Cranberries, also known as red berries, are native to North America and have been used both as a food and for medicinal purposes by indigenous populations.

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is a plant that belongs to the family of Ericaceae.

Commercial applications:

Food. Cranberries are used in a variety of food products, including juices, jams, sauces, and baked goods.

Cooking. They can be used in a variety of recipes, both sweet and savory, and are a common ingredient in festive dishes in many cultures.

Health. Sometimes used in dietary supplements and health products due to their potential wellness benefits.

Safety

Cranberries are generally safe for consumption and are known for their potential health benefits, including preventing urinary tract infections and protecting against some chronic diseases due to their high antioxidant content. In some individuals, excessive consumption of cranberries can cause gastrointestinal disturbances due to their acid content.

Studies

It is used in the food sector mainly for the preparation of fruit juices and sweets and in medicine to treat cystitis, kidneys and related infections (1), as well as to counteract the progression of prostate cancer (2).

It has a very high content of polyphenols, compared to fruits such as orange, grape, contains anthocyanins, polyphenols (quercetin, myricetin), malic acid, citric acid (3), vitamins (A, C, E), resveratrol. It can therefore be considered a nutraceutical.

The integration of cranberry quercetin into the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer has produced in vitro cellular apoptotic events, including cell cycle arrest, for which it can be considered a potential dietary available therapeutic agent (4).

The scientific literature agrees in attributing to cranberry anti-tumor properties.  This in vitro study has shown that cranberry and/or its components can act as chemopreventive agents, reducing the risk of cancer by inhibiting cellular oxidation and inflammatory processes, while they can also exert chemotherapeutic effects by inhibiting cellular proliferation and angiogenesis, inducing cellular apoptosis and attenuating the ability of tumor cells to invade and metastasize (5).

The polyphenols present in the cranberry are known to have attenuating effects against different properties of cariogenic virulence responsible for the pathogenesis of dental caries (6).

Avoid drinking too much cranberry juice as it can alter the effect of warfarin (7).

Cranberry studies

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1)  Pagonas N, Hörstrup J, Schmidt D, Benz P, Schindler R, Reinke P, van der Giet M, Zidek W, Westhoff TH.   Prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infection after renal transplantation by cranberry juice and L-methionine. Transplant Proc. 2012 Dec;44(10):3017-21. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2012.06.071.

Bruyère F, Azzouzi AR, Lavigne JP, Droupy S, Coloby P, Game X, Karsenty G, Issartel B, Ruffion A, Misrai V, Sotto A, Allaert FA. A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy of a Combination of Propolis and Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) (DUAB®) in Preventing Low Urinary Tract Infection Recurrence in Women Complaining of Recurrent Cystitis.    Urol Int. 2019;103(1):41-48. doi: 10.1159/000496695.

Jepson RG, Williams G, Craig JC.  Cochrane Database Syst  Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections.  Rev. 2012 Oct 17;10:CD001321. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub5. Review.

(2) Déziel B, MacPhee J, Patel K, Catalli A, Kulka M, Neto C, Gottschall-Pass K, Hurta R.  American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) extract affects human prostate cancer cell growth via cell cycle arrest by modulating expression of cell cycle regulators.   Food Funct. 2012 May;3(5):556-64. doi: 10.1039/c2fo10145a. Epub 2012 Mar 5.

(3) Wang Y, Johnson-Cicalese J, Singh AP, Vorsa N.  Characterization and quantification of flavonoids and organic acids over fruit development in American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) cultivars using HPLC and APCI-MS/MS.  Plant Sci. 2017 Sep;262:91-102. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.06.004.

(4)  Wang Y, Han A, Chen E, Singh RK, Chichester CO, Moore RG, Singh AP, Vorsa N. The cranberry flavonoids PAC DP-9 and quercetin aglycone induce cytotoxicity and cell cycle arrest and increase cisplatin sensitivity in ovarian cancer cells.  Int J Oncol. 2015 May;46(5):1924-34. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2015.2931.

(5) Mantzorou M, Zarros A, Theocharis S, Pavlidou E, Giaginis C.  Cranberry as a Promising Natural Source of Potential Nutraceuticals with Anticancer Activity.    Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2019 Jul 4. doi: 10.2174/1871520619666190704163301.

