| Blackberry Benefits - Antioxidants |
BLACKBERRY
Blackberry (subgenus Eubatus) belongs to Rosaceae family, closely related to
strawberry in the subfamily Rosoideae. Its bark of the root and leaves contains
high contents of tannin. This bark is believed to have health benefits on
dysentery and diarrhea.
It fruits are aggregate fruits, which means they are formed by the aggregation
of several smaller fruits, called drupelets. The drupelets are all attached to a
receptacle, and this receptacle is the fibrous central core of the fruit. [2] These
drupelets contain malic and citric acid, pectin and albumin. [1]
RESEARCH STUDIES
Researchers determined quantitatively on the flavonoids, tannins and ellagic
acid in the leaves from wild and cultivated variations of Rubus L. species
(Rosaceae): raspberry (2 wild and 13 cultivars) and blackberry (3 wild and 3
cultivars). They found that flavonoid content was higher for the blackberry
leaves than for the raspberry leaves and varied between 0.46% and 1.05%.
They also found that all the samples had high contents of quercetin, kaempferol,
ellagic acid and tannins.
ANTI-OXIDANT CONTENT
Oxidative damage is related to the development of several diseases. An
improved antioxidant defense may therefore protect against these diseases.
Recent studies have demonstrated that blackberry contains various
antioxidants. These antioxidants may represent an important contribution to
blackberry health benefits.
In an in vitro study, scientists assessed the total amount of antioxidants in
blackberry by the "ferric-reducing ability of plasma" assay, a method that
measures the sum total of all antioxidants above a reference redox potential.
The results are in accordance with studies in experimental animals
demonstrating beneficial effect against some chronic diseases. [3] In a study of
11 cultivars, researchers found huge variation of the antioxidants among these
11 cultivars. Total anthocyanins for 11 blackberry cultivars ranged from 131 to
256 mg/100 g FW (mean = 198), total phenolics ranged from 682 to 1056 mg
GAE/100 g FW (mean = 900), oxygen radical absorbance capacity ranged from
37.6 to 75.5 micromol TE/g FW (mean = 50.2), and ferric reducing antioxidant
power ranged from 63.5 to 91.5 micromol TE/g FW (mean = 77.5). In addition,
their total antioxidant activity was found to increase with ripening. Total
anthocyanin pigments increased from 74.7 to 317 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW)
from under-ripe to overripe for Marion blackberries and from 69.9 to 164 mg/100
g FW for Evergreen blackberries. [4]
INFLAMMATION PROTECTION
Researchers have investigated the therapeutic efficacy of anthocyanins
contained in blackberry extract (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside represents about 80% of
the total anthocyanin contents) in an experimental model of lung inflammation
induced by carrageenan in rats.
They found that anthocyanins (10, 30 mg kg(-1) 30 min before carrageenan)
could attenuated all parameters of inflammation in a dose-dependent manner.
Thus, the beneficial effects of blackberry may be related to its strong anti-
oxidant activities. [7]
ANTI-BACTERIAL ACTIVITIES
Researchers found that commercial blackberry may have benefits on fighting
bacteria. Commercial blackberry cordials inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium
phlei while the fresh blackberry inhibited the growth of varying numbers of
bacteria. [8]
BENEFITS ON ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTIONS
Italian researchers demonstrated that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside represents about
80% of the total anthocyanin contents in blackberry extract using HPLC/ESI/MS.
They found that that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside of the blackberry juice is a
scavenger of peroxynitrite and that exert a protective benefits against
endothelial dysfunction and vascular failure induced by peroxynitrite. [9]
PHARMACOKINETICS
Anthocyanins are absorbed in stomach and small intestine. However,
anthocyanins are quickly metabolized and excreted into bile and urine as intact
glycosides as well as methylated forms and glucuronidated derivatives. [6]
REFERENCES
[1] Mrs. M. Grieve, Blackberry, Botanical.com Online publication, September 20, 2005.
[2] Blackberries and Raspberries (Rubus spp.) Mark RiegerÂ’s Fruit Crop, The University of
Georgia, September 20, 2005. [3] Blomhoff R, Antioxidants and oxidative stress, Tidsskr
Nor Laegeforen. 2004 Jun 17;124(12):1643-5. [4] Siriwoharn T et al, Influence of cultivar,
maturity, and sampling on blackberry (Rubus L. Hybrids) anthocyanins, polyphenolics, and
antioxidant properties. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Dec 29;52(26):8021-30. [5] Gudej J
Determination of flavonoids, tannins and ellagic acid in leaves from Rubus L. species. Arch
Pharm Res. 2004 Nov;27(11):1114-9. [6] Talavera S et al, Anthocyanins are efficiently
absorbed from the small intestine in rats. J Nutr. 2004 Sep;134(9):2275-9. [7] Rossi A et
al, Protective effects of anthocyanins from blackberry in a rat model of acute lung
inflammation. Free Radic Res. 2003 Aug;37(8):891-900. [8] Cavanagh HM et al,
Antibacterial activity of berry fruits used for culinary purposes. J Med Food. 2003 Spring;6
(1):57-61. [9] Serraino I et al, Protective effects of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside from blackberry
extract against peroxynitrite-induced endothelial dysfunction and vascular failure. Life Sci.
2003 Jul 18;73(9):1097-114.
Blackberry (subgenus Eubatus) belongs to Rosaceae family, closely related to
strawberry in the subfamily Rosoideae. Its bark of the root and leaves contains
high contents of tannin. This bark is believed to have health benefits on
dysentery and diarrhea.
