1. ries No. 41
Pennington Nutrition Se medicine
in nutrition and preventive
Healt hier lives through education
Cranberries
Great for your health
Berries come in many varieties: blueberries, blackberries,
cranberries, red and black raspberries, loganberries, currants,
gooseberries, lingonberries, and bilberries.
Berry fruits contain two main types of antioxidants: polyphenols
and ascorbic acid.
Polyphenols are composed of a wide range of compounds,
including anthocyanins, flavanols, quercetin, ursolic acid, and
ellagic acid derivatives.
The polyphenolic composition of berries varies with the species,
variety, degree of ripeness and type of processing.
Berries also contain lutein, calcium, magnesium, folic acid, and
potassium, and are low in calories.
Why do we need antioxidants?
In normal metabolism, the levels of oxidants and antioxidants in
humans are maintained in balance. This is important for sustaining
optimal physiological conditions. Certain conditions can cause an
overproduction of oxidants, leading to an imbalance of oxidants
and antioxidants in the body. The result of this imbalance is
oxidative damage to lipids, DNA, and proteins. Oxidative damage
is cancer-inducing, and may be prevented or limited by dietary
antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. Recent studies have
shown that phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables are
compounds that help to eliminate harmful oxidants and are,
therefore, beneficial to human health.

2. Total Phenolic Content & Total Antioxidant Activity of 11 Fruits
Fruit Total Phenolic Content Total Antioxidant Activity
Why do we need antioxidants? mg/100 g µmol of vitamin C equiv. per
Antioxidants, particularly phenolic antioxidants, (soluble free+ bound) g of fresh wt of edible fruit
provide great health benefits. A study tested both
the total phenolic content and the total antioxidant Apple 296.3 ± 6.4 97.6 ± 4.6
activity in eleven selected common fruits. In Banana 90.4 ± 3.2 32.8 ± 1.5
addition, the study examined antiproliferation
Cranberry 527.2 ± 21.5 177.0 ± 4.3
properties in cell culture. Among all tests on the
eleven fruits, cranberries ranked first, suggesting Grapefruit 49.6 ± 2.6 24.7 ± 0.17
that these berries are superior to all ten of the Lemon 81.9 ± 3.5 42.8 ± 1.0
other fruits and berries tested in regards to
Orange 81.2 ± 1.1 31.5 ± 0.27
potential health benefits.
Peach 84.6 ± 0.7 49.5 ± 2.8
Pear 70.6 ± 1.6 34.2 ± 0.3
Pineapple 94.3 ± 1.5 16.9 ± 0.3
Red Grape 201.0 ± 2.9 64.7 ± 1.6
Strawberry 160.0 ± 1.2 64.4 ± 1.1
The top 5 are highlighted in each category.
Antiproliferative Activities of Fruit Extracts Antiproliferative Activities
Fruit Antiproliferative activities, Antiproliferative means preventing
expressed as the median effective rapid cell growth.
dose (EC50) [mg/ml]*
Among the eleven selected common
Cranberry 14.5 ± 0.5
fruits: cranberry, lemon, apple,
Lemon 30.6 ± 0.8 strawberry, red grape, banana, and
Apple 49.4 ± 1.6 grapefruit showed relatively potent
antiproliferative activities on
Strawberry 56.3 ± 1.5
cell cultures.
Red Grape 71.0 ± 2.2
Since these fruits were effective, they
Banana 110.1 ± 2.5
can prevent rapid cell growth, e.g.
Grapefruit 130.1 ± 4.5 cancer cells.
* Lower EC50 values indicate a higher
antiproliferative activity

3. Research Findings on Cranberries
Overview
In herbal medicine, cranberry fruits and leaves have
been used for a variety of medical conditions, such Urinary Tract Infections
as wounds, urinary disorders, diarrhea, diabetes,
stomach ailments and liver problems.
Recently, cranberry products have been used in the Cranberry juice has been used for the
prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections prevention of urinary tract infections (UTI).
and Helicobacter pylori infections (which leads to Research has now linked this property to
stomach ulcers or even gastric cancer over time). the ability of cranberry proanthocyanidins
Cranberries have also been reported to have to inhibit the adhesion of Escherichia coli ,
antioxidant properties useful in the the bacteria responsible for these in-
prevention of heart disease and fections, in the urinary tract.
cancer.
H. Pylori Infections
Cranberry constituents can also inhibit
Cancer
the adhesion of H. pylori to human
Cranberry flavonoids (flavanols and anthocyanins) have an gastric mucus. A randomized,
important role in chemoprevention and may act synergistically. In double-blind human trial found signifi-
several studies, they stopped the growth of various cancer cells and cantly lower levels of H. pylori infection
significantly reduced proliferation of cancerous cells. in adults consuming cranberry juice.
Cyclooxygenase is an enzyme responsible for various enzymatic
reactions in the body. Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) may be
increased in cancer, while cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme
produced during inflammation. Inhibition of COX-1 and-2 by
cranberry phytochemicals, particularly anthocyanins, may lead to
a decreased risk for the development of some cancers.
A UCLA study showed that water-soluble cranberry phenolic
extracts inhibited the proliferation of several human tumor cell
lines, including mouth, colon, and prostate cancer cells. This study
provided support that cranberry flavonoids act synergistically in
preventing cell line growth and proliferation. The anthocyanin and
proanthocyanin subfractions were less effective alone than in total Helicobacter Pylori
extract.

4. Heart Disease
Cranberries have also been suggested to play a role in the
prevention of heart disease. This is likely largely due to the high
antioxidant capacity of cranberries.
References
Seeram N. Blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry,
red raspberry and strawberry extract inhibit growth and
stimulate apoptosis of human cancer cells in vitro.
J Agric Food Chem. 2006; 54: 9329-39.
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a world-renowned nutrition research
Neto C. Cranberry and its phytochemicals: a review of in vitro center.
anticancer studies. J Nutr. 2007; 137: 186S-193S.
Mission:
Sun J et al. Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of com-
mon fruits. J Agric Food Chem. 2002; 50: 7449-7454. To promote healthier lives through research and education in nutrition and preventive
medicine.
Herbs at a Glance. Cranberries. National Center for Comple-
The Pennington Center has several research areas, including
mentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Available at:
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/cranberry/ Clinical Obesity Research
Experimental Obesity
Functional Foods
Health and Performance Enhancement
Nutrition and Chronic Diseases
Nutrition and the Brain
Dementia, Alzheimer’s and healthy aging
Pennington Nutrition Series No 41 10/07 Diet, exercise, weight loss and weight loss maintenance
Authors The research fostered in these areas can have a profound impact on healthy living and
on the prevention of common chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabe-
Heli J. Roy, PhD, RD
tes, hypertension and osteoporosis.
Shanna Lundy, MS
The Division of Education provides education and information to the scientific commu-
Chad Eriksen, BA
nity and the public about research findings, training programs and research areas, and
Beth Kalicki coordinates educational events for the public on various health issues.
Division of Education We invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the exciting research
Phillip Brantley, PhD, Director studies being conducted at the Pennington Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you
would like to take part, visit the clinical trials web page at www.pbrc.edu or call (225)
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
763-3000.
Claude Bouchard, PhD, Executive Director
Edited : October 2009