Fruits of the Future?

References

Apples, oranges and bananas are super fruits, but not superfruits. These conventional fruits have laudable nutrient profiles and will always be great, healthy options, but they may soon be competing on a large scale with more exotic fruits. The term superfruits has gone from being a catch-all phrase used by manufacturers to refer to new, exotic fruits with high antioxidant properties to being an accepted category of products on the retail and consumer level, said Alex Moffett, president of Renaissance Herbs.

Discussion of superfruits in the health arena has centered on their antioxidant capacities, numerically referenced as ORAC values, and the potential role they may play in chipping away at diseases great and small. Research on these compounds effects on the oxidization of cholesterol continues to mount, and manufacturers are meeting increasing market demand for these antioxidant-rich ingredients. Exotic sources such as pomegranate, mangosteen, goji, açaí, noni, camu camu and others are gaining acceptance because of promising research.

Superfruit Tutorial

Pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) antioxidant potential has been explored for more than a decade and, according to Paul M. Gross, Ph.D., the "Berry Doctor", the antioxidant compounds found in the pericarp, punicalagins, have been the subject of 35 medical research studies since 1990, including 27 reports within the past six years. Gross explained: Chemically, punicalagins are considered tannins, which hydrolyze during metabolism to yield ellagic acid, a flavanol of the phenolic superfamily. A 2006 study documented the anti-oxidative effects of pomegranate consumption on apolipoprotein e levels and cellular uptake of oxidized lipids in relation to atherosclerosis development in mice.1 Consumption of whole fruit pomegranate byproduct resulted in a significant reduction in atherosclerotic lesion size by up to 57 percent. Also, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol uptake was reduced by up to 19 percent. More recently, pomegranate antioxidants are being studied for their ability to help the body fight cancer. By tally of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), three studies on the efficacy of pomegranate consumption are in the recruiting stages; two will explore prostate cancer, and the third enlarging of the prostate.

Another exotic fruit generating interest is mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana). As with other superfruits, varying parts of the fruit provide health benefits. According to Gross, The purple pericarp [of the mangosteen], which is not considered edible, is a rich source for extracting antioxidant phytochemicals, whereas the interior flesh is valued as a juice or pulp product.

Two primary xanthone extractsgarcinol and mangostinhave potential as anti-inflammatory agents with preliminary evidence for inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes and carcinogenic effects, he said. A 2004 study explored the antiproliferative, apoptotic and antioxidative properties of crude methanolic extract (CME) from the pericarp of the mangosteen on human breast cancer cells.2 Researchers found that antiproliferative effect of CME was associated with apoptosis on breast cancer cell line by determinations of morphological changes and oligonucleosomal DNA fragments, and that the extract has potential for cancer chemoprevention.

Wayne Geilman, Ph.D., senior research scientist at Pure Fruit Technologies, added to the list of mangosteens abilities: We found the xanthones in mangosteen are COX-2 inhibitors, he said. If you stop that enzyme, you dont get inflammation, and if you dont get inflammation, you dont get pain. Other uses of mangosteen components include appetite suppression, and use in topical skin care products.

Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum), also referred to as goji, has also come to the forefront of exotic health foods for an extensive nutrient profile. Clinical trials involving wolfberry are spotty, but animal trials suggest potential benefits for humans. A 2006 study found the antioxidant polysaccharides in wolfberries reduce the risks of lipid peroxidation accelerated by free radicals in aged mice.3 Another 2006 study noted the fruits nutritional value in Chinese culture for addressing liver, kidney and vision problems, and found extracts of the fruit to have cytoprotective effects against reducing stress on the endoplasmic reticulum.4 Because the berries are originally from China and have been part of Chinese diets for thousands of years, indigenous literature regarding myriad health benefits of the berries has given formulators the initiative to bank on the berries nutrient profile, said Gross.

