Cranberry juice offers anti-viral possibilities study

Cranberry juice's benefits may even extend to protecting against viruses,

according to results of study from New York-based researchers.

"The data suggest, for the first time, a non-specific antiviral effect

towards unrelated viral species by a commercially available cranberry fruit

juice drink," wrote the researchers in the journal Phytomedicine.

Researchers from St. Francis College, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and

New

York University report that commercially available cranberry juice (Ocean

Spray) neutralised the viruses: bacteriophages T2 and T4 and the simian

rotavirus SA-11.

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Phytomedicine Volume 14, Issue 1, 10 January 2007, Pages 23-30



Antiviral effects on bacteriophages and rotavirus by cranberry juice

S.M. Lipsona, L. Sethia, P. Cohena, R.E. Gordonb, I.P. Tanc, A. Burdowskia

and G. Stotzkyc



Abstract

Studies were undertaken to investigate the antiviral effects of comestible

juices, especially cranberry juice, on non-related viral species. After

exposure of bacteriophage T2 to a commercially available cranberry

(Vaccinium macrocarpon) juice #####tail (CJ), virus infectivity titer was no

longer detectible. After a 60-min exposure to orange (OJ) and grapefruit

juices (GJ), phage infectivity was reduced to 25–35% of control,

respectively. Similar data were observed for the bacteriophage T4. CJ

inactivation of phage T4 was rapid, dose-dependent, and occurred at either

4 or 23 °C. Neither pH nor differences in sugar/carbohydrate levels among

the juices may be ascribed to the recognized antiviral effects. Further

studies were performed to identify the occurrence of antiviral activity by

CJ to a mammalian enteric virus. The treatment of the simian rotavirus

SA-11 with a 20% CJ suspension was sufficient to inhibit hemagglutination.

Under scanning and transmission electron microscopy, CJ was observed to

inhibit the adsorption of phage T4 to its bacterial host cells and

prevented the replication of rotavirus in its monkey kidney (MA-104) host

cells, respectively. The data suggest, for the first time, a non-specific

antiviral effect towards unrelated viral species (viz., bacteriophages T2

and T4 and the simian rotavirus SA-11) by a commercially available

cranberry fruit juice drink.