(6)  Philip N, Bandara HMHN, Leishman SJ, Walsh LJ. Effect of polyphenol-rich cranberry extracts on cariogenic biofilm properties and microbial composition of polymicrobial biofilms.  Arch Oral Biol. 2019 Jun;102:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2019.03.026.

(7)  Srinivas NR  Cranberry juice ingestion and clinical drug-drug interaction potentials; review of case studies and perspectives.  Pharm Pharm Sci. 2013 J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2013;16(2):289-303.

Prunus domestica L. (Plum) has an ancient tradition of cultivation dating from 2,000 to 4,000 years and is present in temperate climate regions around the world with many species.

It belongs to the Rosaceae family.

• Asian species: Prunus salicina Lindl., Prunus simonii Carr.
• European species: Prunus domestica L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Prunus insititia L., Prunus spinosa L., Prunus armeniaca L.
• American species: Prunus americana Marsh., Prunus hortulana Bailey, Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Prunus subcordata Benth, Prunus maritima Marsh., Prunus munsoniana Wight & Hedr.

Plum contains anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenols, chlorogenic acid, neoclorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, all natural components very interesting from the health point of view and some with a strong antioxidant and neuroprotective activity. However, it contains many sugars.(1).

The anabolic activity of the bones decreases in old age. Contrast therapies are rather limited and the only effective proanabolic regimen currently available to restore bone is intermittent treatment with teriparatide (parathyroid hormone 1-34). A diet containing dried plums can definitely help to increase and recover the aged bone volume (2).

The quantity and type of polyphenols, and the synergistic action of other components such as sorbitol, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, vitamin K, boron, copper and potassium, contained in a plum extract, as well as having properties of bone preservation, have been shown to protect muscles and exert an anti-tumor activity on colon cancer (3).

The leaves of the plum, in the form of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation, have demonstrated an interesting activity of contrast to free radicals exerting an antioxidant and neuroprotective action (4).

A four-week diet that included 20% dried plums was able, in an animal model, to alleviate the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis by virtue of its polyphenolic content (5).

The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents:

Plum studies

References________________________________________________________________________

(1) Polyphenol-Enriched Plum Extract Enhances Myotubule Formation and Anabolism while Attenuating Colon Cancer-induced Cellular Damage in C2C12 Cells. Alsolmei FA, Li H, Pereira SL, Krishnan P, Johns PW, Siddiqui RA. Nutrients. 2019 May 15;11(5). pii: E1077. doi: 10.3390/nu11051077.

(2) Dietary dried plum increases bone mass in adult and aged male mice.  Halloran BP, Wronski TJ, VonHerzen DC, Chu V, Xia X, Pingel JE, Williams AA, Smith BJ.  J Nutr. 2010 Oct;140(10):1781-7. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.124198.

(3) Polyphenol-Enriched Plum Extract Enhances Myotubule Formation and Anabolism while Attenuating Colon Cancer-induced Cellular Damage in C2C12 Cells.  Alsolmei FA, Li H, Pereira SL, Krishnan P, Johns PW, Siddiqui RA.  Nutrients. 2019 May 15;11(5). pii: E1077. doi: 10.3390/nu11051077.

(4) Potential Application of Prunus armeniaca L. and P. domestica L. Leaf Essential Oils as Antioxidant and of Cholinesterases Inhibitors.  Bonesi M, Tenuta MC, Loizzo MR, Sicari V, Tundis R.  Antioxidants (Basel). 2018 Dec 21;8(1). pii: E2. doi: 10.3390/antiox8010002.

(5) Dried plum alleviates symptoms of inflammatory arthritis in TNF transgenic mice.  Mirza F, Lorenzo J, Drissi H, Lee FY, Soung DY.  J Nutr Biochem. 2018 Feb;52:54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.10.002.

Prunus domestica L. (Plum) has an ancient tradition of cultivation dating from 2,000 to 4,000 years and is present in temperate climate regions around the world with many species.

It belongs to the Rosaceae family.