Noni fruit, from Southeast Asia, also has limited clinical research to date. However, the fruits use in Polynesian medicines for hundreds of years has been the catalyst for research. Despite being approved as a Novel Food by the European Commission in 2003, liver toxicology issues have been a marketing hurdle for manufacturers. A recent study found no link between adverse effects on liver and consumption of Noni juice, but cautioned that, clinical data are essentially lacking.5 The other significant issue with noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia) is its foul taste. Tannins in ripened specimens impart a strong taste and odor to the fruit, so companies have developed processes for removing the tannins to enhance product taste.

Açaí berries (Euterpe oleracea Mart) arent known for foul taste but, as with wolfberry, clinical research is limited. Two recent studies have, however, assayed the antioxidant capacities of both açaí fruit and seeds. Both measured total oxidant scavenging capacity (TOSC), the first reporting: The antioxidant capacities of all purple açaí samples were found to be excellent against peroxyl radicals, good against peroxynitrite and poor against hydroxyl radicals compared with common European fruit and vegetable juices;6 the second noting:

The extracts exhibit good antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals, similar to the capacity of the pulp.7 The study showed the antioxidant capacity against peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals to be even higher, but concluded much of the antioxidant capacity of the seeds came from yet unidentified compounds. Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) has been spotlighted for its high vitamin C and anthocyanin levels. Like several other superfruits, trials involving camu camu are scarce. Research on the bright orange berries has increased as companies have addressed consumer demand for allnatural vitamin C sources and attempted to capitalize on innovative antioxidant source demand.

As with most of the fruits under the superfruits canopy, camu camu has much potential for scavenging free radicals, ultimately combating oxidation of cholesterol. Fair trade and sustainable farming practices have also been an issue, as the berries originate in the Amazon River basin of Brazil, and the majority of harvesting is handled by indigenous peoples.

The Case for Whole Fruits

As science continues to validate superfruits presence in healthy diets, manufacturers are pouring time and money into research on optimal product formulation. Mitchell May, Ph.D., and his team at Synergy Production Laboratories, for example, minimally process superfruits to retain their high nutritional  phyto chemical and antioxidant properties. Synergy uses a freeze-drying process to preserve the bio active components of the fruits and berries in its products. Start manipulating things beyond that and you start breaking apart the other valuable compounds because youre looking for one isolated item, May said. The wisest and most scientifically sound approach is to not concentrate on the isolated item but to eat the berry or the fruit in whole form. May further emphasized careful processing is not enough. Producing a quality end product with maximized phytonutrients and antioxidants begins with seed cultivation.

Most fruit and berries have been bred, over the last 50 years, to have the sweetest taste, to be uniform in size, or to have the ability to withstand shipment, said May. Only the heirlooms have a proven seed stock and the richest colors.

John Digles, senior vice president of sales and marketing at XanGo, echoed the idea of maximizing antioxidant and nutrient values by using all of a given fruit. The use of extracts can lead to a reduction of the fruits xanthone and flavanoid values, he said. We cant make the mangosteen better by taking it apart. XanGo uses both the rind and the pulp to produce its whole-fruit beverage to maximize the potency of the naturally-occurring catechins, proanthocyandins and flavonoids. Because xanthones are still relatively new antioxidant compounds, Digles acknowledged more research is needed to dissolve misconceptions and establish guidelines for required daily xanthone intake. Geilman also noted the importance of bioactive delivery methods: Soak mangosteen fruit in the right solution and you can grind the whole thing up. Some of the people out there are grinding the whole fruit, and what wed find is they dont have the [ideal] concentration of actives xanthones, he said.

