Cranberry

The name “cranberry” reportedly derives from the Pilgrim name for the fruit “craneberry,” because the small, pink blossoms that appear in the spring resemble the head and bill of a Sandhill crane. Cranberries are unique among fruits. They can grow and survive only under a special combination of factors. They require acid peat soil, adequate freshwater supply, sand, and a growing season that stretches from April to November and is followed by a period of dormancy in the winter months that provides an extended cold period, necessary for fruiting buds to mature. Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water. Instead, they grow on vines in impermeable beds that are layered

6.1 Cranberry: Introduction and Traditional Origins .................................................................. 107 6.2 Production and Consumption ............................................................................................... 108 6.3 Phytochemical Composition ................................................................................................. 109

6.3.1 Anthocyanins ............................................................................................................ 109 6.3.2 Flavonols ................................................................................................................... 111 6.3.3 Flavan-3-ols (Catechins) ........................................................................................... 113 6.3.4 Proanthocyanidins .................................................................................................... 113 6.3.5 Benzoic and Phenolic Acids ..................................................................................... 113 6.3.6 Non©avonoid Polyphenols ........................................................................................ 114 6.3.7 Terpenes and Sterols ................................................................................................. 114

6.4 Bioavailability of Cranberry Phytochemicals ...................................................................... 114 6.5 Human Studies Relevant to Heart Disease and Diabetes ..................................................... 115 6.6 Investigation of Cranberry Constituents That Contribute to In Vitro Anticancer Activity ................................................................................................. 116

6.6.1 Ursolic Acid and Derivatives .................................................................................... 116 6.6.2 Polyphenolics ............................................................................................................ 117 6.6.3 Quercetin .................................................................................................................. 117 6.6.4 Anthocyanins ............................................................................................................ 117 6.6.5 Anticancer Activities of Cranberry Proanthocyanidins ........................................... 118

6.7 Possible Chemopreventive Mechanisms and Effects ............................................................ 119 6.7.1 Apoptosis .................................................................................................................. 119 6.7.2 Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibition ........................................................................ 119 6.7.3 Modulation of Ornithine Decarboxylase .................................................................. 120 6.7.4 Helicobacter pylori Inhibition .................................................................................. 120 6.7.5 Evidence from Animal Models ................................................................................ 120 6.7.6 Anti-In©ammatory Activities ................................................................................... 121

6.8 Cranberries and Urinary Health ........................................................................................... 122 6.9 Future Directions for Research on Cranberries and Disease ............................................... 123 Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................................................124 References ......................................................................................................................................124