• Asian species: Prunus salicina Lindl., Prunus simonii Carr.
• European species: Prunus domestica L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Prunus insititia L., Prunus spinosa L., Prunus armeniaca L.
• American species: Prunus americana Marsh., Prunus hortulana Bailey, Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Prunus subcordata Benth, Prunus maritima Marsh., Prunus munsoniana Wight & Hedr.

Plum contains anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenols, chlorogenic acid, neoclorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, all natural components very interesting from the health point of view and some with a strong antioxidant and neuroprotective activity. However, it contains many sugars.(1).

The anabolic activity of the bones decreases in old age. Contrast therapies are rather limited and the only effective proanabolic regimen currently available to restore bone is intermittent treatment with teriparatide (parathyroid hormone 1-34). A diet containing dried plums can definitely help to increase and recover the aged bone volume (2).

The quantity and type of polyphenols, and the synergistic action of other components such as sorbitol, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, vitamin K, boron, copper and potassium, contained in a plum extract, as well as having properties of bone preservation, have been shown to protect muscles and exert an anti-tumor activity on colon cancer (3).

The leaves of the plum, in the form of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation, have demonstrated an interesting activity of contrast to free radicals exerting an antioxidant and neuroprotective action (4).

A four-week diet that included 20% dried plums was able, in an animal model, to alleviate the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis by virtue of its polyphenolic content (5).

The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents:

Plum studies

References________________________________________________________________________

(1) Polyphenol-Enriched Plum Extract Enhances Myotubule Formation and Anabolism while Attenuating Colon Cancer-induced Cellular Damage in C2C12 Cells. Alsolmei FA, Li H, Pereira SL, Krishnan P, Johns PW, Siddiqui RA. Nutrients. 2019 May 15;11(5). pii: E1077. doi: 10.3390/nu11051077.

(2) Dietary dried plum increases bone mass in adult and aged male mice.  Halloran BP, Wronski TJ, VonHerzen DC, Chu V, Xia X, Pingel JE, Williams AA, Smith BJ.  J Nutr. 2010 Oct;140(10):1781-7. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.124198.

(3) Polyphenol-Enriched Plum Extract Enhances Myotubule Formation and Anabolism while Attenuating Colon Cancer-induced Cellular Damage in C2C12 Cells.  Alsolmei FA, Li H, Pereira SL, Krishnan P, Johns PW, Siddiqui RA.  Nutrients. 2019 May 15;11(5). pii: E1077. doi: 10.3390/nu11051077.

(4) Potential Application of Prunus armeniaca L. and P. domestica L. Leaf Essential Oils as Antioxidant and of Cholinesterases Inhibitors.  Bonesi M, Tenuta MC, Loizzo MR, Sicari V, Tundis R.  Antioxidants (Basel). 2018 Dec 21;8(1). pii: E2. doi: 10.3390/antiox8010002.

(5) Dried plum alleviates symptoms of inflammatory arthritis in TNF transgenic mice.  Mirza F, Lorenzo J, Drissi H, Lee FY, Soung DY.  J Nutr Biochem. 2018 Feb;52:54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.10.002.

Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) belongs to the family Rosaceae and is a perennial and invasive plant that is found in the temperate zones of Europe, Asia, America on the edge of wooded areas where there is alternation of sun and shade and plant cover.

It is a diploid with 14 chromosomes.

It adapts to almost all terrains and likes places not completely exposed to the sun. It resists well to the cold.

Strawberry (Fragaria) is an evergreen climbing plant that reaches 20 cm in length, the fruit is highly perishable and has a short duration due to a degradation of the cell wall in the last stages of maturation.

It belongs to the Rosaceae family.

There are:

• Fragaria virginiana
• Fragaria chiloensis
• Fragaria x ananassa
• Fragaria ovalis
• (Fragaria vesca L.) wild strawberry

It adapts to almost all terrain and likes places not completely exposed to the sun. It withstands the cold well.

Strawberry contain a wide range of nutrients which contribute to human health such as the content of carotenoids in the pulp (1) :

• ß-cryptoxanthin 34,2%
• licopene  8,31%
• β-carotene  6,26%

It also contains natural and phytochemical compounds with antibacterial and antioxidant activities. It is also a source of carbohydrates, soluble dietary fibre, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (2).

