Abstract
Bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins, proanthocyanins and other polyphenols are found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and consumption of these have been associated with reduced lung inflammation and improved lung function in asthma and other lung diseases. We investigated whether a combination of Boysenberry and apple juice, found in BerriQi® Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate, could reduce the allergic airways inflammation associated with asthma. We characterised the polyphenolic components in BerriQi® Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate and identified the main compounds as cyanidin glycosides, ellagitannins, and chlorogenic acid. We found that consumption of 2.5 mg/kg of total anthocyanins from the BerriQi® Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate significantly reduced eosinophil infiltration following acute ovalbumin (OVA) exposure in a mouse model of allergic airways inflammation. We found that BerriQi® Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate consumption increased M2 (CD206+) macrophages and the production of the M2-associated cytokines CXCL10 and CCL4 within the lung. These results suggest that consumption of BerriQi® Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate promotes a shift towards an anti-inflammatory environment within the lung leading to reduced immune cell infiltration and tissue damage.