It fruits are aggregate fruits, which means they are formed by the aggregation
of several smaller fruits, called drupelets. The drupelets are all attached to a
receptacle, and this receptacle is the fibrous central core of the fruit. [2] These
drupelets contain malic and citric acid, pectin and albumin. [1]
RESEARCH STUDIES
Researchers determined quantitatively on the flavonoids, tannins and ellagic
acid in the leaves from wild and cultivated variations of Rubus L. species
(Rosaceae): raspberry (2 wild and 13 cultivars) and blackberry (3 wild and 3
cultivars). They found that flavonoid content was higher for the blackberry
leaves than for the raspberry leaves and varied between 0.46% and 1.05%.
They also found that all the samples had high contents of quercetin, kaempferol,
ellagic acid and tannins.
ANTI-OXIDANT CONTENT
Oxidative damage is related to the development of several diseases. An
improved antioxidant defense may therefore protect against these diseases.
Recent studies have demonstrated that blackberry contains various
antioxidants. These antioxidants may represent an important contribution to
blackberry health benefits.
In an in vitro study, scientists assessed the total amount of antioxidants in
blackberry by the "ferric-reducing ability of plasma" assay, a method that
measures the sum total of all antioxidants above a reference redox potential.
The results are in accordance with studies in experimental animals
demonstrating beneficial effect against some chronic diseases. [3] In a study of
11 cultivars, researchers found huge variation of the antioxidants among these
11 cultivars. Total anthocyanins for 11 blackberry cultivars ranged from 131 to
256 mg/100 g FW (mean = 198), total phenolics ranged from 682 to 1056 mg
GAE/100 g FW (mean = 900), oxygen radical absorbance capacity ranged from
37.6 to 75.5 micromol TE/g FW (mean = 50.2), and ferric reducing antioxidant
power ranged from 63.5 to 91.5 micromol TE/g FW (mean = 77.5). In addition,
their total antioxidant activity was found to increase with ripening. Total
anthocyanin pigments increased from 74.7 to 317 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW)
from under-ripe to overripe for Marion blackberries and from 69.9 to 164 mg/100
g FW for Evergreen blackberries. [4]
INFLAMMATION PROTECTION
Researchers have investigated the therapeutic efficacy of anthocyanins
contained in blackberry extract (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside represents about 80% of
the total anthocyanin contents) in an experimental model of lung inflammation
induced by carrageenan in rats.
They found that anthocyanins (10, 30 mg kg(-1) 30 min before carrageenan)
could attenuated all parameters of inflammation in a dose-dependent manner.
Thus, the beneficial effects of blackberry may be related to its strong anti-
oxidant activities. [7]
ANTI-BACTERIAL ACTIVITIES
Researchers found that commercial blackberry may have benefits on fighting
bacteria. Commercial blackberry cordials inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium
phlei while the fresh blackberry inhibited the growth of varying numbers of
bacteria. [8]
BENEFITS ON ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTIONS
Italian researchers demonstrated that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside represents about
80% of the total anthocyanin contents in blackberry extract using HPLC/ESI/MS.
They found that that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside of the blackberry juice is a
scavenger of peroxynitrite and that exert a protective benefits against
endothelial dysfunction and vascular failure induced by peroxynitrite. [9]
PHARMACOKINETICS
Anthocyanins are absorbed in stomach and small intestine. However,
anthocyanins are quickly metabolized and excreted into bile and urine as intact
glycosides as well as methylated forms and glucuronidated derivatives. [6]
REFERENCES
[1] Mrs. M. Grieve, Blackberry, Botanical.com Online publication, September 20, 2005.
[2] Blackberries and Raspberries (Rubus spp.) Mark RiegerÂ’s Fruit Crop, The University of
Georgia, September 20, 2005. [3] Blomhoff R, Antioxidants and oxidative stress, Tidsskr
Nor Laegeforen. 2004 Jun 17;124(12):1643-5. [4] Siriwoharn T et al, Influence of cultivar,
maturity, and sampling on blackberry (Rubus L. Hybrids) anthocyanins, polyphenolics, and
antioxidant properties. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Dec 29;52(26):8021-30. [5] Gudej J
Determination of flavonoids, tannins and ellagic acid in leaves from Rubus L. species. Arch
Pharm Res. 2004 Nov;27(11):1114-9. [6] Talavera S et al, Anthocyanins are efficiently
absorbed from the small intestine in rats. J Nutr. 2004 Sep;134(9):2275-9. [7] Rossi A et
al, Protective effects of anthocyanins from blackberry in a rat model of acute lung
inflammation. Free Radic Res. 2003 Aug;37(8):891-900. [8] Cavanagh HM et al,
Antibacterial activity of berry fruits used for culinary purposes. J Med Food. 2003 Spring;6
(1):57-61. [9] Serraino I et al, Protective effects of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside from blackberry
extract against peroxynitrite-induced endothelial dysfunction and vascular failure. Life Sci.
2003 Jul 18;73(9):1097-114.
| What does Blackberry mean to you- RIM BlackBerry 7230 Phone (T-Mobile) or a plant called bramble that grows abundantly in Australia. |
Photo by Scott Bauer ARS
USDA
USDA
| When USDA blackberry breeders introduced the first truly genetic thornless blackberries, Thornfree and Smoothstem, they caused a small roadside revolution. The new varieties were just what some growers needed to establish pick-your-own operations. -- USDA Online Publication December 05 2006. |
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reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
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