Isolating Bioactives

When whole-fruit applications arent possible or practical, manufacturers concentrate superfruits active compounds. Soft Gel Technologies (SGTI), in a partnership with Verdure Sciences, offers pomegranate extract standardized to punicalagins, which the company claims increases the antioxidant capacity of plasma by nearly 32 percent only 30 minutes after consumption. Clinical evidence showed the absorption and antioxidant effects of a standardized extract from pomegranate in healthy human volunteers. Results demonstrated the absorbability of ellagic acid (EA) from a pomegranate extract high in ellagitannin content and its antioxidant effects.8 Blake Ebersole, marketing coordinator for POMELLA, emphasized the significance of the study results regarding standardized punicalagins, saying it was, one of the first published human clinical trials where pomegranate extract increased the antioxidant capacity of plasma after consumption. He added that unlike free ellagic acid found in pomegranate juice, standardized punicalagins are bioactive before and after metabolism.

Because of research surrounding ellagic acid and punicalagins, SGTI isnt the only company marketing pomegranate products standardized to bioactives. Cyvex Nutrition concentrates 70 percent ellagic acid from pomegranates into its PomActiv product. A 2006 study examined the antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptosis inducing activities of ellagic acid and found ellagic acid significantly reduced human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cell proliferation and induced apoptosis.9 The researchers concluded ellagic acid showed high DPPH radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities. PomActiv may be used in capsules, tablets and powder delivery forms, as a stand-alone ingredient, or in antioxidant formulas and dietary supplements, according to Gilbert Gluck, president and CSO of Cyvex Nutrition.

Delivering the Goods

After determining whether to go with a whole-fruit product or an extract, the next step is determining how to deliver the goods to consumers. Synergy noted once the berry blend powder has been freeze dried, its work is nearly done. Most companies want [the product] in powder because theyre going to put it in a capsule, tablet, powder mix or food bar,

said May. Some manufacturers cited convenience as the reason for finished product delivery methods. Susan Ballantyne, director of operations for South Pacific Trading Co., said the companys Noni Pacific Juice is ideal nutrition for people on the go. Other manufacturers such as Cyvex contract to produce tablets, capsules and softgels. Gross also spoke to açaí and other fruits prevalence in juice energy drinks and smoothies. Raw material delivery of superfruits ultimately depends on manufacturers ideas for finished products.

Despite suggestive evidence on the efficacy of superfruits antioxidants, none has received scientific validation or regulatory approval for health claim statements, said Gross.

Companies making suggestive claims as to the superfruits role in preventing or treating diseases is not condoned by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a letter to one such manufacturer of goji and pomegranate juices, FDA cited specific labeling violations saying, The therapeutic claims on your Web site establish that the products are drugs because they are intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. The marketing of these products with these claims violates the [Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic] Act. FDA added the only way these health claims can be used is if the goji and pomegranate products are subjected to tests for new drugs. Similarly, although noni juice received Novel Food status in Europe in 2005, controversy regarding toxicity issues still swirls. A 2006 study implied noni juice consumption in a case of hepatotoxicity;10 but studies since then have refuted those findings.11

If the superfruits marketplace supply/demand rate keeps pace, manufacturers looking to capture decent market share must increasingly devote attention to how the fruits are farmed, harvested and processed lest demand eclipse supply. Educated consumers look for companies with sustainable farming and fair-trade practices for peace of mind. Companies taking the lead in bringing superfruits to market exhibit solid credentials in regards to organic farming and certification, kosher and halal certifications, environmental considerations and meeting or exceeding industry standards for quality. 

References

1. West BJ et al. Noni juice is not hepatotoxic. World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Jun 14;12(22):3616-9. http://www.pubmed.gov. Rosenblatt M et al. Pomegranate byproduct administration to apolipoprotein e-deficient mice attenuates atherosclerosis development as a result of decreased macrophage oxidative stress and reduced cellular uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Mar 8;54(5):1928-35. http://www.pubmed.gov 

2. Moongkarndi P et al. Antiproliferation, antioxidation and induction of apoptosis by Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) on SKBR3 human breast cancer cell line. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jan;90(1):161-6. http://www.pubmed.gov 

3. Li XM et al. Effect of the Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on age-related oxidative stress in aged mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Dec 28. http://www.pubmed.gov 

