Berry	No. of 2007 publications	Year first reported	Total no. of publications
Açaí	2	2004	12
Blackberry	7	1941	88
Blackcurrant	18	1917	181
Blueberry	55	1927	288
Cranberry	58	1918	419
Goji *	21	1963	149
Grape	471	1881	>3000
Red raspberry	33	1954	234
Sea buckthorn	19	1951	176
Strawberry	114	1943	>1100

A few interesting facts for 2007 from the above table -- red links are from 2007 essays in the Berry Doctor's Journal:

• 75 grape studies were done to better define properties of the antioxidant, resveratrol
• about 150 studies were done on wine chemicals of possible health value!
• relative to the total number of reports published, 2007 research on blueberries was highest among all berries, i.e., blueberry was the hottest berry research topic of 2007
• other than grape and blueberry, the most researched berries were strawberry and cranberry
• açaí and blackberry need lots more attention!
• there still have been no studies on goji published by American or Canadian scientists

 

From new scientific results,

what were the most important trends

over the past year?

 

• a new method to measure berry antioxidant capacity within cells in vitro was developed -- click here for the abstract

Why is this important? All the antioxidant information such as ORAC on berries and other plant foods to date has been determined in a test tube. This study will get scientists thinking about ways to measure antioxidant capacity within the human body.

• a nutrigenomics study showed that berry consumption could lower levels of an inflammatory marker more in people predisposed to inflammation -- click

Why is this important? The study indicates that berries may specifically benefit people at risk for the many diseases arising from inflammation, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease and arthritis. New foods or drugs specifically containing beneficial agents could be developed for people at risk for these diseases.

• several mechanisms of cancer appear sensitive to berry phenolics -- there is now a list of specific cancer onset mechanisms scientists can test for intervention by berries -- click for the abstract

Why is this important? Knowing these mechanisms gives cancer scientists a checklist for analyzing which berry phytochemicals -- among the hundreds of phytochemicals in berries -- can be developed into a consumer product best suiting people at risk for cancer.

• berries were also shown to inhibit fat cell growth and improve glucose absorption, two factors possibly important to controlling diabetes and obesity -- click for a 2007 discussion of the research

Why is this important? Knowing that berries have anti-diabetic actions may stimulate manufacturers to make new berry products convenient for children and overweight people to use everyday throughout the year.

• given these increasing indications for benefit, horticultural scientists are now breeding berries specifically to increase contents of phytochemicals that might help defeat diseases like cancer, diabetes and obesity -- click for an example from 2007 research

Why is this important? Knowing specific berry phytochemicals responsible for health benefits allows plant breeders to manipulate hybrids and plant germplasm that will increase levels of the beneficial compound in new cultivars and in new consumer products.