Natural food prevention based on nutrition offers significant cancer prevention effects with rather low toxicity. In a series of pre-clinical and clinical studies, strawberry was chosen as a food-based intervention because it demonstrated powerful prevention activities with anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities attributable to anthocyanins (3).

Tiliroside, a flavonoid present in significant amounts in strawberry , has been shown to suppress increased levels of post-prandial plasma glucose. This finding reveals the anti-diabetic activity of strawberry (4).

Strawberry studies

References________________________________________________

(1) Relationship between pulp structure breakdown and nutritional value of papaya (Carica papaya) and strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) nectars using alternative thermal and non-thermal processing techniques.  Swada JG, Keeley CJ, Ghane MA, Engeseth NJ.  J Sci Food Agric. 2016 May

(2) Wild Fragaria vesca L. fruits: a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals.  Dias MI, Barros L, Morales P, Cámara M, Alves MJ, Oliveira MB, Santos-Buelga C, Ferreira IC.  Food Funct. 2016 Nov 9;7(11):4523-4532.

(3) Chemopreventive Effects of Strawberry and Black Raspberry on Colorectal Cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  Chen T, Shi N, Afzali A.  Nutrients. 2019 Jun 3;11(6). pii: E1261. doi: 10.3390/nu11061261.

(4) Tiliroside, a glycosidic flavonoid, inhibits carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.  Goto T, Horita M, Nagai H, Nagatomo A, Nishida N, Matsuura Y, Nagaoka S.  Mol Nutr Food Res. 2012 Mar;56(3):435-45. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201100458.

Protective Effects of Melon Extracts on Bone Strength, Mineralization, and Metabolism in Rats with Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporosis.
Kim B, Lee SH, Song SJ, Kim WH, Song ES, Lee JC, Lee SJ, Han DW, Lee JH.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 Aug 14;8(8). pii: E306. doi: 10.3390/antiox8080306.

A complex interaction between pre-harvest and post-harvest factors determines fresh-cut melon quality and aroma.
Spadafora ND, Cocetta G, Cavaiuolo M, Bulgari R, Dhorajiwala R, Ferrante A, Spinardi A, Rogers HJ, Müller CT.
Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 26;9(1):2745. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-39196-0.

Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Oriental Melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa).
Tuan PA, Lee J, Park CH, Kim JK, Noh YH, Kim YB, Kim H, Park SU.
Foods. 2019 Feb 19;8(2). pii: E77. doi: 10.3390/foods8020077

Viability of Lactobacillus plantarum on Fresh-Cut Chitosan and Alginate-Coated Apple and Melon Pieces.
Speranza B, Campaniello D, Bevilacqua A, Altieri C, Sinigaglia M, Corbo MR.
Front Microbiol. 2018 Oct 23;9:2538. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02538

Production of Low-Potassium Content Melon Through Hydroponic Nutrient Management Using Perlite Substrate.
Asaduzzaman M, Talukder MR, Tanaka H, Ueno M, Kawaguchi M, Yano S, Ban T, Asao T.
Front Plant Sci. 2018 Sep 19;9:1382. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01382.

Catalytic and Structural Characterization of a Browning-Related Protein in Oriental Sweet Melon (Cucumis Melo var. Makuwa Makino).
Liu S, Murtaza A, Liu Y, Hu W, Xu X, Pan S.
Front Chem. 2018 Aug 23;6:354. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00354

Nanoencapsulation improved water solubility and color stability of carotenoids extracted from Cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo L.).
Medeiros AKOC, Gomes CC, Amaral MLQA, Medeiros LDG, Medeiros I, Porto DL, Aragão CFS, Maciel BLL, Morais AHA, Passos TS.
Food Chem. 2019 Jan 1;270:562-572. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.07.099.

The effects of superoxide dismutase-rich melon pulp concentrate on inflammation, antioxidant status and growth performance of challenged post-weaning piglets.
Ahasan ASML, Invernizzi G, Farina G, Pilotto A, Barbé F, Bontempo V, Rossi R, Bellagamba F, Lecchi C, Savoini G, Agazzi A.
Animal. 2019 Jan;13(1):136-143. doi: 10.1017/S1751731118001234

Identification of Cooked Off-Flavor Components and Analysis of Their Formation Mechanisms in Melon Juice during Thermal Processing.
Luo D, Pang X, Xu X, Bi S, Zhang W, Wu J.
J Agric Food Chem. 2018 Jun 6;66(22):5612-5620. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b01019.

