Bioavailability Of Anthocyanins Research Articles

Polysaccharide-potato protein coacervates for enhanced anthocyanin bioavailability and stability

Anthocyanins (ACNs) possess strong antioxidants, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties but are limited use by their susceptibility to environmental factors. This study aims to overcome these limitations by developing and assessing a novel coacervate system, consisting of potato protein isolate (PPI) combined with various polysaccharides, to stabilize and encapsulate anthocyanins from black carrot concentrate The polysaccharides included in this system include inulin, gum Arabic, guar gum, pectin, and soluble fiber. The coacervate system's effectiveness in maintaining stability and increasing the bioavailability of anthocyanins was evaluated compared to conventional soybean protein-based systems. The results show that pH considerably influences potato protein solubility, with maximum solubility at strongly acidic (pH 2) conditions. Hygroscopicity and moisture content analysis of the coacervates showed significant variations, with potato protein-guar gum (PPIGG) microcapsules having the lowest moisture content and potato protein gum Arabic (PPIGA) microcapsules having the highest moisture content. SEM imaging illustrated distinct microcapsule morphologies, while FT-IR measurement verified the successful integration of proteins and polysaccharides. The significance of the research reflects its proof that potato protein isolate (PPI) based coacervate systems consists of potato protein with polysaccharides, particularly those containing gum Arabic and pectin, have significant potential for improving anthocyanin stability and bioavailability. These findings guide future studies to investigate other polysaccharides, improve coacervation processes, and explore applications in the food and nutraceutical sectors. It also offers valuable insights for creating efficient encapsulation techniques for bioactive substances.

Effects of L-Proline on the Stability of Mulberry Anthocyanins and the Mechanism of Interaction between L-Proline and Cyanidin-3-O-Glycoside.

The protective effects of L-aspartic acid, L-valine, and L-proline on the stability of mulberry anthocyanins were investigated. Results showed that L-aspartic acid, L-valine, and L-proline significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) the stability of mulberry anthocyanins under constant light or ascorbic acid (AA). L-Proline had the best protective effect against anthocyanin degradation. The interaction between L-proline and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, which improved the stability of C3G, was confirmed using FT-IR, 1H NMR, XRD, and molecular docking analyses, as well as molecular dynamics modes. In vitro digestion experiments yielded that both 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging capacities of the C3G/Pro group were increased in the intestinal fluid (p < 0.05). The above findings suggest that L-proline effectively slowed down the degradation of mulberry anthocyanins, and that it could be used as an auxiliary pigment and food additive to extend the optimal flavor period of products containing mulberry anthocyanins, and can improve the bioavailability of mulberry anthocyanins.

Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) Anthocyanins and Their Functions, Stability, Bioavailability, and Applications.

Blueberry fruits are rich in anthocyanins. There are 25 known anthocyanidins found in blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) until now. Anthocyanins found in blueberries have attracted considerable interest for their outstanding abilities as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and neuroprotection compounds, as well as their potential for preventing cardiovascular diseases, protecting vision, and inhibiting cancer development. However, their application is constrained by issues related to instability and relatively low bioavailability. Thus, this review provides a detailed overview of categories, functions, stability, and bioavailability of blueberry anthocyanins and their practical applications. The available studies indicate that there is more potential for the industrial production of blueberry anthocyanins.

Review of Process and Extraction Effects on the Bioavailability of Anthocyanins in Grapes

Grapes are widely consumed worldwide in various forms, including fresh and dried, or processed into products like juice, vinegar, wine, and so on. Anthocyanins, mainly found in grapes, are responsible for various health-promoting effects and contribute to their colours such as red, purple, and blue. Although grapes contain a high quantity of anthocyanins, their bioavailability is considered limited. Anthocyanins may be absorbed by the gastrointestinal wall, undergo intensive first-pass metabolism, and emerge as metabolites in systemic circulation. A significant percentage of some anthocyanins can enter the large intestine and undergo breakdown induced by digestive system microorganisms. Several factors, such as pH, temperature, light, and solvents, can affect anthocyanin bioavailability, and processing grapes into products may impact their bioavailability. Considering the high market share of grapes and grape products, it is important to understand the effects of processing on anthocyanin bioavailability. This review discusses changes in the bioavailability of anthocyanins found in grapes and grape products during food processing, the effect of extraction conditions on bioavailability, as well as the health-promoting effects of grapes and grape products.

Research Progress on the Extraction and Purification of Anthocyanins and Their Interactions with Proteins.

