NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION, HEALTH BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF BLUEBERRY: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

NASEEM ZAHRA; MUHAMMAD KHALID SAEED; HUFSAH HAMID; ABDULLAH QAMAR; ASMA SAEED

doi:10.22159/ijags.2023.v11i5.48548

Authors

NASEEM ZAHRA Food and Biotechnology Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Ferozepur Road, Lahore - 54600, Pakistan.
MUHAMMAD KHALID SAEED Food and Biotechnology Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Ferozepur Road, Lahore - 54600, Pakistan.
HUFSAH HAMID Food and Biotechnology Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Ferozepur Road, Lahore - 54600, Pakistan.
ABDULLAH QAMAR Food and Biotechnology Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Ferozepur Road, Lahore - 54600, Pakistan.
ASMA SAEED Food and Biotechnology Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Ferozepur Road, Lahore - 54600, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijags.2023.v11i5.48548

Keywords:

Antioxidant, Tangy, Cardiovascular, Inflammation, Cultivation

Abstract

Background: Blueberries are one of the most popular and nutritious fruits in the world. They are small, round, and blue with a sweet and tangy flavor. Blueberries are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a healthy addition to any diet.

Objective: This study is a review of the origin, taxonomy, classification, cultivation, commercial importance, and health benefits of blueberry.

Methods: A wide range of electronic data was gathered including different articles, review papers. Conference papers, abstracts published in national and international proceedings, books, and thesis. The current research was based on International database such as Google Scholar, BIOSIS, Journal Citation Reports, Research Gate, Science Direct, and Scopus with particular keywords.

Results: Blueberries are the best source of antioxidants, polyphenols, and fiber. Blueberries have very best nutritional aspects including neuro-protective, osteoprotective, reno-protective, and opthalmo-protective properties.

Conclusion: Blueberries are native to North America and have been used by Native Americans for centuries for their medicinal properties. In recent years, blueberries have gained widespread popularity due to their many health benefits, including their ability to improve heart health, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive function. In addition to their cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits, blueberries may also have cognitive benefits.

References

Bañados, M. P. (2006). Blueberry production in South America. Acta Horticulturae, 715, 165-172.

Bassil, N., Bidani, A., Nyberg, A., Hummer, K., & Rowland, L. J. (2020). Microsatellite markers confirm identity of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) plants in the USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository collection. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 67, 393-409.

Beattie, J., Crozier, A., & Duthie, G. G. (2005). Potential health benefits of berries. Current Nutrition and Food Science, 1(1), 71-86.

Beaudry, R. (1992). Blueberry Quality Characteristics and How they can be Optimized. Annual Report of the Michigan State Horticultural Society (122nd ed.) (pp. 140-145).

Britannica, T. (2023, February 14). Editors of Encyclopaedia. Blueberry. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/plant/blueberry-plant [Last accessed on 2023 Feb 14].

Cassidy, A., Mukamal, K. J., Liu, L., Franz, M., Eliassen, A. H., & Rimm, E. B. (2013). High anthocyanin intake is associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction in young and middle-aged women. Circulation, 127, 188-196.

Cheng, M. L., Zhang, B. F., Mu, M., & Wu, J. (2010). Effects of blueberry on hepatic fibrosis and transcription factor Nrf2 in rats. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 16, 2657-2663.

DeFuria, J., Bennett, G., Strissel, K. J., Perfield, J. W. 2nd., Milbury, P. E., Greenberg, A. S., & Obin, M. S. (2009). Dietary blueberry attenuates whole-body insulin resistance in high fat-fed mice by reducing adipocyte death and its inflammatory sequelae. The Journal of Nutrition, 139(8), 1510-1516.

Doyle, J. W., Nambeesan, S. U., & Malladi, A. (2021). Physiology of nitrogen and calcium nutrition in blueberry (Vaccinium sp.). Agronomy, 11(4), 765.

Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2023, February 14). Blueberry. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica.

