Cranberry is an evergreen shrub whose fruits and leaves have been used in beverages and food. Cranberries has been used traditionally to treat disorders of the bladder, gut, and liver.
There are basically two major species of cranberry:
Vaccinium macrocarpon - Also known as the American cranberry
Vaccinium oxycoccos - The European cranberry
Some of the chemical constituents of cranberries include:
· Water (88%)
· Organic acids, fructose, and Vitamin C
· Flavonoids
· Anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins (part of the natural plant defense system against microbes)
· Iridoid glycosides (responsible for the taste)
Cranberries have been found to preserve urinary tract health:
Cranberry is currently used as a dietary supplement to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Supplements are available as capsules, extracts, powders, and tablets.
Several studies suggest that cranberries may decrease UTI frequency in individuals who experience recurrent UTIs and also after surgery. After a study published in the American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, the use of cranberry tablets in women undergoing elective benign gynecologic surgery involving urinary catheterization, the rate of UTI was reduced by half during the postoperative period. However, the usefulness of cranberry in those at low-risk for UTI is less clear.
Vaccinium macrocarpon, the American cranberry, is widely utilized to prevent UTIs. Research suggests that proanthocyanidins and polyphenols present in cranberry interfere with adhesion of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, to epithelial cells of the urinary tract. This retards the development of pathogen reservoirs in the gut and within the urothelium and suppresses the inflammatory response.
Cranberries have been found to protect against cancer:
Phytochemicals present in cranberries have drawn attention from researchers for their potential anticancer activity. Various in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that the anthocyanin, procyanidin, and flavonol components of cranberries may exert anticancer effects.
Phytochemical extracts from American cranberry have been demonstrated to affect human prostate cancer cell growth. The activity was attributed to cell cycle arrest through cell cycle regulation.
In a study of the chemopreventive activity, cranberry-treated mice with human tumor xenografts had reductions in the average size, weight, and volume of tumor xenografts compared with controls.
Cranberries have been found to protect against cardiometabolic disease:
Cranberries have also demonstrated beneficial cardiometabolic effects in several clinical studies. Growing evidence suggest favorable effects of cranberry intake on blood pressure, cholesterol profile, endothelial function, glucoregulation, inflammation, and oxidative stress. All these contribute to the reduction of cardiometabolic risk factors.
Cranberries play a role in digestive health:
Cranberries, especially the juice of the berries, are known to inhibit the colonization of pathogens such as Helicobacter pylori and Escherichia coli in the stomach; this, in turn, can offer protection against disorders which involve intestinal inflammation. Chemical constituents present in cranberries such as proanthocyanidins, flavonols, and hydroxycinnamic acids inhibit these pathogens by preventing bacterial adhesion, coaggregation and biofilm formation.
Decades of research have helped to elucidate several health benefits of cranberry. From preventing urinary tract infections to modulating gut microbiota, research on cranberry has provided useful insights regarding the benefits on human health. Further studies with well-designed experiments are warranted to better understand the mechanism of action of the chemical constituents.
REFERENCE:
Effectiveness of Cranberry Capsules to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in Vulnerable Older Persons: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial in Long-Term Care Facilities. Monique A A Caljouw, MSc, Wilbert B van den Hout, PhD,† Hein Putter, PhD,‡ Wilco P Achterberg, PhD, Herman J M Cools, PhD, and Jacobijn Gussekloo, PhD; Am Geriatr Soc. 2014 Jan; 62(1): 103–110. Published online 2014 Jan 17. doi: 10.1111/jgs.12593.
Impact of Cranberries on Gut Microbiota and Cardiometabolic Health: Proceedings of the Cranberry Health Research Conference 20151, Jeffrey B Blumberg, Arpita Basu, Christian G Krueger, Mary Ann Lila, Catherine C Neto, Janet A Novotny, Jess D Reed, Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, and Cheryl D Toner.Adv Nutr. 2016 Jul; 7(4): 759S–770S. Published online 2016 Jul 11. doi: 10.3945/an.116.012583.
Cranberries and lower urinary tract infection prevention by Marcelo Hisano,I Homero Bruschini,I Antonio Carlos Nicodemo,II and Miguel SrougiI; Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2012 Jun; 67(6): 661–667.
American cranberries and health benefits - an evolving story of 25 years by Shaomin Zhao et al. J Sci Food Agric. 2018.
Cranberry juice capsules and urinary tract infection post surgery: Results of a randomized trial by Betsy Foxman, Ph.D.,1 Ms. Anna E.W. Cronenwett, B.A.,1 Cathie Spino, ScD,2 Mitchell B. Berger, M.D., Ph.D,3 and Daniel M. Morgan, M.D3 m J Obstet Gynecol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 Aug 1. Published in final edited form as: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Aug; 213(2): 194.e1–194.e8. Published online 2015 Apr 13. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.04.003
Anticancer activities of cranberry phytochemicals: an update by Catherine C Neto et al. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008 Jun.
American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) extract affects human prostate cancer cell growth via cell cycle arrest by modulating expression of cell cycle regulators; Bob Déziel et al. Food Funct. 2012 May.
Cranberry phytochemical extract inhibits SGC-7901 cell growth and human tumor xenografts in Balb/c nu/nu mice; by Ming Liu et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2009.
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