The functional food potential of selected Australian bushfoods with high antioxidant contents

Abstract

Recent studies have reported that several Australian bushfood plants (including brush cherry, Davidsons plum, riberry and blue quandong) are extremely good sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants have been associated with the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological degenerative disorders. They are also linked with anti-diabetic bioactivities and have been associated with the reduction of obesity. Therefore, these bushfoods have potential in the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancers. The ability of extracts prepared from selected high antioxidant Australian fruits to inhibit the growth and proliferation of HeLa (cervical cancer) and CaCo2 (colorectal cancer) cell lines was investigated in vitro to examine their potential as functional foods and anticancer agents. Several plants were identified as having profound effects on the proliferation of these cancer cell lines, indicating their potential as medicinal agents and functional foods for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Furthermore, these bushfoods do not have many of the toxicity problems associated with most anticancer agents as they are already used and accepted as super foods.