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Cranberry

Common name: cranberry
Scientific name: Vaccinium macrocarpon
Synonyms: crane berry, marshwort, fenne berry
Parts used: fruit, fresh, dried or as a juice

 Overview:

Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
Cranberries grow on low spreading evergreen shrubs in marshes or boggy land. The cranberry bush has upright branches with leaves that are flecked with white dots on the underside. It produces pink blossoms in June and July with the berries appearing soon after.  The cranberry is closely related to the blue berry, huckleberry and bilberry.

The use of cranberries dates as far back as the Iron Age.  The Romans were the first to record their medicinal properties.  They found the cranberry in use in the British Isles and brought them back to Rome.  The Romans used cranberries as a  treatment for gout.

Since being mentioned by herbalist Henry Lyte in 1578, the cranberry has been used to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions.  Modern science is beginning to confirm the cranberry’s usefulness in treating a variety of illnesses and it nutritional value.

Active Ingredients:

Protein 0.36 g
Lipids 0.13 g
Carbohydrates 12.20 g
Fiber 4.6 g
Sugars 4.04 g
Calcium 8 mg
Iron 0.25 mg
Magnesium 6 mg
Vitamin A 60 I/U
Vitamin C 13.3 mg
Thiamine 0.12 mg
Riboflavin 0.02 mg
Niacin 0.101 mg
Phosphorus 13 mg
Potassium 85 mg
Sodium 2 mg

To see a complete breakdown of the nutrition in cranberry please refer to the nutritional analysis from the USDA at the end of this monograph.

Chemically active substances in cranberries are:

  • Pterostilbene, a powerful anti oxidant found in cranberries with proven anti cancer properties.
  • Proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins.  The substances that are responsible for the cranberry’s red color and also many of its health giving benefits, especially its ability to prevent urinary tract infections.
  • Organic acids.  These compounds give the cranberry its sour taste and are responsible for the cranberry’s ability to prevent kidney stones.
  • Tannins.  The compounds are astringent, or drying, and are useful in treating diarrhea.
  • Pectins.  Soluble fiber that bulks up the stool and makes cranberries an excellent source of fiber and helps control lipid levels and protects against colon cancer.

Traditional uses:

The cranberry’s traditional uses are many.  They include their use:

  • As a treatment for gout and rheumatism
  • As a treatment for diarrhea
  • As treatment for constipation
  • To treat scurvy, the disease caused by severe vitamin C defiency
  • To treat skin conditions such as eczema
  • To treat urinary tract infections and dissolve kidney stones.

Clinical uses:

The healing properties of cranberries have been extensively studied by the scientific community.  These studies have confirmed the cranberries use for:

  • Treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections.  Studies in the 1990’s confirmed that drinking cranberry juice.  By drinking 10oz of cranberry juice a day the risk of urinary tract infections is greatly reduced.  Researchers have found that it is not the berry’s acidity that protects against urinary tract infections but the antibacterial properties of its proanthocyanidins.
  • Prevent kidney stones.  By simply drinking 16 oz of cranberry juice daily will help prevent the formation of kidney stone.  This is caused by the ability of the cranberry to acidify the urine.
  • The prevention and treatment of peptic ulcers.  Preliminary studies have shown that cranberries can prevent the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (responsible for the development of peptic ulcers) from adhering to the lining of the stomach preventing the formation of ulcers.
  • The prevention of cavities and gingivitis.  Several studies have shown that cranberries help prevent cavities and gingivitis by the same method that it protects the formation of peptic ulcer, by preventing the bacteria from adhering to the teeth and gums.
  • Helping to control HDL levels and improve the health of the entire cardiovascular system.

Recommended Dosage:

Pediatric
           
For minor urinary tract infections the average recommended dosage  for a 50lb child is 16 oz of cranberry juice/day.  As more studies need to be done in children, a child with a suspected or confirmed urinary tract infection should have his or her care directed by a health care practitioner.

Adult

  • Juice: 3 or more ounces of cranberry juice per day.
  • Powdered in capsule form:  6 capsules per day
  • Fresh or frozen berries: 1.5 ounces per day.