Anthocyanins, as the most critical water-soluble pigments in nature, are widely present in roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and fruit peels. Many studies have indicated that anthocyanins exhibit various biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, vision protection, and anti-aging. Hence, anthocyanins are widely used in food, medicine, and cosmetics. The green and efficient extraction and purification of anthocyanins are an important prerequisite for their further development and utilization. However, the poor stability and low bioavailability of anthocyanins limit their application. Protein, one of the three essential nutrients for the human body, has good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Proteins are commonly used in food processing, but their functional properties need to be improved. Notably, anthocyanins can interact with proteins through covalent and non-covalent means during food processing, which can effectively improve the stability of anthocyanins and enhance their bioavailability. Moreover, the interactions between proteins and anthocyanins can also improve the functional characteristics and enhance the nutritional quality of proteins. Hence, this article systematically reviews the extraction and purification methods for anthocyanins. Moreover, this review also systematically summarizes the effect of the interactions between anthocyanins and proteins on the bioavailability of anthocyanins and their impact on protein properties. Furthermore, we also introduce the application of the interaction between anthocyanins and proteins. The findings can provide a theoretical reference for the application of anthocyanins and proteins in food deep processing.

Bioavailability of Anthocyanins: Whole Foods versus Extracts.

Anthocyanins have gained significant popularity in recent years for their diverse health benefits, yet their limited bioavailability poses a challenge. To address this concern, technologies have emerged to enhance anthocyanin concentration, often isolating these compounds from other food constituents. However, the extent to which isolated anthocyanins confer health benefits compared to their whole-food counterparts remains unclear. This review explores the current literature on anthocyanin bioavailability and metabolism in the body, with a focus on comparing bioavailability when consumed as extracts versus whole foods rich in anthocyanins, drawing from in vitro, in vivo, and human clinical studies. While direct comparisons between anthocyanin bioavailability in whole foods versus isolates are scarce, prevailing evidence favours whole-food consumption over anthocyanin extracts. Further clinical investigations, preferably with direct comparisons, are needed to validate these findings and elucidate the nuanced interplay between anthocyanins and food matrices, informing future research directions and practical recommendations.

Enhanced stability and bioavailability of mulberry anthocyanins through the development of sodium caseinate-konjac glucomannan nanoparticles

This study was carried out to improve the stability of anthocyanins (ACNs) by developing MA-SC-KGM nanoparticles using a self-assembly method that involved the combination of sodium caseinate (SC) and konjac glucomannan (KGM) with mulberry anthocyanin extract (MA). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis showed SC encapsulated MA successfully. Multispectral techniques demonstrated the presence of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions in the nanoparticles. MA-SC-KGM ternary mixture improved storage stability, color stability and anthocyanin retention better compared to the MA-SC binary mixture. Notably, MA-SC-KGM nanoparticles significantly inhibited the thermal degradation of ACNs, improved pH stability, and showed stability and a slow-release effect in gastrointestinal digestion experiments. In addition, MA-SC-KGM nanoparticles were effective in scavenging DPPH· and ABTS+ free radicals, with enhanced stability and antioxidant capacity even during the heating process. This study successfully developed a novel MA-SC-KGM protein-polysaccharide composite material that effectively stabilized natural ACNs, expanding the application of ACNs in various industries.

Dietary Sources, Stabilization, Health Benefits, and Industrial Application of Anthocyanins-A Review.

Natural phytochemicals are well known to protect against numerous metabolic disorders. Anthocyanins are vacuolar pigments belonging to the parent class of flavonoids. They are well known for their potent antioxidant and gut microbiome-modulating properties, primarily responsible for minimizing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and several other diseases associated with metabolic syndromes. Berries are the primary source of anthocyanin in the diet. The color and stability of anthocyanins are substantially influenced by external environmental conditions, constraining their applications in foods. Furthermore, the significantly low bioavailability of anthocyanins greatly diminishes the extent of the actual health benefits linked to these bioactive compounds. Multiple strategies have been successfully developed and utilized to enhance the stability and bioavailability of anthocyanins. This review provides a comprehensive view of the recent advancements in chemistry, biosynthesis, dietary sources, stabilization, bioavailability, industrial applications, and health benefits of anthocyanins. Finally, we summarize the prospects and challenges of applications of anthocyanin in foods.

Phenolic Characterization of a Purple Maize (Zea mays cv. "Moragro") by HPLC-QTOF-MS and Study of Its Bioaccessibility Using a Simulated In Vitro Digestion/Caco-2 Culture Model.

