Polyphenol-rich Berry Research Articles

Valorization of berry pomace for extraction of polyphenol compounds and its co-encapsulation with probiotic bacteria

Saskatoon berry pomace, an antioxidant rich byproduct, may be suitable for nutraceuticals and functional foods. The present study aimed to co-encapsulate polyphenol-rich berry extract with probiotics to utilize the polyphenolic compounds present in berry pomace. The major benefit of co-encapsulation is that polyphenolic compounds increase the survival characteristics of probiotic bacteria in gastrointestinal tract. To make the process cost-effective, a conventional solvent extraction method was used for extraction of polyphenolic compounds from berry pomace. Spray drying was used to co-encapsulate polyphenols and probiotics by using plant-based carrier materials (pea protein isolate with gum Arabic). Spray dried powder was evaluated for encapsulation efficiency, gastrointestinal stability, bio-accessibility index, along with functional, structural and thermal characteristics. Berry pomace was found to be a good source of TPC, DPPH and ABTS with 2.49 mg GAE/1 g, 4.48 mg QE/1 g and 2.96 mg QE/1 g, respectively. The encapsulation efficiency (retention of polyphenolics and bacteria in capsules) of polyphenolic compounds and probiotics was 72.6% and 94.4%, respectively. Probiotic cells encapsulated with polyphenolic compounds showed improved survival (9.08 log CFU/mL) during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The bio-accessibility of TPC was 63.6% after intestinal digestion. The spray dried powder was observed to possess good thermal stability but poor functional properties, thus limiting applications to products such as bakery goods, sports bars, cereals and other foods where dispersibility is not imperative. Therefore, co-encapsulation by spray drying method offers an efficient and cost-effective method for simultaneous delivery of bioactive compounds and probiotics to the gut, extending their benefits by this combination.

Effects of polyphenol-rich, berry supplementation on exercise performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background & AimsPolyphenols are plant secondary compounds that possess antioxidant properties associated with preventing inflammation-mediated ailments such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Recent studies hint at their capacity to enhance exercise performance. Berries, in addition to containing high amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, are extremely rich in polyphenols. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compile relevant human randomized controlled trials exploring the potential of polyphenol-rich berries to enhance exercise performance and associated biomarkers. MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched using keywords related to berry supplementation, exercise performance, and biomarkers of performance. In total, 2374 articles were screened and 14 were included in the analysis. ResultsThe results indicate no statistically significant effect of berry supplementation on exercise performance and its associated biomarkers. However, there is a trend towards a positive pooled effect size of berry supplementation on time to exhaustion (SMD: 0.57, Z: 1.51, p-value: 0.13). Furthermore, all pooled effect sizes favor berry supplementation. ConclusionsDue to variations in testing protocols and biomarkers of interest among the studies included, no more than 7 articles were included for any given outcome measure. This underscores the necessity for additional high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to strengthen the evidence and allow for recommendations to be made regarding the performance enhancing effects of berry consumption. This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered on Open Science Framework (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/NCAVJ).

Protective Effects of a Polyphenol-Rich Blueberry Extract on Adult Human Neural Progenitor Cells.

The aging process impacts neural stem cells and causes a significant decline in neurogenesis that contributes to neuronal dysfunction leading to cognitive decline. Blueberries are rich in polyphenols and have been shown to improve cognition and memory in older humans. While our previous studies have shown that blueberry supplementations can increase neurogenesis in aged rodents, it is not clear whether this finding can be extrapolated to humans. We thus investigated the effects of blueberry treatments on adult hippocampal human neural progenitor cells (AHNPs) that are involved in neurogenesis and potentially in memory and other brain functions. Cultured AHNPs were treated with blueberry extract at different concentrations. Their viability, proliferation, and differentiation were evaluated with and without the presence of a cellular oxidative stressor, dopamine, and potential cellular mechanisms were also investigated. Our data showed that blueberry extract can significantly increase the viability and proliferation rates of control hippocampal AHNPs and can also reverse decreases in viability and proliferation induced by the cellular stressor dopamine. These effects may be associated with blueberry’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and calcium-buffering properties. Polyphenol-rich berry extracts thus confer a neuroprotective effect on human hippocampal progenitor cells in vitro.

