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CRANBERRY
Source: Vacciniummacrocarpon Aiton
(Family Ericaceae).
Common/vernacular names:Low-bush cran-
berry.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Trailing, evergreen, slender-stemmed shrub;
leavesleathery,flowerwhitetopink,1 cmwide;
fruit glossy red, 1–1.5cm wide, tart flavored;
occurs in bogs from Newfoundland to Manito-
basouthtoVirginia,Ohio,andnorthernIllinois;
also grown in northern and central Europe;
locally naturalized. Part used is the fruit from
which a juice (cranberry juice) is produced and
extensively marketed in the United States;
Massachusetts is the major producer.Vacci-
nium oxycoccusL., found in peat bogs in
northernandcentralEuropeusedasacranberry
source in Europe.V. macrocarponshould not
be confused withViburnum opulusL., some-
times known as ‘‘high-bush cranberry.’’
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Fruits contain anthocyanins; flavonol glyco-
sides (leptosine); catechin; triterpenoids;
citric, malic, and quinic acids; smaller levels
of benzoic and glucuronic acids; trace of al-
kaloids; carbohydrates (10%), protein, and
vitamin C.^1 Quinic acid 0.5–0.9%, conjugated
with glycine to produce hippuric acid, towhich
biological activity was formerly attributed.
PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES
Fruit widely regarded as possessing bacterio-
static activity for urinary tract infections.
Antibacterial activity has been variously,
though not conclusively attributed to antho-
cyanins; flavonol glycosides; catechin; vola-
tile components; and benzoic, quinic, malic,
and citric acids (CRELLIN AND PHILPOTT). It has
been suggested and disputed that the urinary
antiseptic effect is due to the action of hip-
puric acid.2,3Other studies suggest cranberry
juice possesses antiadhesion activity to mu-
cous membrane surfaces.4–6Escherichia coli,
the most common causative bacteria for uri-
nary tract infections adheres to cells of the
urinary and alimentary tracts, enhancing their
capacity to withstand nutrient deprivation and
cleansing mechanisms, enhancing both toxic-
ity and colonization. Blocking the adhesion of
E.colito urinary bladder mucosal cells has
been shown to prevent development of urinary
232 Cranberry
