Cranberry (Viburnum opulus. High Cranberry Bush. Cramp Bark. Water Elder) are small, round, red berries with a very sharp taste. Due to their sour flavour, you probably wouldn’t choose to eat them raw. So, you’re more likely to buy them dried or in juice form.

In terms of their nutrient content, fresh cranberries are mainly made up of water. They contain very little protein or fat and only a small amount of carbohydrates from natural fruit sugars.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of bioactive phytochemicals from cranberry

This fruit is characterized by the high content of antioxidant phenolic compounds, which may support the natural antioxidant defense system of the body in the prevention of damage caused by oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Therefore, cranberry (Viburnum opulus) is suggested for the prevention of civilization diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and cancer, whose etiology is associated directly with oxidative stress.

These antioxidants help to reduce oxidative stress in the body. When our body produces unstable molecules, called free radicals, this can cause oxidative stress. This can contribute to ageing and lead to problems linked with some chronic diseases.

Rich antioxidant content suggests cranberry products could prevent or slow down damage to cells caused by free radicals. Disorders of regulation of the activity of transcription factors belonging to the CNC proteins caused by gene mutations, epigenetic modifications or increased activity of p62, p21, or k-Ras, B-Raf and c-Myc oncogenes, induce changes in the level of ARE-dependent gene expression, which can lead even to the development of carcinogenesis.

Nrf transcription factors, inducing the expression of antioxidants and enzymes responsible for the detoxification of xenobiotics, can be considered as a potential target of the action of chemopreventive factors in anticancer therapy and unstimulated skin fibroblasts.

A transient increase in ROS production was induced in normal but not in SSc fibroblasts by interleukin-1β (IL-1β), platelet-derived growth factor type BB (PDGF-BB), transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), and H₂O₂. Treatment of normal and SSc fibroblasts with tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-α (IFNα), IFNγ, granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSP), G-CSF, or connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) had no effect on ROS generation.

Effects of cranberry (Viburnum opulus) on reproductive system

Oxidative stress (OS), a state characterized by an imbalance between pro-oxidant molecules including reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and antioxidant defenses, has been identified to play a key role in the pathogenesis of subfertility in both males and females. The adverse effects of OS on sperm quality and functions have been well documented. In females, on the other hand, the impact of OS on oocytes and reproductive functions remains unclear.

This imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants can lead to a number of reproductive diseases such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and unexplained infertility. Pregnancy complications such as spontaneous abortion, hysteria, false labour pains, ovarian pain, paralysis, uterine cramps; bearing down, recurrent pregnancy loss, and preeclampsia, can also develop in response to OS.

Studies have shown that extremes of body weight and lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and recreational drug use can promote excess free radical production, which could affect fertility. Exposures to environmental pollutants are of increasing concern, as they too have been found to trigger oxidative states, possibly contributing to female infertility.

Cranberry supplementation or potency (Viburnum opulus) may be effective in controlling the production of ROS and continues to be explored as a potential strategy to overcome reproductive disorders associated with infertility.

The plasma levels of lipoperoxides, glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), reduced glutathione (GSH), beta carotene, vitamin A, E, some plasma biochemical and blood haematological parameters were investigated in 100 women with habitual abortion (HA) and controls.

The levels of GSH, vitamin A, E and beta carotene were significantly lower in women with HA than in controls. However, the plasma levels of lipid peroxidation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose and blood haemoglobin were significantly higher in HA than in controls. In addition, plasma levels of GSH‐Px, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, total protein, albumin, sodium, potassium, calcium and number of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelet and values of packets cell volume showed no significant differences between HA and controls.

According to the results of this study, we observed that after using Cranberry in potency (Viburnum opulus) the levels of lipid peroxidation were increased and plasma levels of vitamin A, E and beta carotene were decreased in HA. The decrease of those antioxidants may play a significant role in women with habitual abortion.

The health-promoting potential of cranberry is also associated with its antibacterial activity resulting from the presence of dins (PAC) type A with documented anti-adherence properties. The best-established medical applications of cranberry fruits are prevention and treatment of bacterial infections of the urinary tract (UTI), infections of gastric mucosa, and infections of the oral cavity. Due to the widespread use of cranberry and pharmaceutical preparations containing PACs in treating UTI, it is very important to evaluate the absorption, bioavailability and metabolism of these
compounds in the human body.

Some other benefits of cranberry