Research appearing in the Journal of Food Science (24 January, 2008, e-published ahead of print), shows that fruit rich in polyphenols may protect against Alzheimer’s disease. Polyphenols are natural compounds found in plant foods. They act as antioxidants and provide other health benefits. Green tea polyphenols and polyphenols from wine have attracted a great deal of media attention. While dietary anti-oxidants, such as vitamins E and C, have received considerable attention, relatively little is known about a similar anti-oxidant role for plant-derived polyphenols, such as the flavonoids and phenolic acids. The polyphenol extracts were able to suppress cell destruction. The researchers used neuron-like PC12 cells and exposed them to fruit extracts at different concentrations (100, 300, 600, 2,000 mcg/ml) before treating them with hydrogen peroxide. More cells survived when treated with the fruit extracts.
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