What is it about?
Berries are an important dietary source of fibers, vitamins, minerals and some biologically active non-nutrients. An extract of red raspberry fruit was studied in terms of phenolic content and the anti-inflammatory properties, and its protective effects were evaluated in two experimental models of inflammation. The antioxidant potential of the extract, the cellular antioxidant activity and the effects over neutrophils’ oxidative burst were also studied to provide a mechanistic insight for the anti-inflammatory effects observed. The extract showed that it had pharmacological activity and was able to significantly reduce the development of clinical signs of arthritis and reduce the degree of bone resorption, soft tissue swelling and osteophyte formation, preventing articular destruction in treated animals.
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Why is it important?
This study demonstrates that a red raspberry fruit extract with pharmaceutical activity or fresh red raspberry fruits could potentially be used as a supplement or a dietary source of pharmacologically active compounds that may have an active role in delaying the progression of inflammatory articular injury associated with arthritic conditions.
Perspectives
This work, and the research that followed into other fruits, vegetables and herbs, demonstrates increasingly that these foods can have an important role to play in combating many ailments, especially as co-treatments. This means that the impact that traditional medicine can be greatly boosted by adopting certain foods into one's diet.
Dr. Rosa Direito
Universidade de Lisboa
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Chemical characterization of a red raspberry fruit extract and evaluation of its pharmacological effects in experimental models of acute inflammation and collagen-induced arthritis, Food & Function, January 2014, Royal Society of Chemistry,
DOI: 10.1039/c4fo00376d.
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