The present work aimed to characterize the phenolic and antioxidant content of the Argentinian purple maize "Moragro" cultivar. Additionally, the INFOGEST simulated in vitro digestion model was used to establish the effect of digestion on bioactive compounds. Finally, digestion samples were used to treat Caco-2 cells in the transwell model to better understand their bioavailability. Twenty-six phenolic compounds were found in purple maize cv. "Moragro", 15 nonanthocyanins and 11 anthocyanins. Several compounds were identified in maize for the first time, such as pyrogallol, citric acid, gallic acid, kaempferol 3-(6″-ferulylglucoside), and kaempferol 3-glucuronide. Anthocyanins accounted for 24.9% of total polyphenols, with the predominant anthocyanin being cyanidin-3-(6″ malonylglucoside). Catechin-(4,8)-cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside and catechin-(4,8)-cyanidin-3-malonylglucoside-5-glucoside were detected as characteristics of this American maize variety. Total polyphenol content (TPC; by the Folin-Ciocalteu method), HPLC-DAD/MSMS, and antioxidant activity [by DPPH and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)] were evaluated throughout in vitro digestion. TPC, DPPH, and FRAP results were 2.71 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g, 24 μmol Trolox equiv/g, and 22 μmol Trolox eq/g, respectively. The in vitro digestion process did not cause significant differences in TPC. However, the antioxidant activity was significantly decreased. Moreover, the bioavailability of anthocyanins was studied, showing that a small fraction of polyphenols in their intact form was conserved at the end of digestion. Finally, a protective effect of digested maize polyphenols was observed in the Caco-2 cell viability. The results suggest that "Moragro" purple maize is a good source of bioavailable anthocyanins in the diet and an interesting source of this group of compounds for the food industry.

Encapsulation of anthocyanins from purple yam extract (Dioscorea alata, L.) flour using maltodextrin-whey protein isolate

Anthocyanins are antioxidant compounds that can act as anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and prevention of diabetes. In Indonesia, many foods are rich in anthocyanin compounds, including purple yam tuber (Dioscorea alata L.). Anthocyanins are easily damaged by exposure to light changes in pH and temperature. Encapsulation can increase the nutritional value, color, shelf life, and bioavailability and stability of anthocyanin. The encapsulant such as maltodextrin and whey protein isolate were chosen because they were affordable and can protect the anthocyanin. Anthocyanin extract from purple yam flour were prepared to be incorporated in nanoencapsulation. Encapsulation were prepared with a ratio of maltodextrin and whey protein isolate = 1 : 3 (w/w) with anthocyanin extract of 5, 20 and 30%. Each formulas were dried by a spray drier. The results showed that the treatment using 30% anthocyanin extract resulted in the best nanoencapsulation. The encapsulation had anthocyanin content was 77.72 mg/100 g, total phenolic content was 510.07 mg GAE/100 g (db), antioxidant activity was 24.06 % RSA, color L* = 79.15, a * = 5.58, b* = -0.39. Therefore, anthocyanin extract encapsulation can be produced successfully by this method.

New Labeling Rules for Wine: Wine Alcohol-Derived Calories and Polyphenol Consumption on Health.

Alcohol content, proanthocyanins and anthocyanins influence wine quality. The composition of wine depends on the type of cultivar, location, environmental conditions, and management practices. Phenolic compounds have attracted considerable research interest due to their antioxidant properties and potential beneficial effects on human health. However, the low bioavailability of anthocyanins creates a major bottleneck in their ability to exert beneficial effects. Despite extensive research on the effects of wine on human health, no clear evidence has been obtained on the benefits of wine quality or geographic area of production on health conditions, such as metabolic syndrome. Five climatically and geologically distinct wines were evaluated. Based on recent studies, meta-analyses, and pooled analyses of wine composition, along with the predicted low bioavailability of polyphenol compounds, we estimated the efficacy of five geographically distinct wines according to gastrointestinal absorption and the effects of alcohol intake on both men and women, with a view to ascertaining whether geographical origin influences the antioxidant serum composition of wine. Data on the estimated consumption of wine suggest that the polyphenol contents are similar regardless of choice of wine/area, while different alcohol compositions affect the level of alcohol and calorie intake. Thus, moderate wine drinkers should be advised to control the habit, but without exceeding the dose considered a healthy threshold (up to 30-40 g of alcohol/day in men and 10-20 g of alcohol/day in women), given no medical contraindications are present. These results will add value to the framework of the last reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) adopted in December 2021, where the European Parliament and the Council introduced new labeling rules for the wine sector and aromatized wine products.

