Aronia berries or Aronia melanocarpa are a type of small, round dark fruits that are primarily native to North America but are now more popular among people who want to live healthily. The berries are also called chokeberries, belonging to the family Rosaceae.
Aronia berries can be eaten as fresh fruit or can be used as an ingredient in recipes, such as juices and pies. The berries are a strong astringent and can leave the mouth feeling dry and sandpaper-like. Hence, it may not be advisable to eat them all at once.
One of the newest members to the super fruit team, aronia berries, are known to promote an array of health benefits including cardiovascular health and immune system support, as well as aiding in digestion.Phytochemical investigations have shown that the fruits of Aronia melanocarpa (Aronia berries) are an abundant source of phenolic compounds, including procyanidins, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and their analogues [1].
Antioxidant Activity of Aronia Berries
The antioxidant activity of Aronia berries and their major phenolic constituents has been well documented recently. These natural products have been found to inhibit the activity of several types of radicals through different mechanisms of action to contribute to other bioactivities[2].
Potential Antitumor Activity of Aronia Berries
The antioxidant activity of Aronia berries was found to be correlated with the total procyanidin and anthocyanin content, and the cyanidin glycosides present inhibited HeLa human cervical cancer cell proliferation and increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these cancer cells [3]. When tested in a further in vitro assay, the phenolic components present in Aronia berries were found to exhibit potent antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity toward HepG2 human liver cancer cells [4].
Potential Anti-Infective Activity of Aronia Berries
Aronia berries contain considerable amounts of bioactive compounds, of which anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and other types of flavonoids and phenolic acids present all show antiviral activity against influenza viruses. These components inhibit virus replication directly and indirectly, including by blocking viral surface glycoproteins and by stimulating the immune system of the organism.
Potential Benefits to the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases of Aronia Berries
Aronia berries are a valuable source of antioxidant compounds that can upregulate endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase and decrease oxidative stress and inflammatory gene expression to decrease the levels of blood triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein. Thus, consumption of these fruits could improve the lipid balance in patients with metabolic syndrome to prevent cardiovascular disease[5].
.Potential Antidiabetic Activity of Aronia Berries
In mouse experiments,the results indicate that consumption of Aronia berries could be effective in protecting pancreatic β cells and in the treatment of T1D[6].Ellagic acid , obtained as a constituent of Aronia berries , was found to mitigate hepatic oxidative stress and insulin resistance in a T2D animal model.The blood glucose and insulin resistance were reduced significantly when 11-month-old Goto-Kakizaki female rats were gavaged daily with ellagic acid (50 mg/kg) for 28 days. This implies an antidiabetic effect of this phenolic compound for the treatment of hepatic complications in T2D[7]. Including,eating wild aronia berry has certain inhibitory effect on diabetes.
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7. Polce S.A., Burke C., Franca L.M., Kramer B., de Andrade Paes A.M., Carrillo-Sepulveda M.A. Ellagic acid alleviates hepatic oxidative stress and insulin resistance in diabetic female rats. Nutrients. 2018;10:531. doi: 10.3390/nu10050531.
