Developing a new Cranberry specific PAC standard
Two major players in production and marketing of Cranberries will collaborate on a project to improve the accuracy of measuring and quantifying of proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberries.
The goal of the collaboration between Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc and Complete Phytochemical Solutions, LLC is to develop a cranberry based/cranberry specific PAC standard (derived from cranberry fruit) as an alternative to the Procyanidin A2 (dimer) standard currently utilised in the DMAC[1] method.
In recent years, scientific studies have shown that cranberries contain the unique A-type PACs that may “help reduce the adhesion of certain E. coli bacteria to the urinary tract walls,”[2] with a minimum of 36 mg cranberry PACs delivering an efficacious dose. Doubts have arisen, however, over the accuracy of the current methods of PAC measurement in cranberries. The two colorimetric methods currently used by the industry can deliver vastly different results. The recently introduced DMAC method provides an accurate quantification of PAC content based on the use of the Procyanidin A2 standard which is a dimer (chain length of 2), but can lead to an under-estimation of PAC content in products that are enriched in PAC’s of different sizes and lengths (degree of polymerisation from 2-8 up to >10). Variations in processing techniques for cranberry products can lead to significant differences in PAC composition. The industry is calling for an improvement to the current standardised method to provide product specific quantification for compounds in a natural product like cranberry, which will help pave the way for further advancement in cranberry science.
Accurate quantification of PAC content in cranberry products is a vital component in establishing dosage guidelines for consumers. Additionally, it is essential for monitoring efficacy and shelf-life of dietary supplements, as well as helping standardise test materials used in research studies.
Ocean Spray and Complete Phytochemical Solutions hope to make the cranberry PAC standard developed in this collaboration commercially available to the cranberry industry, academic institutes and contract research organisations worldwide.
Amy Howell, associate research scientist at Rutgers University and member of the project team comments, “Since DMAC is now considered to be the industry standard method, we are committed to improving its accuracy for all cranberry products by developing a more robust, commercially available cranberry PAC standard. We are proud to partner with leading cranberry supplier, Ocean Spray, on this initiative. We anticipate this new methodology will provide more confidence for suppliers, consumers and regulatory agencies in the assessment of PAC content which will have a significant impact on the cranberry industry.”
[1] 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (Prior et al, 2010)
[2] Avis 2003-SA-0056, 6 April 2004, Agence françise de sécurité sanitaire des aliments (AFSSA)