A Natural Polyphenol Exerts Antitumor Activity and Circumvents Anti-PD-1 Resistance through Effects on the Gut Microbiota.

The polyphenol castalagin isolated from a berry has an antitumor effect through direct interactions with commensal bacteria, thus reprogramming the tumor microenvironment. In addition, in preclinical ICI-resistant models, castalagin reestablishes the efficacy of anti-PD-1. Together, these results provide a strong biological rationale to test castalagin as part of a clinical trial. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 873.

Comparing the Polyphenolic and Flavonoid Content, Antioxidant and Radical Scavenging Capacity of Widely Consumed Berries

Abstract Objectives To determine and compare the phenolic and flavonoid content as well as antioxidant and radical scavenging capacity of blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry extracts. Methods Polyphenol extractions from berries were performed using 80% ethanol. Crude extracts were then purified with chloroform followed by fractionation with ethyl acetate. Total polyphenol content (TPC) was assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and total flavonoid content (TFC) was assessed using aluminum chloride. Antioxidant capacity was measured using trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay while 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was used to determine radical scavenging capacity. Results Blackberry had the highest TPC followed by raspberry, blueberry and strawberry (149 ± 1.1 > 116 ± 0.6 > 112 ± 0.6 > 88 ± 1.3 μmol GAE/L, respectively). Blackberry had the highest TFC followed by blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry (2.6 ± 0.1 > 1.8 ± 0.1 > 1.6 ± 0.2 > 0.5 ± 0.2 μg QE/ml, respectively). Blackberry extracts had the highest TEAC followed by blueberry, strawberry and raspberry (287 ± 8 > 253 ± 4 > 211 ± 6 > 153 ± 10 μmol TE/L, respectively). Similarly, blackberry had significantly higher FRAP than the other berries. Raspberry and blackberry had similar DPPH radical scavenging activity (109 ± 0.0 and 106 ± 0.7 μmol TE/L, respectively), which was significantly higher than blueberry and strawberry (99 ± 4 and 69 ± 1 μmol TE/L, respectively). Conclusions Our results indicate that among the berries examined, blackberry is the best source of polyphenols and antioxidants. Further investigations are warranted to compare the antioxidant capacity of polyphenol-rich berries, including blackberry, in vivo. Funding Sources Georgia State University Honors College.

Select Polyphenol-Rich Berry Consumption to Defer or Deter Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Complications.

Berries are considered “promising functional fruits” due to their distinct and ubiquitous therapeutic contents of anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavanols, alkaloids, polysaccharides, hydroxycinnamic, ellagic acid derivatives, and organic acids. These polyphenols are part of berries and the human diet, and evidence suggests that their intake is associated with a reduced risk or the reversal of metabolic pathophysiologies related to diabetes, obesity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and hypertension. This work reviewed and summarized both clinical and non-clinical findings that the consumption of berries, berry extracts, purified compounds, juices, jams, jellies, and other berry byproducts aided in the prevention and or otherwise management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and related complications. The integration of berries and berries-derived byproducts into high-carbohydrate (HCD) and high-fat (HFD) diets, also reversed/reduced the HCD/HFD-induced alterations in glucose metabolism-related pathways, and markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid oxidation in healthy/obese/diabetic subjects. The berry polyphenols also modulate the intestinal microflora ecology by opposing the diabetic and obesity rendered symbolic reduction of Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction-restoring bacteria, short-chain fatty acids, and organic acid producing microflora. All studies proposed a number of potential mechanisms of action of respective berry bioactive compounds, although further mechanistic and molecular studies are warranted. The metabolic profiling of each berry is also included to provide up-to-date information regarding the potential anti-oxidative/antidiabetic constituents of each berry.

