Abstract
Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) is a fruit recognized in the world as healthy, and many of its active ingredients have important physiological functions. This study analyzed the antioxidant activity, antitumor activity, and immune function of anthocyanins and polyphenols extracted from blueberries. The crude extracts of anthocyanins and polyphenols were obtained from blueberries and then purified, and the extract exhibited excellent dose-dependent antitumor activity and antioxidant activity in vivo and in vitro. The purified anthocyanins and polyphenol compounds showed higher antioxidant activity, whereas the crude extract had a better inhibitory effect on tumor proliferation than pure extract, and the blueberry anthocyanin and polyphenol crude product mixture showed a more powerful tumor suppressor, which may be the result of the synergistic effect of multiple compounds. The crude extracts were also more efficient at improving immune function, as reflected by measurements of change in body weight, thymus and spleen indices, macrophage phagocytosis, lymphocyte transformation capacity, superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde content, and serum nitric oxide levels. These results indicate that blueberry anthocyanins and polyphenol extracts can improve immune function and reduce the metastasis and proliferation of cancer cells. This study reveals the functions of important active substances in blueberries and provides support for the development of functional health products and therapeutic drugs. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We compared the biological activity of crude and purified anthocyanins and polyphenol extracts from blueberries and tested their effects on improving immune function. This study contributes to a better understanding of the bioactivity of blueberry extracts and is valuable for further applications of blueberries in medicine.
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