研究发现：樱桃作为功能性食品的潜力

    食品伙伴网报道，据美国营养成分网8月5日消息，一项新的研究针对不同的樱桃种类内的化合物进行了生物活性的调查，发现了丰富的多元酚，并对这些品种进行比较，得到了某些品种的樱桃可能是有前景的功能性食品。
 

    该研究发布在食品化学的在线期刊上，主要是对9种樱桃品种（Van, Ulster, Summit, Saco, Morangão, Maring, Lapin, Garnet, EVCompact）中的抗氧化物质进行了生物活性的评估。来自葡萄牙里斯本大学的研究者发现在各种品种的樱桃中，多酚和花青素的总量与抗氧化物质及抗癌物质的活性呈现高度相关。而在进行试验的9种樱桃中，有三种（Saco、Ulster、Lapin）最具有成为功能性食品的潜力。

    在以前的研究中，研究者们大多注重花青素的研究，因为有研究表明该物质可以抑制肿瘤生长，减少患上心血管疾病的风险，以及延缓衰老等功能。而在此研究中，研究人员检测了不同品种樱桃的抗氧化能力的生物活性以及抗肿瘤的作用，以评价和比较不同种类樱桃的生物活性及效果，选择出适合作为功能性食品的品种。

    本报道由食品伙伴网编译整理，仅供食品行业相关人士参考，详细内容以国外原文报道为准。

    原文地址：http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Study-reveals-top-functional-cherry-types

    原文报道：

Study reveals top functional cherry types

By Nathan Gray, 05-Aug-2010

A new study investigating the bioactivity of cherry compounds has identified polyphenol-rich varieties that could be ‘promising functional foods’

The study, published online in the journal Food Chemistry, assessed the bioactivity of antioxidant compounds in nine varieties of cherry - Van, Ulster, Summit, Saco, Morangão, Maring, Lapin, Garnet, EVCompact.

Catarina Duarte from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal, led research that found high correlations between the total concentration of polyphenols and anthocyanins and the antioxidant and anti-cancer activities measured in all varieties of cherry.

The most promising varieties of cherry were found to be Saco, Ulster and Lapin.

Bioactive Compounds

Previous studies on cherries have suggested that they are a rich source of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. Interest has begun to focus on anthocyanins, especially cyanidins, as studies have indicated they have potential to inhibit tumor growth, slow cardiovascular diseases and delay the aging process.

In the new study, the researchers assessed the antioxidant activity and anti cancer effects of different cherries, with the aim of evaluating and comparing the bioactive effects, and finding the most promising cherry varieties for use as functional foods.

Differing Contents

The research results indicate that all the nine cherry varieties investigated have different phenolic contents, with each variety displaying distinct antioxidant levels and activities.

Cherry varieties with a total anthocyanin concentration of higher than 200mg/100g (Lapin, EVCompact, Saco, Ulster) were observed to have the highest antioxidant effects, whilst Saco and Lapin varieties of cherry were seen to be the most effective inhibitors of low-density-lippoprotien (LDL) oxidation due to their overall high antioxidant content.

Results from the study also suggest that total anthocyanins (in particular cyanidin glycosides) are responsible for the ability to inhibit growth of human colon and gastric cancer cells. The study found three cherry varieties (Saco, Ulster and Lapin) to have more phenolic compounds, a higher antioxidant activity, and the most effective in inhibiting human cancer cells.

The researchers wrote: “Correlation of the data obtained showed that anthocyanins were the major contributors to the antioxidant capacity and anti-proliferative effect of cherries.”

Promising Functions

The study concludes that cherries with high concentrations of polyphenols are “a rich source of bioactive ingredients with high antioxidant capacity and anti-proliferative effect in human cancer cells.”

The researchers said that cherry varieties such as Saco, Ulster and Lapin could be considered as “promising functional foods for human health applications.”

One limitation of the study may be that the amount of antioxidant polyphenols in cherries varies widely both between and within each cherry variety. It has been suggested that this may be due to various environmental and post-harvest factors such as climatic conditions, fruit maturity, and storage method. Future research may wish to investigate how the varieties identified as ‘promising’ in this study are affected by such variables.