Contra-indications:

  • Active urinary tract infections.  Cranberries should not be substituted for antibiotics in active urinary tract infections but used as a supplemental therapy.
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Large quantities of cranberry juice or capsules can cause diarrhea in IBS patients
  • Diabetes. People with diabetes should used sugar free cranberry juice or take capsules or powdered concentrates
  • Excessive cranberry consumption can lead to diarrhea and a risk of developing kidney stones.

Drug interactions

There have been no identifiable interaction between the consumption of cranberries and any drug.

Complete nutritional analysis from the US Department of Agriculture

NDB No: 09078 (Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion)

Nutrient Units Value per
100 gms 		Number
of Data
Points 		Std.
Error
Proximates
Water g 87.13 4 0.277
Energy kcal 46 0 -
Energy kj 194 0 -
Protein g 0.39 4 0.096
Total lipid (fat) g 0.13 4 0.032
Ash g 0.15 4 0.029
Carbohydrate, by difference g 12.20 0 -
Fiber, total dietary g 4.6 4 0.117
Sugars g 4.04 4 0.255
Sucrose g 0.13 4 0.023
Glucose (dextrose) g 3.28 4 0.194
Fructose g 0.63 4 0.069
Lactose g 0.00 4 0
Maltose g 0.00 4 0
Galactose g 0.00 4 0
Starch g 0.00 4 0
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg 8 4 0.36
Iron, Fe mg 0.25 4 0.048
Magnesium, Mg mg 6 4 0.125
Phosphorus, P mg 13 4 0.659
Potassium, K mg 85 4 2.481
Sodium, Na mg 2 4 0.957
Zinc, Zn mg 0.10 4 0.006
Copper, Cu mg 0.061 4 0.002
Manganese, Mn mg 0.360 4 0.025
Selenium, Se mcg 0.1 2 -
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid mg 13.3 4 1.238
Thiamin mg 0.012 4 0.001
Riboflavin mg 0.020 4 0.004
Niacin mg 0.101 4 0.003
Pantothenic acid mg 0.295 4 0.03
Vitamin B-6 mg 0.057 4 0.013
Folate, total mcg 1 4 0
Folate acid mcg 0 0 -
Folate, food mcg 1 4 -
Folate, DFE mcg_DFE 1 0 -
Choline, total mg 5.5 0 -
Vitamin B-12 mcg 0.00 0 -
Betaine mg 0.2 1 -
Vitamin B-12 mcg 0.00 0 -
Vitamin B-12, added mcg 0.00 0 _
Vitamin A, IU IU 60 4 5
Vitamin A, RAE mcg_RAE 3 4 0.25
Retinol mcg 0 0 -
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) mg 1.20 4 0.119
Vitamin E, added mg 0.00 0 -
Tocopherol, beta mg 0.00 4 0
Tocopherol, gamma mg 0.04 4 0.003
Tocopherol, delta mg 0.00 4 0
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) mcg 5.1 4 0.448
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated
g 0.011 0 -
4:0 g 0.000 0 -
6:0 g 0.000 0 -
8:0 g 0.000 0 -
10:0 g 0.000 0 -
12:0 g 0.000 0 -
14:0 g 0.000 0 -
16:0 g 0.006 0 -
18:0 g 0.002 0 -
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated g 0.018 0 -
16:1 undifferentiated g 0.001 0 -
18:1 undifferentiated g 0.018 0 -
20:1 g 0.000 0 -
22:1 undifferentiated g 0.000 0 -
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated g 0.055 0 -
18:2 undifferentiated g 0.033 0 -
18:3 undifferentiated g 0.022 0 -
18:4 g 0.000 0 -
20:4 undifferentiated g 0.00 0 -
20:5 n-3 g 0.00 0 -
22:5 n-3 g 0.00 0 -
22:6 n-3 g 0.00 0 -
Cholesterol mg 0 0 -
Amino acids
Tryptophan g 0.003 0 -
Threonine g 0.028 0 -
Isoleucine g 0.033 0 -
Leucine g 0.053 0 -
Lysine g 0.039 0 -
Methionine g 0.003 0 -
Cystine g 0.003 0 -
Phenylalanine g 0.036 0 -
Tyrosine g 0.032 0 -
Valine g 0.045 0 -
Arginine g 0.056 0 -
Histidine g 0.018 0 -
Alanine g 0.049 0 -
Aspartic acid g 0.188 0 -
Glutamic acid g 0.146 0 -
Glycine g 0.048 0 -
Proline g 0.031 0 -
Serine g 0.051 0 -
Other
Alcohol, ethyl g 0.00 0 -
Caffeine mg 0 0 -
Theobromine mg 0 0 -
Carotene, beta mcg 36 4 3
Carotene, alpha mcg 0 4 0
Cryptoxanthin, beta mcg 0 4 0
Lycopene mcg 0 4 0
Lutein + zeaxanthin mcg 91 4 9.478

