Cranberry's antibacterial properties have made a lot of news in the last few years. In 2004, France became the first country to allow a health claim based on cranberry's (Vaccinium macrocarpon) potential as urinary tract infection-fighting agent. (That claim is "cranberry may help reduce the adhesion of certain E. coli bacteria to the urinary tract walls.") In late 2006, a study we reported on provided insight into cranberry's UTI-fighting mechanism. In August of this year, we reported on a study that found that cranberry may also help fight H. pylori in women. H. pylori is the bacteria that causes the majority of stomach ulcers. Now, just in time for Thanksgiving, and the cold season, a new study finds that cranberries may have potential as an antiviral agent as well.
In a recent study, researchers from St. Francis College, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and New York University exposed three different viruses (bacteriophages T2 and T4 and the simian rotavirus SA-11) to varying dilutions of cranberry, orange and grapefruit juices. The researchers noted that the data indicate that cranberry juice has "a non-specific antiviral effect towards unrelated viral species." The study found that the cranberry juice was able to completely inactivate both of the bacteriaphages. In the case of Bacteriophage T4, inactivation "was rapid, dose-dependent, and occurred at either 4 or 23 degrees C" indicating that the effect is not temperature dependent. Finally the researchers tested the effects of the cranberry juice on simian rotavirus SA-11 and found that a 20% suspension was sufficient to prevent the virus from invading red blood cells. The orange and grapefruit juice only showed modest benefits on Bacteriophage T2, reducing viral infectivity 25% and 35% respectively. The study appeared in the journal Phytomedicine.
Learn more about the potential benefits of cranberry and get our favorite recipe for homemade holiday cranberry sauce, leave that canned stuff in the pantry!
1. Lipson, S. M., L. Sethi, et al. (2007). "Antiviral effects on bacteriophages and rotavirus by cranberry juice." Phytomedicine 14(1): 23-30.
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