Influence of protein and leucine on in vitro accessibility and apparent permeability of phenolic compounds in blackberry-dairy blends

There is increasing consumer interest in performance nutrition beverages that improve muscle recovery, endurance and strength, and a desired product type would be dairy-blackberry beverages. However, the effect of phenolic compounds on the digestion of milk proteins, and the effect of milk proteins on the bioaccessibility and permeability of phenolic compounds through the intestinal wall is poorly understood. In this study, dairy-blackberry beverages were made by adding milk protein concentrate and/or leucine and freeze-dried blackberry puree to skimmed milk, to formulate beverages with different protein contents and two different leucine contents. These beverages were subjected to in vitro digestion, and their protein breakdown was analysed with electrophoresis. The accessibility of flavonoids, anthocyanins and individual phenolic compounds was determined and the apparent permeability (Papp) of individual phenolic compounds through Caco-2 cells was analysed. It was found that β-lactoglobulin in samples with a higher protein content was more resistant to digestion. An increase in protein had no influence on the bioaccessibility of flavonoids as a whole but increased the bioaccessibility of the subgroup anthocyanins from 13% in water to 64% in high protein milk. The Papp of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid and rutin was determined. Milk proteins improved the Papp of gallic acid and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, to a maximum value of 4.26 and 0.36 × 10⁻⁶ cm/s but had no clear influence on protocatechuic acid and rutin. In conclusion, higher milk protein levels were associated with increased bioavailability of anthocyanins and their metabolites, which could inform formulation strategies for performance nutrition.

Gastrointestinal fate of blueberry anthocyanins in ferritin-based nanocarriers

Blueberries contain an important amount of anthocyanins, which possess numerous biological properties. Nonetheless, the potential applications of anthocyanins may be constrained due to their limited stability and bioavailability. This study aimed to evaluate the stability and absorption of blueberry anthocyanin extracts (BAE) and anthocyanin standards (malvidin and cyanidin glycosides) when encapsulated using ferritin (FR) nanocarriers or a combination of FR and sodium alginate (SA) under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and Caco-2 cell monolayers. These results indicate that the use of FR nanocarriers resulted in an extended-release of anthocyanins during simulated digestion. Particularly, it was observed that after a period of 2 h in the intestinal phase, the anthocyanin concentration in BAE was greater (38.01 μg/mL, P < 0.05) when FR nanocarriers were employed, in comparison to untreated BAE (4.12 μg/mL). Furthermore, outcomes obtained from the Caco-2 cell monolayer assay revealed that FR-anthocyanin encapsulation resulted in substantially higher (P < 0.05) absorption rates ranging from 25.09 to 44.59 % compared to untreated anthocyanins (10.61–22.95 %). These findings provide evidence of an innovative approach for enhancing the stability and bioavailability of blueberry anthocyanins.

Release of anthocyanins encapsulated by high hydrostatic pressure-treated micellar casein: Effect of serum Ca2+ level during in vitro digestion

Anthocyanins (ACNs) possess the natural advantage of gastric stabilization and has the potential to be adopted for the delivery system design for prolonged gastric release to enhance its bioavailability. In this study, micellar casein treated with high hydrostatic pressure (100, 300, and 500 MPa) was applied to load ACNs, and exogenous serum Ca2+ (0.15, 2, and 5 mM) controlled the gastric aggregation behavior of casein during in vitro digestion. The results showed that the high level of pressure dissociated the micellar structure and provided more cross-linking possibilities for serum Ca2+. Furthermore, the high serum Ca2+ level enhanced gastric aggregation of casein subunits and submicelles leading to delayed gastric emptying, and controlled the slow release of ACNs, which contributed to prolong the ACN retention in the stomach. Industrial relevanceThe application of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) in food sterilization has been relatively mature, and there is an urgent need to expand it toward the nutritional and health field in search of high added value. Herein, HHP was applied to solve the problem of low bioavailability of ACNs based on the ingenious relationship between HHP and casein micelles. The research data can help to develop nutraceuticals or high satiety foods with ACNs as the main functional component at low cost.