Abstract 5730: A new polyphenol prebiotic isolated from Myrciaria dubia improves gut microbiota composition and increases anti-PD-1 efficacy in murine cancer models

Abstract Introduction The gut microbiota influences immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) efficacy, and immunogenic commensals bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphila (AM) and Ruminoccocus are enriched in ICI responder patients. Therefore, strategies to beneficially shift microbiota composition represent a novel therapeutic avenue. Myrciaria dubia (MD) is a polyphenol-rich berry prebiotic that has been recently shown to improve the gut microbiota composition and dampen inflammation in metabolic diseases. Methods Daily oral administration of MD or water was performed in MCA-205 (PD-1 sensitive) and E0071 (PD-1 resistant) murine tumor models treated with iso-control or anti-PD-1. 16s rRNA gene sequencing and qPCR were used to profile the murine fecal microbiota. Tumor immune infiltration was analyzed by flow cytometry and RNA sequencing. Bile acid levels were measured using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry in mouse feces and plasma at sacrifice. MD supplementation was also tested in antibiotic-treated mice that had undergone a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using feces from non-responder (NR) and responder (R) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Finally, to determine the bioactive compound, reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography was used to isolate fractions that were tested in the MCA-205 tumor model. Results In MCA-205, MD gavage alone significantly reduced tumor size and in both tumor models MD increased the efficacy of anti-PD-1 compared to water + anti-PD-1. The activity of MD was inhibited upon antibiotics administration. FMT using mouse feces previously treated with MD recreated the effect in MD-naïve mice. Increases in alpha diversity, and AM and Ruminococcaceae were observed in the feces of MD supplemented mice. Serum and fecal CA, αMCA primary and HDCA and DCA secondary bile acids were upregulated in mice treated with MD. The combination of MD + anti-PD-1 increased the frequency of CD8+/CD4+ Treg and ICOS+ expression on CD8+ T cells, while the depletion of the CD8+ cells inhibited the anti-cancer activity. Next, we validated that FMT from NSCLC ICI patients recreated the patients' phenotypes in the MCA-205 tumor model (R vs NR). Treatment with MD resorted anti-PD-1 anti-tumor efficacy post FMT from NR patients. Lastly, we isolated the bioactive polyphenol molecule from MD and confirmed its anti-cancer effect in vivo. Supplementation of AM and ruminococcus further increased anti-PD1 activity. Conclusion We isolated the bioactive polyphenol molecule from the MD berry and demonstrated that its potent adjuvant effect on anti-PD-1 was associated with a beneficial shift in microbiome and bile acid composition in a CD8+ T cell dependent manner. The modification of the gut microbiota with polyphenol supplementation provides a new therapeutic approach in immuno-oncology. Citation Format: Meriem Messaoudene, Florent Cauchois, Reilly Piedgeon, Khoudia Diop, Corentin Richard, Thibault Varin, Jocelyn Trottier, Olivier Barbier, Geneviève Pilon, Simon Turcotte, André Marette, Bastien Castagner, Bertrand Routy. A new polyphenol prebiotic isolated from Myrciaria dubia improves gut microbiota composition and increases anti-PD-1 efficacy in murine cancer models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5730.

Improved metabolic function and cognitive performance in middle-aged adults following a single dose of wild blueberry

PurposeResearch has demonstrated cognitive benefits following acute polyphenol-rich berry consumption in children and young adults. Berry intake also has been associated with metabolic benefits. No study has yet examined cognitive performance in middle-aged adults. We investigated the relationships among cognitive and metabolic outcomes in middle-aged adults following wild blueberry (WBB) consumption.MethodsThirty-five individuals aged 40–65 years participated in a randomized, double blind, cross-over study. Participants consumed a breakfast meal and 1-cup equivalent WBB drink or matched placebo beverage on two occasions. Participants completed cognitive tasks and had blood drawn before and at regular intervals for 8 h after each meal/treatment. Changes in episodic memory and executive function (EF) were assessed alongside plasma levels of glucose, insulin, and triglyceride.ResultsAnalysis of the memory-related Auditory Verbal Learning Task (AVLT) word recognition measure revealed a decrease in performance over the test day after placebo intake, whereas performance after WBB was maintained. For the AVLT word rejection measure, participants identified more foils following WBB in comparison to placebo. Benefits were also observed for EF on the Go/No-Go task with fewer errors following WBB intake on cognitively demanding invalid No-Go trials in comparison to placebo. Furthermore, in comparison to placebo, response times were faster for the Go/No-Go task, specifically at 4 h and 8 h following WBB treatment. We also observed reduced post-meal glucose and insulin, but not triglyceride, concentrations in comparison to placebo over the first 2 h following ingestion. Though the addition of Age, BMI, glucose and insulin as covariates to the analysis reduced the significant effect of beverage for AVLT word rejection, metabolic outcomes did not interact with treatment to predict cognitive performance with the exception of one isolated trend.ConclusionsThis study indicated acute cognitive benefits of WBB intake in cognitively healthy middle-aged individuals, particularly in the context of demanding tasks and cognitive fatigue. WBB improved glucose and insulin responses to a meal. Further research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which WBB improves cognitive function.

