HEALTH FUNCTIONALITY OF SMALL FRUIT

Abstract

Various types of scientific evidence are accumulating which suggests that fruits and vegetables may provide benefits against such significant disease states as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune system decline, and certain neurological disorders. These and other diseases have been associated with unrepaired oxidative damage to nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Thus the antioxidant properties of certain plant phytochemicals are purported to provide protective effects. The phenolics are the major group of antioxidant phytochemicals found in berry crops such as blueberries, bilberries, and cranberries. Evidence from either in vitro, in vivo, or both types of studies suggest that fruit extracts and/or isolated phenolic compounds are associated with antioxidant, as well as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and neurprotective properties. Increased awareness of the reported health functionality of small fruit has stimulated consumer interest in the possibility of positively affecting personal health and disease risk through the consumption of fruit and vegetable phytochemicals.