Washington: You may have heard the saying, ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ without really knowing how. Researchers however, have found out how the protective mechanism works.
They have discovered a way in which flavonoid-rich apples inhibit the kinds of cellular activity that leads to the development of chronic diseases.
"We've known for a long time that it's the flavonoids in fruits that are protecting the body. We just haven't known exactly how,” professor of allergy, rheumatology and immunology at the UC, Eric Gershwin said.
"Now, at least in the case of apples, we have a good idea about what's going on," he added.
Gershwin and his colleagues found that apple extract was able to protect cells from damage and death by interfering with communication between cells.
Earlier studies have shown that flavonoids, which are found in chocolate and green tea, as well as other fruits and vegetables behave as anti-oxidants, taking up free oxygen radicals that can damage precious DNA.
The UC Davis study takes that research further by looking beyond the antioxidant effects of apple flavonoids.
"Our study showed that the flavonoids in apples and apple juice can inhibit signals in this pathway that would otherwise damage or kill cells in the body," Gershwin explained.
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