4. Yu MS et al. Cytoprotective effects of Lycium barbarum against reducing stress on endoplasmic reticulum. Int J Mol Med. 2006 Jun;17(6):1157-61. http://www.pubmed.gov 

5. Potterat O and Hamburger M. Morinda citrifolia (Noni) Fruit - Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Safety. Planta Med. 2007 Feb 7. http://www.pubmed.gov 

6. Lichtenthaler R et al. Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) fruits. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2005 Feb;56(1):53-64. http://www.pubmed.gov 

7. Rodrigues RB et al. Total oxidant scavenging capacity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) seeds and identification of their polyphenolic compounds. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Jun 14;54(12):4162-7. http://www.pubmed.gov 

8. Mertens-Talcott et al. Absorption, Metabolism, and Antioxidant Effects of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Polyphenols after Ingestion of a Standardized Extract in Healthy Human Volunteers. J. Agric. Food Chem., 54 (23), 8956 -8961, 2006. http://www.pubs.acs.org 

9 Han DH et al. Antioxidant and apoptosis-inducing activities of ellagic acid. Anticancer Res. 2006 Sep-Oct;26(5A):3601-6. http://www.pubmed.gov 

10. Yuce B et al. Hepatitis induced by Noni juice from Morinda citrifolia: a rare cause of hepatotoxicity or the tip of the iceberg? Digestion. 2006;73(2-3):167-70. Epub 2006 Jul 11. http://www.pubmed.gov 

Cranberries Supply Powerful Antioxidant Support

by Kristen Girard

The cranberry has long been associated with a variety of health benefits and its tangy taste, versatility and attractive red color have made it an increasingly popular ingredient with consumers and manufacturers alike. In recent years, a growing number of scientific studies have revealed specific antioxidant-related benefits that prove the cranberry to be one of our most health enhancing fruits.

In 2004, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry published the results of a U.S. Department of Agriculture study that measured the antioxidant capacity of 100 common foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, dried fruits, spices, cereals and others (52:4026-37). The research showed cranberry to have the highest total antioxidant capacity per gram of all the foods tested.

The findings supported earlier research at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, which compared cranberries with 19 of the most commonly consumed fruits in North America (J Agric Food Chem, 49:5315-21, 2001). The study found that gram-for-gram, cranberries have the highest phenol content, more than double the next nearest fruitred grapesand five times more than broccoli. Phenols are an antioxidant thought to be most active in fighting chronic diseases like cancer, strokes and heart disease, where they prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) that contribute to cardiovascular problems.

Further research presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Annual Congress Meeting in 2004 indicated drinking a daily glass of light cranberry juice could improve circulation by increasing the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol, in the bloodstream by 6.4 percent. This has a corresponding beneficial impact on the risk of heart disease, one of the major causes of death in North America and Europe.

Historically, the anti-adhesion properties of the cranberry are perhaps best known for helping to maintain urinary tract health. Cranberries contain particular antioxidants called proanthocyanidins (PACs), or common tannins, which disable E. coli bacteriathe cause of 80 percent to 90 percent of urinary tract infectionsand prevent them from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract (J Urol, 131:1013-16, 1984). Unable to stick, the organisms are harmlessly flushed from the body. More recent studies have found cranberries actually have a higher PAC content than any other common fruit (J Nutr, 134:613-17, 2004). The beneficial impact of cranberries on urinary tract health was confirmed in 2004 when the French governments food safety authority officially approved the health claim that North American cranberries help reduce the adhesion of certain E. coli bacteria to the urinary tract walls.

Kristen Girard is a principal food scientist with Ocean Spray ITG, part of Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., which currently ranks as one of the top 50 USA food and beverage companies. Ocean Spray ITG (www.oceansprayitg.com) offers an extensive portfolio of fruit ingredients including sweetened dried cranberries, BerryFusions Fruits, cranberry powders, frozen cranberries and cranberry concentrate and puree.