Krmiva s povećanim sadržajem antocijanina u hranidbi životinja

The word anthocyanin comes from the Greek words Anthos, meaning flower, and kyanose, meaning blue. Anthocyanins give red, purple, and blue colors to plants. In acidic conditions, they appear as red pigments and in alkaline conditions, they appear as blue pigments. The intensive nature of agricultural (animal) production, with a high density of individuals in animal production facilities, very often contributes to the occurrence of disorders and diseases in animals that threaten this production. A major problem for the animal organism is the effects and consequences of oxidative stress or excessive production of free radicals, which are the main cause of metabolic disorders in cows in the transition period, and antioxidants can prevent or at least mitigate these conditions. Anthocyanins as a source of natural antioxidants play an important role in increasing the antioxidant potential that protects the cell against oxidative damage. Some anthocyanin species may have an enhancing effect on mRNA expression and superoxide dismutase activity. The bioavailability of anthocyanins is relatively low due to poor absorption in the digestive tract. In our region, colored corn, wheat, barley, and sorghum can be used as anthocyanin sources in the domestic animal diet, black soybean, rye, and black and red rice also have high anthocyanin content. Purple corn can accumulate much more anthocyanins than commercial corn varieties.

Fructo-oligosaccharide enhanced bioavailability of polyglycosylated anthocyanins from red radish via regulating gut microbiota in mice.

The anthocyanins from red radish (ARR) rich in polyglycosylated pelargonidin glucosides were used as pigment. However, bioavailability of anthocyanins was considered at low level. This work examined the intensive effects of fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) on ARR bioavailability. Pelargonidin, cyanidin and pelargonidin-3-glucoside showed higher level in serum of mice fed with FOS together with ARR for 8weeks than that fed with only ARR. Co-ingestion of FOS and ARR more effectively elevated the hepatic antioxidant activity by increase in total antioxidant capacity and activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase when compared with intake of ARR. FOS also markedly increased pelargonidin level in cecum of mice. 16S RNA sequencing found that Bacteroides genus play an important role in FOS elevating bioavailability of ARR. Fecal bacteria transplantation verified the positive effects of FOS on ARR bioavailability. These results suggested that combined ingestion of FOS and ARR is effective strategy for bioactivity of ARR.

Anthocyanin Effects on Vascular and Endothelial Health: Evidence from Clinical Trials and Role of Gut Microbiota Metabolites.

Hypertension and derived cardiovascular disease (CVD) are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Increased oxidative stress and inflammatory state are involved in different alterations in endothelial functions that contribute to the onset of CVD. Polyphenols, and in particular anthocyanins, have aroused great interest for their antioxidant effects and their cardioprotective role. However, anthocyanins are rarely detected in blood serum because they are primarily metabolized by the gut microbiota. This review presents studies published to date that report the main results from clinical studies on the cardioprotective effects of anthocyanins and the role of the gut microbiota in the metabolism and bioavailability of anthocyanins and their influence on the composition of the microbiota. Even if it seems that anthocyanins have a significant effect on vascular health, more studies are required to better clarify which molecules and doses show vascular benefits without forgetting the crucial role of the microbiota.

Olive pectin-chitosan nanocomplexes for improving stability and bioavailability of blueberry anthocyanins.

Blueberry anthocyanins (ANCs) are natural dietary bioactive colorants, but are unstable and easily degraded. To improve their stability, we constructed the nanocarriers for ANCs through an electrostatic self-assembly method, using chitosan (CS) and olive pectin (PC). Results showed that the CS-ANCs-PC nanocomplexes had nanoscale particle size (81.22±0.44nm), and an encapsulation efficiency of 91.97±0.33% at pH 3.0, 1:1:5 ratio (m/v) of CS: ANCs: PC. Fourier transform infrared and UV-visible spectra demonstrated that ANCs can be embedded into the CS-PC carrier through electrostatic interaction. CS-ANCs-PC with stacked spherical particle structure had good thermal stability by scanning electron microscope and thermogravimetric analysis. Compared with free anthocyanins, CS-ANCs-PC possessed better DPPH· and ·OH scavenging activities, stronger environmental stability, and better targeted release in vitro digestion. This study may provide an important fundamental basis for improving the stability of anthocyanins in the blueberry industry.