Beneficial effects of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) supplementation on metabolic and inflammatory adverse effects induced by high-fat diet in a mouse model of obesity.

Obesity is a constantly increasing health problem worldwide. It is associated with a systemic low-grade inflammation, which contributes to the development of metabolic disorders and comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes. Diet has an important role in the prevention of obesity and its adverse health effects; as a part of healthy diet, polyphenol-rich berries, such as lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) have been proposed to have health-promoting effects. In the present study, we investigated the effects of lingonberry supplementation on high-fat diet induced metabolic and inflammatory changes in a mouse model of obesity. Thirty male C57BL/6N mice were divided into three groups (n = 10/group) to receive low-fat (LF), high-fat (HF) and lingonberry-supplemented high-fat (HF+LGB) diet for six weeks. Low-fat and high-fat diet contained 10% and 46% of energy from fat, respectively. Lingonberry supplementation prevented the high-fat diet induced adverse changes in blood cholesterol and glucose levels and had a moderate effect on the weight and visceral fat gain, which were 26% and 25% lower, respectively, in the lingonberry group than in the high-fat diet control group. Interestingly, lingonberry supplementation also restrained the high-fat diet induced increases in the circulating levels of the proinflammatory adipocytokine leptin (by 36%) and the inflammatory acute phase reactant serum amyloid A (SAA; by 85%). Similar beneficial effects were discovered in the hepatic expression of the inflammatory factors CXCL-14, S100A10 and SAA by lingonberry supplementation. In conclusion, the present results indicate that lingonberry supplementation significantly prevents high-fat diet induced metabolic and inflammatory changes in a murine model of obesity. The results encourage evaluation of lingonberries as a part of healthy diet against obesity and its comorbidities.

Formulation of protein-polyphenol particles for applications in food systems.

Consumers are demanding healthy nutritious foods rich in protein (both plant and animal) and biologically-active phytochemicals from plants, which can help the body to sustain a stronger immune system and fight against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to determine the conditions required to enhance the concentration of bioactive phenolics and protein in aggregate particles formed with whey or rice protein isolates and polyphenol-rich berry juices (cranberry and blueberry), and to evaluate properties associated with food structural functionality and stability. Different protein concentrations (10, 15 and 20% w/w) and mixing durations were tested in order to study their effects on particle formation. Addition of juices significantly increased the aggregation of whey proteins in suspensions at pH 4.5, resulting in a trimodal distribution of protein-polyphenol particles: sizes at 5 μm, 30 μm, and above 100 μm. However, the addition of polyphenol-rich juices did not markedly alter aggregation or particle size distribution for rice proteins, as compared to rice protein particles formed with imitation juice. The particles formed with 10% w/w whey protein and blueberry juice yielded the highest total phenolic (27 mg g-1 particle) and protein content (805 mg g-1 particle); therefore, only 25 g of protein-polyphenol particles delivered simultaneously 20 g of protein, and the equivalent blueberry polyphenols (∼0.64 g total polyphenolics) in two servings (150 g) of blueberries. Particles formed with whey protein and blueberry juice significantly improved foam stability and drainage half-life. Protein-polyphenol particles can be designed as ingredients to stabilize food structures and to increase delivery of health protective polyphenols and proteins in the diet.

Effects of gastrointestinal digested polyphenolic enriched extracts of Chilean currants (Ribes magellanicum and Ribes punctatum) on in vitro fecal microbiota.

