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Antioxidants
Why antioxidants and other
natural compounds
are important
Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals, and other
compounds found in foods that can help
slow down or prevent the oxidation process.
There are at least 17 compounds in tart cherries with
antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants help prevent or repair damage done to
the body's cells by free radicals. Simply put, a free radical
is a molecule with a missing electron.
An antioxidant, such
as vitamin C, vitamin E or beta carotene, may donate one
of its electrons to the free radical. If no antioxidants are
present, a free radical takes an electron from vital cell
structures, damaging the cell and eventually leading to
disease.Antioxidants have been shown to increase
immune function and possibly decrease risk of infection
and cancer. Based on the research at MSU, tart cherries
are a rich source of naturally occurring antioxidants, which
could be effective replacements for synthetic antioxidants.
Anthocyanins
Anthocyanins are natural colorants belonging to a
group of compounds called the flavonoids. They are widely
distributed among fruits, such as cherries, vegetables and
flowers. In addition to their colorful characteristics, anthocyanins
possess potent antioxidant properties.
The
antioxidant activities of the anthocyanins may account for
the beneficial effects derived from the consumption of
fruits and vegetables high in anthocyanins, such as
cherries, against cardiovascular and other diseases.
Melatonin
Across the nation, insomniacs are gobbling up
melatonin in rapid fashion. The hormone is being
touted as a natural way to get a more restful sleep.
Richard Wurtman, the inventor who holds the patent
covering the use of melatonin for controlling sleep,
says that melatonin levels in the body are responsible
for controlling the body's daily circadian rhythms.
Preliminary research shows that cherries have a high
melatonin content.
Vitamins C and E
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and also helps
make another antioxidant—vitamin E—more effective. The
current Recommended Dietary Allowance of 60 milligrams
of vitamin C could likely be set much higher, but a healthy
diet provides plentiful vitamin C.
High doses of vitamin E have been linked to the
prevention of heart disease because it helps prevent
the oxidation of LDL, so-called "bad" cholesterol inside
the arteries. Oxidation of LDL can cause heart disease
and stroke.
The 17 compounds in tart cherries that have antioxidant
properties are considered, in total, to be superior to
the activity of vitamins E and C.
References
Melatonin: Separating the hype
from the hormone. Mayo Clinic
Health Letter, August 1997.
Reiter, Russel. Telephone interview.
October 16, 2000.
Wang, H. et al. 1999. Antioxidant
and Antiinflammatory Activities of
Anthycyanins and their Aglycon,
Cyanidin, from Tart Cherries.
Journal of Natural Products 62(2):
294-296.
Endorex Corp. 1998. Endorex Starts
Multiple Phase II Trials Sponsored by
National Cancer Institute. March 3.
Single-Dose Phase I and Pharmacokinetic
Trial of Perillyl Alcohol
(POH) as a Chemopreventive for
Breast Cancer. G.T. Budd, P.J.
Elson, K.K. Chan, J.M. Snyder, M.J.
Ellis, S. Banerjee, D. McLain, E.
Hawk, R. Ganapathi. Taussig Cancer
Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation,
Cleveland, OH; The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH;
Georgetown University, Washington,
DC; National Cancer Institute,
Bethesda, MD.
Jill D. Haag, Michael N. Gould.
1994. Mammary carcinoma
regression induced by perillyl
alcohol, a hydroxylated analog of
limonene. Cancer Chemotherapy
and Pharmacology Volume 34 Issue
6 (1994) pp 477-483.
1993. Mayo Clinic Health Letter,
August.
viii 1996. Antioxidants and Your Health.
American Dietetic Association.
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