Scientists discover anti-inflammatory polyphenols in apple peels

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Scientists discover anti-inflammatory polyphenols in apple peels
New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that oral ingestion of apple polyphenols can suppress T cell activation and ameliorate experimental colitis in mice

Bethesda, MD—Here's another reason why "an apple a day keeps the doctor away"—according to new research findings published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology (https://www.jleukbio.org), oral ingestion of apple polyphenols (antioxidants found in apple peels) can suppress T cell activation to prevent colitis in mice. This study is the first to show a role for T cells in polyphenol-mediated protection against an autoimmune disease and could lead to new therapies and treatments for people with disorders related to bowel inflammation, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and colitis-associated colorectal cancer.

"Many people with colitis use some form of dietary supplement to complement conventional therapies, but most of the information on the health effects of complementary medicine remains anecdotal. Also, little is known about exactly how these therapies work, if they work at all," said David W. Pascual, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. "Our results show that a natural product found in apple peels can suppress colonic inflammation by antagonizing inflammatory T cells to enhance resistance against autoimmune disease."

To make this discovery, scientists used a chemically induced model of colitis with Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), researchers administered an oral placebo to one group of mice, and the other group of mice was given an oral dose of apple polyphenols every day during the course of the disease. Results showed that mice treated orally with apple polyphenols were protected from colitis. Importantly, scientists also found that the treated mice had fewer activated T cells in their colons. In mice lacking T cells, apple polyphenols were unable to protect against colitis or suppress proinflammatory cytokine expression, indicating apple polyphenols protect against colitis via the suppression of T cell activation and/or recruitment.

"It appears that the old adage rings true in more ways than one," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, "In addition to the obvious health benefits of the nutrients and fiber in fruits and vegetables, this study indicates that even something as relatively common as the apple contains other healthy ingredients that can have serious therapeutic value."

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The Journal of Leukocyte Biology (http://www.jleukbio.org) publishes peer-reviewed manuscripts on original investigations focusing on the cellular and molecular biology of leukocytes and on the origins, the developmental biology, biochemistry and functions of granulocytes, lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes and other cells involved in host defense and inflammation. The Journal of Leukocyte Biology is published by the Society for Leukocyte Biology.

Here is the link to the paper http://www.mediafire.com/?nuuuz427q6q1ag7

Found 2 more papers that may be everyone's interest,
http://www.mediafire.com/?4a5xb5j88u80krq
http://www.mediafire.com/?p0aoaalsdfcc4q6

Have seen that info before but this is the first time I have seen it fend off Dextran Sulfate bombardment.

Somebody said...
antioxidants found in apple peels..Results showed that mice treated orally with apple polyphenols were protected from colitis.

That is kickass, going to pursue the peels not the sauce.

Somebody said...
Importantly, scientists also found that the treated mice had fewer activated T cells in their colons. In mice lacking T cells, apple polyphenols were unable to protect against colitis or suppress proinflammatory cytokine expression, indicating apple polyphenols protect against colitis via the suppression of T cell activation and/or recruitment.

So if your colitis is not from over activated T cell then this wont help you however I think lacking T cells is unusual and only done in the lab to double-confirm their findings.

I dunno what to think now. I thought we were supposed to avoid fruit and veg skins---especially tomato or apple peel.

It seems that for every claim, there's another that will contradict it.

Go figure.

I don't know about anyone else but I can't even digest apple peels. I wonder if the benefits would still be present if one were to dehydrate apple peels, though?

The Swanson ones are cheap at $6.99 but it's 60 x 125mg so you'd need to take 8 caps per day. So for a month you need 4 bottles, $27.96. I could only find one brand that had bigger caps, 60 x 500mg, for $39.95, so Swanson is still a better deal but you have to take a lot of caps. And that other brand is sold as a hair loss treatment and if you go to the site you may find it feels like a bit of a scam - I did not get a good feeling from that site so I won't mention the name. You'll come across it looking for this stuff anyway.

WingZero said...
I don't know about anyone else but I can't even digest apple peels. I wonder if the benefits would still be present if one were to dehydrate apple peels, though?

Yeah, I have the same problem. I can eat peeled apples mostly w/o any troubles, but with the skin, no way.