Chilean currants (Ribes magellanicum and Ribes punctatum) are wild polyphenol-rich berries with interesting bioactivities in several in vitro models. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the pre-digested PEE (polyphenol-enriched extract) in a simulated colon model. Fruits were extracted, submitted to simulated gastrointestinal digestion and further colonic fermentation with feces from healthy human donors. Samples were taken at 1, 4, 8 and 24h of incubation, monitoring pH, ammonia, branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and bacterial growth. FOS (fructooligosaccharides) and fecal slurry without treatments were positive and negative control, respectively. Both Ribes species reduced (p<0.05) both BCFA and SCFA at 24h. R. punctatum promoted the growth (p<0.05) of beneficial bacteria such as Clostridium cluster XIVa, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii; while a trend to increase Akkermansia muciniphila was observed. R. magellanicum increased (p<0.05) Clostridium cluster XIVa population. Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. remained unaffected. Our results suggest that polyphenols from R. punctatum and R. magellanicum may modulate both bacterial metabolism and some selected gut beneficial bacteria under simulated conditions. Therefore, Chilean currants might be useful as supplements to maintain a healthy colon; however, further in vivo studies are needed to confirm their effect and their mechanisms.

Glycaemic regulation, appetite and ex vivo oxidative stress in young adults following consumption of high-carbohydrate cereal bars fortified with polyphenol-rich berries.

Consumption of certain berries appears to slow postprandial glucose absorption, attributable to polyphenols, which may benefit exercise and cognition, reduce appetite and/or oxidative stress. This randomised, crossover, placebo-controlled study determined whether polyphenol-rich fruits added to carbohydrate-based foods produce a dose-dependent moderation of postprandial glycaemic, glucoregulatory hormone, appetite and ex vivo oxidative stress responses. Twenty participants (eighteen males/two females; 24 (sd 5) years; BMI: 27 (sd 3) kg/m2) consumed one of five cereal bars (approximately 88 % carbohydrate) containing no fruit ingredients (reference), freeze-dried black raspberries (10 or 20 % total weight; LOW-Rasp and HIGH-Rasp, respectively) and cranberry extract (0·5 or 1 % total weight; LOW-Cran and HIGH-Cran), on trials separated by ≥5 d. Postprandial peak/nadir from baseline (Δmax) and incremental postprandial AUC over 60 and 180 min for glucose and other biochemistries were measured to examine the dose-dependent effects. Glucose AUC0-180 min trended towards being higher (43 %) after HIGH-Rasp v. LOW-Rasp (P=0·06), with no glucose differences between the raspberry and reference bars. Relative to reference, HIGH-Rasp resulted in a 17 % lower Δmax insulin, 3 % lower C-peptide (AUC0-60 min and 3 % lower glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (AUC0-180 min) P&lt;0·05. No treatment effects were observed for the cranberry bars regarding glucose and glucoregulatory hormones, nor were there any treatment effects for either berry type regarding ex vivo oxidation, appetite-mediating hormones or appetite. Fortification with freeze-dried black raspberries (approximately 25 g, containing 1·2 g of polyphenols) seems to slightly improve the glucoregulatory hormone and glycaemic responses to a high-carbohydrate food item in young adults but did not affect appetite or oxidative stress responses at doses or with methods studied herein.

CSRP3 mediates polyphenols-induced cardioprotection in hypertension

Berries contain bioactive polyphenols, whose capacity to prevent cardiovascular diseases has been established recently in animal models as well in human clinical trials. However, cellular processes and molecular targets of berries polyphenols remain to be identified. The capacity of a polyphenol-enriched diet (i.e., blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberry tree fruits and Portuguese crowberries berries mixture) to promote animal survival and protect cardiovascular function from salt-induced hypertension was evaluated in a chronic salt-sensitive Dahl rat model. The daily consumption of berries improved survival of Dahl/salt-sensitive rats submitted to high-salt diet and normalized their body weight, renal function and blood pressure. In addition, a prophylactic effect was observed at the level of cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction, tissue cohesion and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Berries also protected the aorta from fibrosis and modulated the expression of aquaporin-1, a channel involved in endothelial water and nitric oxide permeability. Left ventricle proteomics analysis led to the identification of berries and salt metabolites targets, including cystein and glycin-rich protein 3 (CSRP3), a protein involved in myocyte cytoarchitecture. In neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes, CSRP3 was validated as a target of a berries-derived polyphenol metabolite, 4-methylcatechol sulfate, at micromolar concentrations, mimicking physiological conditions of human plasma circulation. Accordingly, siRNA silencing of CSRP3 and 4-methylcatechol sulfate pretreatment reversed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and CSRP3 overexpression induced by phenylephrine. Our systemic study clearly supports the modulation of CSRP3 by a polyphenol-rich berries diet as an efficient cardioprotective strategy in hypertension-induced heart failure.