References

  1. Steven Foster.com
  2. WHFoods.com
  3. Answers.com
  4. Holistic Online
  5. USDA

Printed Reference Material

  1. Ahuja S, Kaack B, Roberts J. Loss of fimbrial adhesion with the addition of Vaccinum macrocarpon to the growth medium of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli. J Urol. 1998;159:559-562
  2. Avorn J, Monane M, Gurwitz JH, Glynn RJ, Choodnovskiy I, Lipsitz LA. Reduction of bacteriuria and pyuria after ingestion of cranberry juice. JAMA. 1994;271:751-754.
  3. Bomser J, Madhavi DL, Singletary K, Smith MA. In vitro anticancer activity of fruit extracts from Vaccinium species. Planta Med. 1996;62(3):212-216.
  4. Burger O, Ofek I, Tabak M, Weiss EI, Sharon N, Neeman I. A high molecular mass constituent of cranberry juice inhibits helicobacter pylori adhesion to human gastric mucus. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2000 Dec;29(4):295-301.
  5. Fleet JC. New support for a folk remedy: cranberry juice reduces bacteriuria and pyuria in elderly women. Nutr Rev. 1994;52(5):168-70.
  6. Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal. 4th ed. New York: The Haworth Herbal Press; 1999:127-129.
  7. Foxman B, Geiger AM, Palin K, et al. First-time urinary tract infection and sexua behavior. Epidemiology. 1995; 6:162-169.
  8. Howell AB, Vorsa N, Der Marderosian A, Foo LY. Inhibition of the adherence of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli to uroepithelial-cell surfaces by proanthocyanidin extracts from cranberries. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(15):1085-1086.
  9. Kontiokari T, Sundqvist K, Nuutinen M, Pokka T, Koskela M, Uhari M. Randomised trial of cranberry-lingonberry juice and Lactobacillus GG drink for the prevention of urinary tract infections in women. BMJ. 2002;322:1571-1573.
  10. Pedersen CB, Kyle J, Jenkinson AM, Gardner PT, McPhail DB, Duthie GG. Effects of blueberry and cranberry juice consumption on the plasma antioxidant capacity of healthy female volunteers. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000;54(5):405-408.
  11. Rotblatt M, Ziment I. Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus, Inc; 2002:145-147.
  12. Schlager TA. Effect of cranberry juice on bacteriuria in children with neurogenic bladder. J Pediatr. 1999;135:698-702.
  13. Schmidt DR, Sobota AE. An examination of the anti-adherence activity of cranberry juice on urinary and nonurinary bacterial isolates. Microbios. 1988;55 (224-225):173-181.
  14. Terris MK, Issa MM, Tacker JR. Dietary supplementation with cranberry tablets may increase the risk of nephrolithiasis. Urol. 2001;57:26-29.
  15. Weiss EI, Lev-Dor R, Kashamn Y, Goldhar J, Sharon N, Ofek I. Inhibiting interspecies coaggregation of plaque bacteria with a cranberry juice constituent. J Am Dent Assoc. 1998;129(12):1719-1723.
  16. White L, Mavor S. Kids, Herbs, Health. Loveland, Colo: Interweave Press; 1998:189.
  17. Zafriri D, Ofek I, Adar R, Pocino M, Sharon N. Inhibitory activity of cranberry juice on adherence of type 1 and type P fimbriated Escherichia coli to eucaryotic cells. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989;33: 92-98.
  18. Abu-Lail NI, Camesano TA. The effect of solvent polarity on the molecular surface properties and adhesion of Escherichia coli. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2006 Aug 1;51(1):62-70. Epub 2006 May 22., PMID: 16814529
