BERRIES - Actividad biológica y propiedades medicinales

The diversity of bioactive compounds found in berry fruits and processed fruit products is reflected in the broad spectrum of their biological and medicinal properties.
Chokeberry fruit and its products supplement the treatment of hypertension, atherosclerosis and gastrointestinal tract disorders. The bioactive compounds found in chokeberry strengthen blood vessel walls and improve their elasticity.
Chokeberry juice improves peripheral circulation of the blood and boosts the body’s resistance to infections [30].
The compounds found in bilberry also have a beneficial impact on the circulatory system. Bilberry anthocyanins improve the elasticity and permeability of the capillary vessels of the eyeball, thus improving microcirculation of the blood and vision at dusk and at night. Owing to those properties, the anthocyanins of bilberry are applied in the production of ophthalmic preparations [117, 118].
Cranberry juice is used in the prevention and treatment of urinary system infections [119, 120, 121], as well as in the treatment of periodontitis [122–124] and other disorders. Yamanaka et al. [123] reported that cranberry juice can inhibit the colonization of the tooth surface by oral streptococci, and thus slow the development of dental plaque. By using a microplate system, these authors found
that the high-molecular weight constituents of cranberry juice inhibited biofilm formation by the tested streptococci. Labrecque et al. [124] suggest that cranberry NDM (nondialyzable material) may contribute to the prevention and treatment of periodontitis by reducing the capacity of Porphyromonas gingivalis to colonize periodontal sites. Howell [122] reported that high-molecular weight proanthocyanidins
(condensed tannins) from cranberry juice inhibit the adherence of uro-pathogenic fimbriated Escherichia coli and thus offer protection against urinary tract infections. Furthermore, a high-molecular weight cranberry fraction was also reported to inhibit the sialic acid-specific adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to human gastric mucosa, a critical step for gastric ulcer development [125].
In recognition of their biological activity, phenolic compounds have been long used as natural remedies in the treatment of various diseases (circulatory, respiratory,
digestive and urinary system ailments). They are applied in the production of various pharmaceutical products due to their ability to seal capillary vessels and improve circulation. Despite widespread research and the documented wide range of biological activity of those compounds, the mechanism responsible for their beneficial effect on the human body has not been sufficiently investigated [30, 33, 56, 104, 117, 120, 122].
In addition to provitamin activity and antioxidant properties, carotenoids, including β-carotene, have several other functions in the body at the molecular level where they act as immunomodulators, inhibit mutagenesis and prevent malignant transformations [80]. In addition to its antioxidant properties, vitamin C participates in other important biochemical transformations such as the synthesis
of collagen, neurotransmitters and hormones. It facilitates the absorption of nonheme iron and stimulates immunological resistance. Vitamin C is a detoxicant—it
neutralizes various mutagenic and cancerogenic compounds which are formed in the alimentary system or which enter the digestive tract with food. Thanks to those
properties as well as its antioxidant activity, vitamin C is regarded as an effective remedy in inhibiting the development of cancer [126, 127].

Fuente:Agnieszka Szajdek & E. J. Borowska, "Bioactive Compounds and Health-Promoting Properties of Berry Fruits: A Review", Plant Foods Hum Nutr (2008) 63:147–156