The health benefits of cranberry juice may even extend to protecting against viruses, a new study has found.
Researchers at New York University reported that commercially available cranberry juice (Ocean Spray) neutralised viruses bacteriophages T2 and T4 and the simian rotavirus SA-11.
The scientists wrote in the journal, Phytomedicine: “The data suggests, for the first time, a non-specific antiviral effect towards unrelated viral species by a commercially available cranberry fruit juice drink.”
The researchers exposed the viruses to cranberry, orange, or grapefruit juices and measured the virus infectivity.
Cranberry juice was found to protect against both bacteriophage T2 and bacteriophage T4, with no viral infectivity.
The orange and grapefruit juices reduced the viral infectivity of T2 and T4 to 25 to 35 per cent of the control, respectively, the researchers said.
“Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism(s) of our findings and, of equal importance, proceed to animal model systems,” they concluded.
The fruit has long been considered an effective method of fighting urinary tract infections.
France became the first country to approve a health claim for the North American cranberry species Vaccinium macrocarpon, in 2004, stating that it can “help reduce the adhesion of certain E.coli bacteria to the urinary tract walls”.
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