Polyphenol-enriched berry extracts naturally modulate reactive proteins in model foods.

Healthy foods like polyphenol-rich berries and high quality edible proteins are in demand in today's functional food marketplace, but it can be difficult to formulate convenient food products with physiologically-relevant amounts of these ingredients and still maintain product quality. In part, this is because proteins can interact with other food ingredients and precipitate destabilizing events, which can disrupt food structure and diminish shelf life. Proteins in foods can also interact with human receptors to provoke adverse consequences such as allergies. When proteins and polyphenols were pre-aggregated into stable colloidal particles prior to use as ingredients, highly palatable food formulations (with reduced astringency of polyphenols) could be prepared, and the overall structural properties of food formulations were significantly improved. All of the nutritive and phytoactive benefits of the proteins and concentrated polyphenols remained highly bioavailable, but the protein molecules in the particle matrix did not self-aggregate into networks or react with other food ingredients. Both the drainage half-life (a marker of structural stability) and the yield stress (resistance to flow) of model foams made with the protein-polyphenol particles were increased in a dose-dependent manner. Of high significance in this complexation process, the reactive allergenic epitopes of certain proteins were effectively blunted by binding with polyphenols, attenuating the allergenicity of the food proteins. Porcine macrophages produced TNF-α proinflammatory cytokine when provoked with whey protein, but, this response was blocked completely when the cells were stimulated with particles that complexed whey protein with cinnamon-derived polyphenols. Cytokine and chemokine production characteristic of allergic reactions were blocked by the polyphenols, allowing for the potential creation of hypoallergenic protein-berry polyphenol enriched foods.

Berries, the antioxidant sources of the boreal cold and arid regions

Chronic gastrointestinal diseases are mostly attached to inflammation as well as modified redox homeostasis. These diseases cause remarkable health problems in the northern regions of Europe, but as the climate becomes colder, the harvesting of fruit with notable antioxidant content becomes harder. In these regions, polyphenol-rich berries, which can handle the climate, may have pivotal role in the diet. The aim of our study was to determine antioxidant properties of watery extracts of blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L., bilberry, V. myrtillus L., and lingonberry, V. vitis-idaea L. that may have role in the redox homeostasis of the gastrointestinal region. Data show that these berries notably inhibit the lipid peroxidation, underpinned by reducing power, total polyphenol and ascorbic acid content. The study demonstrates that berries can play a remarkable role in northern European diet, especially when redox homeostasis is imbalanced.

Lonicera caerulea berry extract attenuates lipopolysaccharide induced inflammation in BRL-3A cells: Oxidative stress, energy metabolism, hepatic function

Lonicera caerulea fruit is a polyphenol-rich berry. The protective effects of L. caerulea berry extract before and after in vitro digestion on hepatitis were investigated using lipopolysaccharide-induced BRL-3A cell model in this study. The results demonstrated that both undigested extract and digested extract pre-treatment observably inhibited oxidative stress, as evidenced by the reduction in the production of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and protein carbonyls; significantly maintained energy metabolism and cellular structure, which were verified by the suppression of decline in the activities of ATP synthetase, cytochrome c oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase, and changes in histological structure; markedly modulated hepatic function by attenuating the enhancement in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities and the decrease in acetylcholine esterase activity; and remarkably attenuated the production of pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6. Taken together, the application of L. caerulea berry extract protects liver against the damage caused by lipopolysaccharide.

Diet-induced disorders in rats are more efficiently attenuated by initial rather than delayed supplementation with polyphenol-rich berry fibres

The effects of blackcurrant and strawberry fibre on high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in rats were compared. The blackcurrant and strawberry preparations were obtained from fruit pomace and contained 66.5 and 51.3% dietary fibre and 4.9 and 5.5% polyphenols, respectively. A high-fat diet was supplemented with the blackcurrant or strawberry fibre for the entire 8 weeks of experimental feeding or for 4 weeks, starting at week 5. Obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and altered microbial metabolism in the distal intestine were noted in rats fed a high-fat diet. The 8-week supplementation with blackcurrant fibre decreased body weight, whereas both fibres decreased epididymal fat mass, increased the caecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids, prevented hyperinsulinaemia and decreased cholesterolaemia. Thus, pomace-derived blackcurrant and strawberry fibre attenuate disorders induced by a high-fat diet; however, initial dietary supplementation is more efficient than the same, but delayed, intervention.

