Natural source of colorant, antioxidant discovered

FRUITS like blueberries and cranberries are known to have powerful antioxidant properties, but a new discovery shows that a lesser known superfruit outshines these berries in preventing cell oxidation. It can also be a possible new source of food coloring.

Growing in the southwest tropics of Brazil, the exotic Ceylon gooseberry fruit is found to have skin and pulp with high levels of phytochemicals that help prevent oxidative stress which can lead to diseases such as cancer and heart ailments.

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In its native abode, the gooseberry is mostly consumed fresh or made into jam and beverages. But deeper investigation into its qualities shows other potentials. Researchers from the Campinas State University in Brazil were the first to analyze the nutritional composition and antioxidant capacity gooseberries.

A further study was recently featured in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), According to it is authors, the gooseberry skin may be a very likely source of natural colorants and antioxidants for use in food manufacturing. Further research will go into this promising discovery.