  19. Allison DG, Cronin MA, Hawker J, Freeman S. Influence of cranberry juice on attachment of Escherichia colito glass. J Basic Microbiol. 2000;40(1):3-6.
  20. Avorn J, Monane M, Gurwitz JH, Glynn RJ, et al. Reduction of bacteriuria and pyruia after using cranberry juice. JAMA 1994;272:590
  21. Burger O, Weiss E, Sharon N, Tabak M, Neeman I, Ofek I. Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori adhesion to human gastric mucus by a high-molecular-weight constituent of cranberry juice. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2002;42(3 Suppl):279-84.
  22. Cheng H, Lin T, Yang C, Shieh D, Lin C. In vitro HSV-2 activity and mechanism of action of proanthocyanidin A-1 from Vaccinium vitgis-idaea. J Sci Food Agric 2004 Oct;85(1):10-15.
  23. Cho E, Seddon JM, Rosner B, Willett WC, Hankinson SE. Prospective study of intake of fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and carotenoids and risk of age-related maculopathy. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004 Jun;122(6):883-92., PMID: 15197064
  24. Ensminger AH, Ensminger, ME, Kondale JE, Robson JRK. Foods & Nutriton Encyclopedia. Pegus Press, Clovis, California 1983
  25. ESHA Research. Based on data obtained from Food Processor for Windows. Version 7.60, Database version December 2000, ESHA Research, Salem, Oregon 2000
  26. Ferguson PJ, Kurowska E, Freeman DJ, Chambers AF, Koropatnick DJ. A flavonoid fraction from cranberry extract inhibits proliferation of human tumor cell lines. J Nutr. 2004 Jun;134(6):1529-35., PMID: 15173424
  27. Avorn, J. Reduction of Bacteriuria and Pyuria After Ingestion of Cranberry Juice. Journal of the American Medicinal Association, 1994 271(10)751-754.
  28. Blatherwick, N. R., et al. Studies of Urinary Acidity II: The Increased Acidity Produced by Eating Prunes and Cranberries. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1923, 57:815.
  29. Bodel, P. T., et al. Cranberry Juice and the Antibacterial Action of Hippuric Acid. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 1959, 54:881.
  30. Bomser, J., et al. "In vitro Anticancer Activity of Fruit Extracts from Vaccinium Species."Planta Medica 1996, 62(3): 212-216.
  31. Foster, S. Herbs for Your Health. Loveland, Colorado: Interweave Press, 1996.
  32. Kahn, D. H., et al. Effects of Cranberry Juice on Urine. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 1967, 51:251.
  33. Kalm, P. Travels in North America, 2 vols., (reprint of 1770 English edition), New York, Dover Publications, 1966.
  34. Ofek, I., et al. Anti-Escherichia Coli Adhesion Activity of Cranberry and Blueberry Juices. New England Journal of Medicine 1991, 324(22):1599.
  35. Rafinesque, C.S. Medical Flora : or Manual of the Medical Botany of the United States of North America, Vol. 2. Philadelphia: Samuel C. Atkinson, 1830.
  36. Schmidt, D. R. and A. E. Sobota. An Examination of the Anti-Adherence Activity of Cranberry Juice on Urinary and Nonurinary Bacterial Isolates. Microbios 1988, 55:173-181.
  37. Sobota, A. E. Inhibition of Bacterial Adherence by Cranberry Juice: Potential Use for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections. Journal of Urology, 1984, 131:1013-1016.
  38. Zafriri, D., et as.Inhibitory Activity of Cranberry Juice on Adherence of Type 1 and P fimbricated Escherichia Coli to eukaryotic cells. Antimicrobial Agents Chemotherapy 1989, 33:92-98.

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