Nutraceuticals

Program Objectives

Fruits and vegetables contain a vast array of chemical compounds, and some of these ‘phytonutrients’ have been associated with specific benefits for human health (see table below). Our program aims to increase concentration of compounds shown to benefit human health in common foods.  For example, we are using plastic mulches and shade cloth in an attempt to increase glucosinolate concentration in cabbage and turnips. We are also looking at variability of glucosinolate concentration among cruciferous vegetable cultivars.  Much of our nutraceutical research is in collaboration with the Hormel Institute in Austin, MN. Their focus is on cancer research, and specifically relationships between diet and cancer.

Food	Phytonutrient	Human Disease or Health Attribute Affected
Apple (skin), blueberry, cranberry, red grape	Quercetin	Prostatitis, heart disease, antihistamine (asthma, hives), interstitial cystitis, diabetes, herpes, flu, cancer (oral, leukemia)
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, turnip, other cruciferous vegetables	Glucosinolates	Cancer (prostate, esophogeal, colorectal, breast)
Carrot	Beta-Carotene	Gallstones, liver dysfunction, photosensitivity, eases chemotherapy toxicity, cataracts, macular degeneration, immune system
Cranberry, red grape	Myricetin	Prostate cancer, cholesterol, alzheimers, diabetes
Dark chocolate (in moderation!)	Catechin	Cancer, cholesterol, blood pressure
Grape (red), peanut	Resveratrol	Anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagen, anti-aging, heart disease, cancer
Tomato	Lycopene	Cancer (Prostate, lung, bladder, cervix, skin), macular degeneration
Walnut	ω-3 fatty acids	Heart disease
Ginger	[6]-gingerol	Cancer (skin, colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian), nausea, cholesterol, anti-inflammatory
Turmeric	Curcumin	Alzheimer's disease

*this list is neither all-inclusive nor conclusive

 

Chemopreventive Café

You may have seen us around Minnesota, handing out samples of plant-based foods associated with reduced disease risk. We do this to educate people about making food choices to enhance long-term health. Here is the menu we hand out when people visit us at the Chemopreventive café (click to open printable .pdf).
Menu front	Menu back

People

• Vince Fritz, Primary Investigator
• Charlie Rohwer, Scientist
• Veronica Justen, PhD Candidate
• Scott Coy, Plot Technician
• Sue Schoenfeld, Field Crew

Activities

We built two high tunnels at the Rosemount ROC in November, 2008, to grow plants for phytonutrient research. These compliment the two high tunnels that already exist at the SROC in Waseca.

 

Selected Publications

Fritz, Vince, Anne M. Bode, Veronica L. Justen, and Todd Schuster.  2007.  Enhanced glucosinolate concentrations in cabbage by foliar jasmonic acid application.  HortScience 42(4):1010.

Justen, Veronica L., Vincent A. Fritz, and Min Wang.  2007.  Glucosinolate accumulation in turnip as affected by cultivar and growth on colored mulches.  HortScience 42(4):1011.

DeVillena, Fernando A., Vincent A. Fritz, Jerry D. Cohen, and William D. Hutchison.  2007.  Changes in gluconasturtiin concentration in Chinese cabbage with increasing cabbage looper density.  HortScience 42(6):1337-1340.

Rosen, C.J., V.A. Fritz, G.M. Gardner, S.S. Hecht, S.G. Carmella, and P.M. Kenney.  2005.  Cabbage yield and glucosinolate concentrations as affected by nitrogen and sulfur fertility.  HortScience 40(5):1493-1498.

 

Helpful Links

Hormel Institute
Linus Pauling Institute, information on cruciferous vegetables
Recommended Fruit and Vegetable Intake (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Nutrition and activity guidelines to reduce cancer risk (American Cancer Society via CA Cancer J Clin 2002;52;92-119)