Elks, C. M., Reed, S. D., Mariappan, N., Shukitt-Hale, B., Joseph, J. A., Ingram, D. K., & Francis, J. (2011). Blueberry-enriched diet attenuates nephropathy in a rat model of hypertension via reduction in oxidative stress. PLoS One, 6, e24028.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); USDA/ NASS; FAS/Lima, FAS/Warsaw, FAS/Mexico City., & FAS/Pretoria. (2020). State of the Industry Report, Americas (Report No. xxx). Chile: International Blueberry Organization.

Gough, R. E. (1993). The highbush blueberry and its management. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Grace, M. H., Ribnicky, D. M., Kuhn, P., Poulev, A., Logendra, S., Yousef, G. G., & Lila, M. A. (2009). Hypoglycemic activity of a novel anthocyanin-rich formulation from lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton. Phytomedicine, 16(5), 406-415.

Guglielmetti, S., Fracassetti, D., Taverniti, V., Del Bo’, C., Vendrame, S., Klimis-Zacas, D., Arioli, S., Riso, P., & Porrini, M. (2013). Differential modulation of human intestinal Bifidobacterium populations after consumption of a wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) drink. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 61, 8134-8149.

Hancock, J. F., Lyrene, P., Finn, C. E., Vorsa, N., & Lobos, G. A. (2008). Blueberries and cranberries. In Temperate fruit crop breeding: Germplasm to genomics (pp. 115-150). Dordrecht: Springer.

Herbst, S. T., & Herbst, R. (2007). New food lover’s companion. United States: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

Hickey, M., & King, C. (2000). The Cambridge illustrated glossary of botanical terms (1st ed). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

Huang, W. Y., Zhang, H. C., Liu, W. X., & Li, C. Y. (2012). Survey of antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition of blueberry, blackberry, and strawberry in Nanjing. Journal of Zhejiang University Science B, 13, 94-102.

Hummer, K. (2020). Phone Call. Research Leader. Corvallis, OR: USDA/ ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository.

Kalt, W., & Dufour, D. (1997). Health functionality of blueberries. HortTechnology, 7(3), 216-221.

Liu, Y., Song, X., Han, Y., Zhou, F., Zhang, D., Ji, B., Hu, J., Lv, Y., Cai, S., Wei, Y., Gao, F., & Jia, X. (2011a). Identification of anthocyanin components of wild Chinese blueberries and amelioration of light-induced retinal damage in pigmented rabbit using whole berries. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 59, 356-363.

Liu, Y., Wang, D., Zhang, D., Lv, Y., Wei, Y., Wu, W., Zhou, F., Tang, M., Mao, T., Li, M., & Ji, B. (2011b). Inhibitory effect of blueberry polyphenolic compounds on oleic acid-induced hepatic steatosis in vitro. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 59, 12254-12263.

Lu, S., Cheng, M. L., Li, H., Wu, J., & Wang, Y. P. (2012). Effects of blueberry on hepatic fibrosis and ultrastructural of hepatocytes in rats. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi, 92, 927-931.

McAnulty, L. S., Nieman, D. C., Dumke, C. L., Shooter, L. A., Henson, D. A., Utter, A. C., Milne, G., & McAnulty, S. R. (2011). Effect of blueberry ingestion on natural killer cell counts, oxidative stress, and inflammation prior to and after 2.5 h of running. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 36, 976-984.

McGregor, S. E. (1976). Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants (agricultural handbook No. 496). Agricultural Research Service. Washington, D.C: USDA.

Molan, A. L., Lila, M. A., Mawson, J., & De, S. (2009). In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the prebiotic activity of water-soluble blueberry extracts. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 25, 1243-1249.

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA. (2020). Noncitrus fruits and nuts (Report No. xxx). Washington, D.C: USDA.

Nile, S. H., & Park, S. W. (2014). Edible berries: Bioactive components and their effect on human health. Nutrition, 30(2), 134-144.

Ofek, I., Goldhar, J., & Sharon, N. (1996). Anti-Escherichia coli adhesin activity of cranberry and blueberry juices. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 408, 179-183.

Osman, N., Adawi, D., Ahrne, S., Jeppsson, B., & Molin, G. (2007). Endotoxin-and D-galactosamine-induced liver injury improved by the administration of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and blueberry. Digestive and Liver Disease, 39(9), 849-856.

Patel, S. (2014). Blueberry as functional food and dietary supplement: The natural way to ensure holistic health. Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 7(2), 133-143.

