Berries are a rich source of polyphenols, many of which belong to the anthocyanin subgroup of flavonoids. Anthocyanins are responsible for the red, blue and purple colour of berry skins. Black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), honeyberry (Lonicera kamtschatica) and European cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) are all berries that are native to Europe where they are considered a form of food. Researchers have investigated the polyphenol content of the berries and found that total polyphenols ranged from 1.61 in the European cranberry to 5.65 in the Black cowberry. The most prevalent phenolic acid was ferulic acid. The honeyberry represented a valuable source of quercetin, whereas European cranberry and honeyberry are a source of rutin. Therefore the polyphenol content of these berries appears to vary somewhat and this shows the importance of consuming a range of fruits and vegetables in the diet in order to take advantage of the different polyphenols produced by plants.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
RdB
