Study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has highlighted the qualities of bilberry extract in protecting the organism from renal damage caused by potassium bromate (KBrO3)
Potassium bromate is an environmental pollutant, which can be formed as a by-product in the process of ozone purification of drinking water.
Recent concerns have arisen from its discovery in bottles of mineral water both in the US and in Europe.
In addition to fears of carcinogenesis, potassium bromate may be toxic in other ways, affecting the kidneys in particular.
The substance in fact causes the formation of free radicals which, in turn, may trigger harmful modification to cell membranes, proteins, enzymes and kidney cell DNA.
Bilberry extract, by virtue of its exceptional antioxidant properties, proved effective in reducing the kidney levels of various oxidative stress markers and increasing the capacity to absorb free radicals (oxygen radical absorbance capacity - Orac) in renal tissue.
Commenting on the outcome of this research, Giovanni Appendino, head of R+D in Indena, was resolute: "these results confirm yet again the potent antioxidant proprieties of bilberry extract in vivo.
"Anthocyanins, a class of highly unstable compounds, are active principles found in the bilberry.
"Their content may vary and depends on factors such as the origin of the plant and the purification technology applied.
"Indena attaches great importance to the standardisation of raw materials and processes, and is in the forefront of developing analytical methodology for the characterisation of plant extracts so that the composition of the products we offer our clients can be identified, certified and reproduced".
The study was conducted by researchers from the Chinese universities of Shenyang and Jinan, in collaboration with Brand's Health Science Centre of Cerebos Pacific , a leading food company in Southeast Asia.
Various parameters of renal toxicity from potassium bromate were analysed before and after the administration of Mirtoselect (extract of Vaccinium myrtillus L produced by Indena and standardised with a minimum of at least 36% of anthocyanin).
In-vivo tests showed how the administration of Mirtoselect over five days at doses of 50, 100 and 200mg/kg could limit renal damage provoked by the bromate, and bring about the normalisation of all blood and tissue parameters typically affected by potassium bromate intoxication.