Pritts, M. P., Hancock, J. F., Strik, B., Eames-Sheavly, M., & Celentano, D. (1992). Highbush blueberry production guide (NRAES-55). Ithaca, N.Y: Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service (NRAES).

Prodorutti, D., Pertot, I., Giongo, L., & Gessler, C. (2007). Highbush blueberry: Cultivation, protection, breeding and biotechnology. European Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology, 1(1), 44-56.

Rashidinejad, A., & Jafari, S. M. (2020). Nanoencapsulation of bioactive food ingredients. In: Handbook of Food Nanotechnology (pp. 279- 344). United States: Academic Press.

Rendeiro, C., Vauzour, D., Kean, R. J., Butler, L. T., Rattray, M., Spencer, J. P., & Williams, C. M. (2012). Blueberry supplementation induces spatial memory improvements and region-specific regulation of hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression in young rats. Psychopharmacology, 223, 319-330.

Rowland, L. J., & Hammerschlag, F. A. (2005). Vaccinium spp. Blueberry. In: Biotechnology of Fruit and Nut Crops (pp. 222-246). Wallingford UK: CAB International.

Senevirathne, M., Kim, S. H., & Jeon, Y. J. (2010). Protective effect of enzymatic hydrolysates from highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) against hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative damage in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cell line. Nutrition Research and Practice, 4, 183-190.

Shaughnessy, K. S., Boswall, I. A., Scanlan, A. P., Gottschall-Pass, K. T., & Sweeney, M. I. (2009). Diets containing blueberry extract lower blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats. Nutrition Research, 29, 130-138.

Strik, B. (2005). Blueberry-an expanding world berry crop. Chronica Horticulturae, 45, 7-12.

Strik, B. C., & Yarborough, D. (2005). Blueberry production trends in North America, 1992 to 2003, and predictions for growth. HortTechnology, 15(2), 391-398.

Tremblay, F., Waterhouse, J., Nason, J., & Kalt, W. (2013). Prophylactic neuroprotection by blueberry-enriched diet in a rat model of light-induced retinopathy. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 24, 647-655.

USDA/Economic Research Service. (2020, December 7). Fresh blueberry supplies expand as U.S. consumers develop a taste for year-round blueberries. Washington, D.C: USDA.

Wang, Y., Gallegos, J. L., Haskell-Ramsay, C., & Lodge, J. K. (2022). Effects of blueberry consumption on cardiovascular health in healthy adults: A cross-over randomised controlled trial. Nutrients, 14(13), 2562.

Williamson, G., & Clifford, M. N. (2010). Colonic metabolites of berry polyphenols: The missing link to biological activity? British Journal of Nutrition, 104(Suppl 3), S48-S66.

Wu, L. H., Xu, Z. L., Dong, D., He, S. A., & Yu, H. (2011). Protective effect of anthocyanins extract from blueberry on TNBS-induced IBD model of mice. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011, 525462.

Zhang, J., Lazarenko, O. P., Blackburn, M. L., Badger, T. M., Ronis, M. J. J., & Chen, J. R. (2013). Blueberry consumption prevents loss of collagen in bone matrix and inhibits senescence pathways in osteoblastic cells. Age (Dordr), 35, 807-820.

Zhang, J., Lazarenko, O. P., Blackburn, M. L., Shankar, K., Badger, T. M., Ronis, M. J. J., & Chen, J. R. (2011). Feeding blueberry diets in early life prevent senescence of osteoblasts and bone loss in ovariectomized adult female rats. PLoS One, 6, e24486.

Zhang, J., Lazarenko, O. P., Kang, J., Blackburn, M. L., Ronis, M. J. J., Badger, T. M., & Chen, J. R. (2013). Feeding blueberry diets to young rats dose-dependently inhibits bone resorption through suppression of RANKL in stromal cells. PLoS One, 8, e70438.

Zhu, Y., Bickford, P. C., Sanberg, P., Giunta, B., & Tan, J. (2008). Blueberry opposes beta-amyloid peptide-induced microglial activation via inhibition of p44/42 mitogen-activation protein kinase. Rejuvenation Research, 11, 891-901.