseases of aging such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune-system decline, brain dysfunction, and cataracts. Antioxidant defenses against this damage include ascorbate, tocopherol, and carotenoids. Dietary fruits and vegetables are the principal source of ascorbate and carotenoids and are one source of tocopherol. Low dietary intake of fruits and vegetables doubles the risk of most types of cancer as compared to high intake and also markedly increases the risk of heart disease and cataracts. Since only 9% of Americans eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, the opportunity for improving health by improving diet is great.