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Traditional Research on the Fruits  in

CRANBERRY BLUEBERRY SOLID

 

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Cranberry (Vaccinium sp.)

Blueberry(Vaccinium sp.)*

 Regular consumption of cranberries has been shown to both help prevent urinary tract infections and treat active infections by preventing bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall 1, 2 , 3. Blueberries, like other Vaccinium species (Bilberry, Huckleberry, Cranberry) contain flavonoids such as anthocyanins which are potent antioxidants. Blueberries had the highest antioxidant capacity of 40 fruits and vegetables tested by the USDA. These berries have a powerful ability to protect against free radical damage, inhibit enzymes which may promote cancer, reduce histamine production and act as an anti-inflammatory nutrient to connective tissue. Research has shown that proanthocyanidins can induce a deformation in both antibiotic-susceptible and antiobiotic-resistant bacteria, thus rendering them unable to attach to the uroepithelial cells that line the bladder. They also lighten the biofilm that forms on the tissue to support microbial growth 2, 4. Cranberries and blueberries contain high levels of proanthocyanidins and have been shown in numerous clinical trials to reduce the number and severity of urinary tract infections, especially in women and high risk populations 4, 5, 6. Cranberries also acidify the urine, which makes the bladder environment more resistant to infections and aids in the reduction of urinary calculi formation 7. As nutrient-rich foods, both cranberries and blueberries are low in calories, high in Vitamin C and flavonoid content and are a good source of fiber. Blueberries are also provide manganese, which is a trace mineral needed for healthy insulin production and as a synergistic nutrient involved in bone and blood formation 8. The same mechanism responsible for the ability of cranberries and blueberries to be effective in treating urinary tract infections may also be responsible for the fact that these fruits inhibit the adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to the stomach lining 9, 10, 11. H. pylori infection is responsible for the formation of gastric ulcers, gastritis and several types of gastric cancer. Cranberries have also been shown to inhibit the adhesion of Streptococcus mutans, which causes dental plaque and leads to tooth decay 12, 13, 14. The anthocyanins in both fruits are effective antioxidants and reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage caused by environmental and age-related metabolic processes. This makes them useful tools in fighting oxidative disease processes such as degenerative eye disease and atherosclerosis 15. The polyphenols have been shown to be involved in reducing ischemic brain damage and in combating neurodegenerative aging processes 16, 17. 
Apple (Malus pumila)* Apples contain Vitamin A and potassium. They also contain boron, a trace mineral necessary for proper absorption of calcium for healthy bone growth and maintenance. Apple procyanidins inhibit proliferation of animal melanoma cells and human metastatic colon cancer cells in laboratory studies 18, 19.
Bibliography:

1. Liu, Y, Gallardo-Moreno, AM, Pinzon-Arango, PA, et al. Cranberry Changes the Physiochemical Surface Properties of E. coli and Adhesion with Uroepithelial Cells. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2008 Feb 26 (Epub ahead of print).

2. Lavinge, JP, Bourg, G, Botto, H, et al. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and Urinary Tract Infections: Study Model and Review of Literature. Pathol Biol (Paris) 55 (8-9), pp 460-464, 2007.

3. DiMartino, P, Agniel, R, David, K, et al. Reduction of Escherichia coli Adherence to Uroepithelial Bladder Cells After Consumption of Cranberry Juice: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Trial. World J Urol 24 (1), pp 21-27, 2006.

4. Reid, G, Hsiehl, J, Potter, P, et al. Cranberry Juice Consumption May Reduce Biofilms on Uroepithelial Cells: Pilot Study in Spinal Cord Injured Patients. Spinal Cord 39 (1), pp 26-30, 2001.

5. Bailey, DT, Dalton, C Joseph Daugherty, F, et al. Can a Concentrated Cranberry Extract Prevent Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women? A Pilot Study. Phytomedicine 14 (4), pp 237-241, 2007.

6. Jepson, RG and Craig, JC. Cranberries for Preventing Urinary Tract Infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 23 (1), CD001321, 2008.

7. Gettman, MT, Ogan, K, Brinkley, LJ, et al. Effect of Cranberry Juice Consumption on Urinary Stone Risk Factors. J Urol 174 (2), pp 590-594, 2005.

8. Ringer, Douglas L., ed. 1998 Physicians’ Guide to Neutriceuticals. Omaha: Imperial Printing Company, 1998, p 252.

9. Gotteland, M, Andrews, M, Toledo, M, et al. Modulation of Helicobacter pylori Colonization with Cranberry Juice and Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 in Children. Nutrition 24 (5), pp 421-426, 2008.

10. Shmuely, H, Yahav, J, Samra, Z, et al. Effect of Cranberry Juice on Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Patients Treated with Antiobiotics and a Proton Pump Inhibitor. Mol Nutr Food Res 51 (6), pp 746-751, 2007.

11. Zhang, L, Ma, J, Pan, K, et al. Efficacy of Cranberry Juice on Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Helicobacter 10 (2), pp 139-145, 2005.

12. Koo, H, Nino de Guzman, P, Schobel, BD, et al. Influence of Cranberry Juice on Glucan-Mediated Processes Involved in Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Development. Caries Res 40 (1), pp 20-27, 2006.

13. Sharon, N and Ofek, I. Fighting Infectious Diseases with Inhibitors of Microbial Adhesion to Host Tissues. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 42 (3 Suppl), pp 267-272, 2002.

14. Weiss, EI, Lev-Dor, R, Kashamn, Y, et al. Inhibiting Interspecies Coaggregation of Plaque Bacteria with a Cranberry Juice Constituent [published erratam appear in J Am Dent Assoc 1999 Jan; 130 (1):26 and 1999 Mar;130(3):332]. J Am Dent Assoc 1998 129 (12), pp 1719-1723, 1998.

15. Neto, CC. Cranberry and Blueberry: Evidence for Protective Effects Against Cancer and Vascular Diseases. Mol Nutr Food Res 51 (6), pp. 652-664, 2007.

16. Lau, FC, Shukitt-Hale, B and Joseph, JA. The Beneficial Effects of Fruit Polyphenols on Brain Aging. Neurobiol Aging 26 Suppl 1, pp 128-132, 2005.

17. Wang, Y, Chang, CF, Chou, J, et al. Dietary Supplementation with Blueberries, Spinach, or Spirulina Reduces Ischemic Brain Damage. Exp Neurol 193 (1), pp 75-84, 2005.

18. Miura, T, Chiba, M, Kasai, K, et al. Apple Procyanidins Induce Tumor-Cell Apoptosis Through Mitochondrial Pathway Activation of Caspase-3. Carcinogenesis Sept 7, 2007.

19. Gossé, F, Guyot, S, Roussi, S, et al. Chemopreventative Properties of Apple Procyanidins on Human Colon Cancer-Derived Metastatic SW620 Cells and in a Rat Model of Colon Carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis 26 (7), pp 1291-1295, 2005.

*Herbal Therapeutics Research Library

Author: David Winston (RH) AHG

 

©2008 Herbal Therapeutics Research Library. All rights reserved

 Disclaimer: The information on historical, ethnobotanical and phytotherapeutic uses of herbs and traditional formulas contained herein is based on the experience and research of the author. It is not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician or other health care provider. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should be done under the direction of a health care professional. The publisher and author are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the information discussed. Should you have any questions concerning the appropriateness of any preparation mentioned, the author strongly suggests consulting a professional health care advisor.