Bioactive Plant Metabolites in the Management of Non-Communicable Metabolic Diseases: Looking at Opportunities beyond the Horizon.

There has been an unprecedented worldwide rise in non-communicable metabolic diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes. While modern pharmacotherapy has decreased the mortality in the existing population, it has failed to stem the rise. Furthermore, a large segment of the world population cannot afford expensive pharmacotherapy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for inexpensive preventive measures to control the rise in CVD and diabetes and associated co-morbidities. The purpose of this review is to explore the role of food bioactives in prevention of NCDs. To this end, we have critically analyzed the possible utility of three classes of food bioactives: (a) resistant starch, a metabolically resistant carbohydrate known to favorably modulate insulin secretion and glucose metabolism; (b) cyclo (His-Pro), a food-derived cyclic dipeptides; and (c) polyphenol-rich berries. Finally, we have also briefly outlined the strategies needed to prepare these food-bioactives for human use.

Polyphenol-rich juices reduce blood pressure measures in a randomised controlled trial in high normal and hypertensive volunteers.

Intake of fruits and berries may lower blood pressure (BP), most probably due to the high content of polyphenols. In the present study, we tested whether consumption of two polyphenol-rich juices could lower BP. In a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 12 weeks, 134 healthy individuals, aged 50-70 years, with high normal range BP (130/85-139/89 mmHg, seventy-two subjects) or stage 1-2 hypertension (140/90-179/109 mmHg, sixty-two subjects), were included. They consumed 500 ml/d of one of either (1) a commercially available polyphenol-rich juice based on red grapes, cherries, chokeberries and bilberries; (2) a juice similar to (1) but enriched with polyphenol-rich extracts from blackcurrant press-residue or (3) a placebo juice (polyphenol contents 245·5, 305·2 and 76 mg/100 g, respectively). Resting BP was measured three times, with a 1 min interval, at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of intervention. Systolic BP significantly reduced over time (6 and 12 weeks, respectively) in the pooled juice group compared with the placebo group in the first of the three measurements, both for the whole study group (6·9 and 3·4 mmHg; P= 0·01) and even more pronounced in the hypertensive subjects when analysed separately (7·3 and 6·8 mmHg; P= 0·04). The variation in the BP measurements was significantly reduced in the pooled juice group compared with the placebo group (1·4 and 1·7 mmHg; P= 0·03). In conclusion, the present findings suggest that polyphenol-rich berry juice may contribute to a BP- and BP variability lowering effect, being more pronounced in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects.

Berries and oxidative stress markers: an overview of human intervention studies.

Berries are an excellent source of bioactive compounds such as vitamins, minerals but above all polyphenols with anthocyanins as the most representative compounds. Several in vitro and in vivo studies documented the beneficial effects of berries and their bioactives in the modulation of numerous cell functions related to oxidative stress and/or antioxidant protection. The following review summarizes published results about the role of berries (either fresh, juice, freeze-dried or dehydrated) on total plasma and serum antioxidant status and on the modulation of biomarkers of oxidative stress in acute and chronic human intervention trials. The biomarkers considered include DNA, protein and lipid oxidation, and endogenous antioxidant enzymes. Though limited, there is indication that the consumption of berries may reduce oxidative stress by modulating protein and lipid oxidation, and by improving total antioxidant status. In particular, these effects are more evident following chronic dietary interventions with respect to postprandial studies. Benefits are observed in healthy subjects as well as in those with cardiovascular risk factors or other diseases. On the contrary, data regarding the effect of berries on DNA damage and endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities are still scarce and inconclusive. In conclusion, much remains to be elucidated before a comprehensive understanding of the effects of berries on the modulation of oxidative stress markers is achieved. Robust clinical evidence supporting the role of berries in counteracting oxidative stress in humans is encouraged.