Phenolic profile and antioxidant activity from peels and seeds of melon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus) and their antiproliferative effect in cancer cells.
Rolim PM, Fidelis GP, Padilha CEA, Santos ES, Rocha HAO, Macedo GR.
Braz J Med Biol Res. 2018 Mar 1;51(4):e6069. doi: 10.1590/1414-431X20176069.

Differential metabolism of L-phenylalanine in the formation of aromatic volatiles in melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit.
Gonda I, Davidovich-Rikanati R, Bar E, Lev S, Jhirad P, Meshulam Y, Wissotsky G, Portnoy V, Burger J, Schaffer AA, Tadmor Y, Giovannoni JJ, Fei Z, Fait A, Katzir N, Lewinsohn E.
Phytochemistry. 2018 Apr;148:122-131. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.12.018.

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a climbing plant and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family.

Some varieties: Cantaloupe, Canary, NewQueen, Honeydew, Santa Claus, Korean, Valencia, Jade Dew, Sprite, Sharlin, Crenshaw, Autumn sweet , Snow leopard, Charentais, Galia, Hami, Honey globe, Sugar, Charentias, Hani Gold, Goddess, Huell.

Its content contains antioxidants such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids (1): 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, isovanillic acid, apigenin-7-α-glucoside, luteolin-7-o-glucoside, and quercetin-3-galactoside.

It is also an excellent source of vitamins A and C, as well as minerals such as potassium and magnesium (2).

Tannins are also present in good quantity, but in the skin. Tannins are considered antioxidants, antimicrobials (3).

Melon studies

References____________________________________

(1) Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts of 12 Melon (Cucumis melo) Peel Powders Prepared from Commercial Melons.  Ganji SM, Singh H, Friedman M.  J Food Sci. 2019 Jul;84(7):1943-1948. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.14666.

(2) Analytical traceability of melon (Cucumis melo var reticulatus): proximate composition, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity in relation to cultivar, plant physiology state, and seasonal variability.  Maietti A, Tedeschi P, Stagno C, Bordiga M, Travaglia F, Locatelli M, Arlorio M, Brandolini V.  J Food Sci. 2012 Jun;77(6):C646-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2012.02712.x.

(3) Characterization of Polyphenolic Compounds in Cantaloupe Melon By-Products.  Vella FM, Cautela D, Laratta B.  Foods. 2019 Jun 6;8(6). pii: E196. doi: 10.3390/foods8060196.

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a climbing plant and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family.

Some varieties: Cantaloupe, Canary, NewQueen, Honeydew, Santa Claus, Korean, Valencia, Jade Dew, Sprite, Sharlin, Crenshaw, Autumn sweet , Snow leopard, Charentais, Galia, Hami, Honey globe, Sugar, Charentias, Hani Gold, Goddess, Huell.

Its content contains antioxidants such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids (1): 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, isovanillic acid, apigenin-7-α-glucoside, luteolin-7-o-glucoside, and quercetin-3-galactoside.

It is also an excellent source of vitamins A and C, as well as minerals such as potassium and magnesium (2).

Tannins are also present in good quantity, but in the skin. Tannins are considered antioxidants, antimicrobials (3).

Melon studies

References____________________________________

(1) Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts of 12 Melon (Cucumis melo) Peel Powders Prepared from Commercial Melons.  Ganji SM, Singh H, Friedman M.  J Food Sci. 2019 Jul;84(7):1943-1948. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.14666.

(2) Analytical traceability of melon (Cucumis melo var reticulatus): proximate composition, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity in relation to cultivar, plant physiology state, and seasonal variability.  Maietti A, Tedeschi P, Stagno C, Bordiga M, Travaglia F, Locatelli M, Arlorio M, Brandolini V.  J Food Sci. 2012 Jun;77(6):C646-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2012.02712.x.

(3) Characterization of Polyphenolic Compounds in Cantaloupe Melon By-Products.  Vella FM, Cautela D, Laratta B.  Foods. 2019 Jun 6;8(6). pii: E196. doi: 10.3390/foods8060196.