An updated review on chemical compositions, biological capabilities, and clinical benefits of cranberries

Cranberries are well-known berry fruits and a member of Ericaceae family. It is a potential source of bioactive components including phenolic acids, flavonols, organic acids, pentacyclic triterpenoids, anthocyanins, etc. Until now, several scientific researches uncovered the positive role of cranberry consumption to suppress human diseases including obesity, diabetes, microbial infection, hepatotoxicity, hypertensive and cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and cancer. This review focused on the chemical components of cranberries, as well as comprehensively explored the biological capabilities of cranberries based on recent findings. Furthermore, the health benefits of cranberries were also discussed based on recent clinical studies. Our review reported that cranberries are a rich source of various minerals, vitamins, organic acids, sugars, and polyphenols. Cranberries exert potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-cancer activity via regulating several signaling pathways such as PI3K/ Akt/Nrf2, Nrf2/ARE, PI3K/Akt/COX-2, TLR4-NF-kB-p38 MAPK, JAK-STAT, PPARs, TGF beta/Smad, ACE I, and others. Among all bioactivities, antimicrobial activity of cranberries is promising due to bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and antibiofilm properties. Recent clinical studies further confirmed the health benefits and safety, though extensive clinical research are recommended to ensure these effects at the clinical level. Apart from this, consumption of cranberries and their products is suggested because of the rich source of bioactive components to ameliorate biological disorders.

Automated summary

Cranberries, a well-known berry fruit and member of the Ericaceae family, have been found to possess various bioactive components that can suppress human diseases such as obesity, diabetes, microbial infections, hepatotoxicity, hypertension, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and cancer. This review focuses on the chemical components of cranberries and explores their biological capabilities based on recent findings. The review also discusses the health benefits of cranberries based on recent clinical studies. It is reported that cranberries are rich in minerals, vitamins, organic acids, sugars, and polyphenols, and they exhibit potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-cancer activities. The antimicrobial activity of cranberries is particularly promising. Recent clinical studies have further confirmed the health benefits and safety of cranberries, although more extensive clinical research is needed to ensure these effects at the clinical level. Consumption of cranberries and their products is suggested for ameliorating biological disorders.