Berry fruits are widely consumed in our diet and have attracted much attention due to their potential human health benefits. Berries contain a diverse range of phytochemicals with biological properties such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-neurodegerative, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the current study, extracts of six popularly consumed berries--blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry and strawberry--were evaluated for their phenolic constituents using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) detection. The major classes of berry phenolics were anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, ellagitannins, gallotannins, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids. The berry extracts were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the growth of human oral (KB, CAL-27), breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29, HCT116), and prostate (LNCaP) tumor cell lines at concentrations ranging from 25 to 200 micro g/mL. With increasing concentration of berry extract, increasing inhibition of cell proliferation in all of the cell lines were observed, with different degrees of potency between cell lines. The berry extracts were also evaluated for their ability to stimulate apoptosis of the COX-2 expressing colon cancer cell line, HT-29. Black raspberry and strawberry extracts showed the most significant pro-apoptotic effects against this cell line. The data provided by the current study and from other laboratories warrants further investigation into the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects of berries using in vivo models.

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) fruits contain phenolic compounds that have antioxidant, anticancer, antiatherosclerotic and anti-neurodegenerative properties. Identification of food phenolics is necessary since their nature, size, solubility, degree and position of glycosylation and conjugation influence their absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion in humans. Freezedried whole strawberry fruit powder and strawberry fruit extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) methods. Phenolics were identified as ellagic acid (EA), EA-glycosides, ellagitannins, gallotannins, anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols and coumaroyl glycosides. The anthocyanidins were pelargonidin and cyanidin, found predominantly as their glucosides and rutinosides. The major flavonol aglycons were quercetin and kaempferol found as their glucuronides and glucosides. LC-ESI-MS/MS methods differentiated EA from quercetin conjugates since both aglycons have identical molecular weights (302 g/mol). The identification of strawberry phenolics is necessary to generate standardized materials for in vitro and in vivo studies and for the authentication of strawberry-based food products.

The pretest probability of a BMT presenting with URI symptoms having influenza is significantly lower than that for the general DoD beneficiary population. BMTs with influenza presented sooner, with higher fever, and with fewer overall symptoms than the general DoD beneficiary population. These differences are likely attributable to early reporting and response bias and less likely attributed to age. Military efforts to identify BMTs with suspected influenza infection early and to refer them for treatment promptly are efficacious.