New research suggests there may be truth behind the old
adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
Scientists from the University of California, Davis School
of Medicine, say they've discovered that apples rich with
compounds called flavonoids help ward off debilitating cell
diseases, such as heart disease and age-related cancers.
The research was funded by the U.S. Apple Association and
the Apple Products Research and Education Council.
Studies in the past have found that flavonoids act as antioxidants
-- enzymes that target free radicals that can damage DNA.
Flavonoids are commonly found in chocolate, green tea and
other fruits and vegetables.
In a prepared statement, Eric Gershwin, a UC-Davis professor
of allergy, rheumatology and immunology, said, "Our
study showed that the flavonoids in apples and apple juice
can inhibit signals in this pathway that would otherwise
damage or kill cells in the body."
Gershwin and his colleagues created an apple mash from
different apple varieties, and then exposed the extract
to endothelial cells, which line blood vessels. Then they
exposed the cells to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a compound
that promotes inflammation and can trigger cell death.
The apple extract preserved and protected the cells by
hindering communication between them.
The study results appear in the current issue of Experimental
Biology and Medicine.
