home > health benefits > flavonoids
Flavonoids in Tart Cherries
As more and more interest develops in research labs around the world to investigate the connection between diet and good health, cherries continue to get high marks in a variety of areas. This report describes some interesting findings from Brunswick Laboratories in Wareham, Massachusetts, about flavonoids in tart cherries.
It now seems that fruits and vegetables contain a wide variety of naturally occurring compounds that play a role in good health. The big surprise for everyone has been how well Michigan's Montmorency cherries have rated when compared to other fruits and vegetables for these healing compounds.
Independent Lab Verifies
Cancer-Fighting
Agents in Cherries
Researchers at Brunswick Laboratories (Wareham,
Mass.) verified the natural antioxidants present
in Montmorency tart cherries, the leading U.S. tart
cherry variety, and in Balaton, a new tart cherry variety
that will be available for use in products soon.
Lead researcher Dr. Boxin Ou also confirmed the presence of substantial
quantities of melatonin. He also identified two important flavonoids
— isoqueritrin and queritrin — and documented the presence of ellagic
acid in cherries.
The flavonoids — isqueritrin and queritrin — act as antioxidants as do
the anthocyanins. They work to eliminate by-products of oxidative stress and
thereby slow the aging process.
Information on this research projects being conducted on cherries was compiled by David
Ropa, a consultant with Thomas J. Payne Market Development.
|
Cherry Products