Nanocarriers based on polysaccharides for improving the stability and bioavailability of Anthocyanins: A review

Anthocyanins have good health benefits, but their poor stability limits their use in the food industry. Increasing the stability of ACNs is necessary to facilitate their absorption, metabolism and to improve their health benefits. A number of methods have been developed for the targeted release of ACNs in terms of improving bioavailability, and the selection of suitable biopolymer-based edible wall materials is an important factor in achieving the desired goal. Polysaccharides are ideal nanocarrier materials for ACNs due to their wide availability, low price and biodegradability. This review describes the chemical structure of ACNs and their benefits to human health, followed by a systematic review of the factors affecting the stability of ACNs. The polysaccharides that are often used as carriers for ACNs and the methods used to prepare ACNs-polysaccharide nanocarriers are summarized and their effects on the stability and bioavailability of ACNs are described. This review summarized the research progress of polysaccharide nanoparticles in improving the stability and bioavailability of ACNs for encapsulated delivery, presented the challenges and prospects of polysaccharide nanoparticles as ACNs carriers for food applications based on current knowledge, and provided new insights into improving the stability and bioavailability of ACNs by encapsulation with edible polysaccharide nanocarriers.

Safe Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections by American Cranberry

Cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon) grows on evergreen shrubs that are native to North America. Cranberry is a term derived from the contraction of ‘‘crane berry.’’ This name is derived from the nickname of the bilberry flower, which, when it withers, is similar in appearance to the head and neck of the sand crane, a bird that often feeds on the berries of this plant. The cranberry is part of the Ericaceae family and naturally grows in acidic swamps full of peat moss in humid forests. Cranberries are composed of water (88%), organic acids (including salicylate), fructose, vitamin C (high levels, i.e., 200 mg/kg of fresh berries), flavonoids, anthocyanidins, catechins, and triterpinoids. The chemical constituents responsible for their taste are the iridoid glycosides. The anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins (PAC) are tannins (stable polyphenols) found only in vaccinium berries and function as a natural plant defense system against microbes. Common preparations with cranberries include fresh, whole berries, gelatinized products, juices (usually 10-25% pure juice) and capsules. Pure juice is too acidic (pH, 2.5) and unpalatable, even with sweeteners .Despite cranberry presentation, it is generally recommended to consume cranberries just prior or two hours after meals; it is also important to drink lots of water, mainly after preparations from dehydrated juices. Cranberry juice, predominantly in the form of a juice cocktail drink with approximately 25% cranberry juice, has been the traditional choice of most women seeking to prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). American cranberry has a complex and rich phytochemical composition, particularlyflavan-3-ols, A-type procyanidins (PACs), anthocyanins, benzoic acid, and ursolic acid. Cranberryflavan-3-ols are present as monomers, oligomers, and polymers). These oligomers and polymers are also referred to as PACs or condensed tannins and representw85% of the total flavan-3-ols on a weight basis. Cranberry is the main source of peonidin among 100 foods commonly consumed in the United States. Quercetin 3-galactoside is the predominant form, but at least 11 other glycosides are present in lower concentrations. Some of these, such as quercetin-3-acetylrhamnoside are rare in berries. In the Phenol Explorer database, the flavonol content of plant foods is usually &lt;3 mg/100 g FW, although bilberry, black-berry, and blueberry contain 3.2–17 mg/kg. Cranberry fruit is classed as a functional food due to the naturally high content of compounds, such as polyphenols, which are believed to have antioxidant and therefore health-promoting properties. Health benefits of cranberry consumption range from cardio protective effects due to improved cholesterol profiles to aiding digestive health. Cranberry exists in various forms, including the raw fruit (fresh and dried), cranberry juice and cranberry extract in capsule/tablet formulations. Cranberry extract could be a potential alternative to antibiotics to treat acute uncomplicated UTIs. Proanthocyanidin (PAC) with A-type linkages, or their metabolites, is believed to be the active ingredient in cranberry, preventing Escherichia coli (E. coli) from binding to the bladder uroepithelium and thereby reducing the ability of E. coli to cause and sustain a UTI. Cranberries have also been found to improve lipid profile, improve endothelial function, and lower several markers of cardio metabolic risk. Nowadays, growing evidence suggests an important role of cranberries in maintaining digestive health. In addition to the anti-inflammatory effects, cranberries may also influence intestinal barrier integrity, which is another essential element of intestinal health. Cranberry was reported as the main source of peonidin among 100 foods commonly consumed in the United States. However, in the majority of studies, the total anthocyanin content is re-ported rather than amounts of individual anthocyanins. This approach may change because the bioavailability and health effects of anthocyanins seem to be affected by the structures of the aglyconesor the glycosidicmoieties . Quercetin 3-galactoside is the predominant form, but at least 11 other glycosides are present in lower concentrations. Some of these, such as quercetin-3-acetylrhamnoside are rare in berries. As shown in the Phenol Explorer database, the flavonol content of plant foods is usually &lt;3 mg/100 g FW, although bilberry, black-berry, and blueberry contain 3.2–17 mg/kg.