Cherry processing waste turned into nutraceuticals: the Kent research

Non-marketable cherries—such as damaged fruits or those that do not meet size standards—can represent a valuable resource because they are rich in bioactive compounds, particularly anthocyanins and flavonoids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be extracted and used as dietary supplements.

This approach provides a potential solution to the challenge of agricultural waste management and can be defined as upcycling of agri-food by-products, namely their transformation into products with high nutritional or functional value.

In this context, a study conducted in Kent—the largest cherry-producing region in Great Britain—investigated the chemical composition and biological potential of products derived from cherry processing waste, including juice, pulp, and pressing residues, with the aim of evaluating their possible nutraceutical applications.

Analytical investigation

The researchers quantified anthocyanin content using advanced analytical techniques based on liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

The analysis revealed the presence of cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside as the predominant compound.

In addition, quercetin, a flavonoid known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, was also detected.

The concentrations of these bioactive compounds may vary considerably depending on cultivation conditions and environmental factors such as temperature, solar radiation, and water availability.

Drying methods and compounds

Part of the study focused on the production of cherry pulp powders, obtained through different drying methods.

The results showed that freeze-drying (lyophilization) preserves anthocyanins more effectively than hot-air drying, which can degrade these heat-sensitive compounds.

The freeze-dried pulp powder displayed relatively high anthocyanin levels, comparable to those found in certain commercial extracts from berries rich in polyphenolic pigments.

This finding suggests that cherry processing by-products could represent an important source of bioactive molecules suitable for the production of functional ingredients.

Experimental model and effects

To evaluate the potential biological impact of these products, the study employed the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as an experimental model.

This organism is widely used in biomedical research because it allows rapid and relatively simple investigation of the effects of dietary compounds on complex physiological processes such as metabolism, ageing, and stress responses.

In particular, a transgenic model of β-amyloid-induced proteotoxicity was used, which reproduces certain molecular features associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Protective activity

The results demonstrated that cherry pulp powder was able to significantly reduce paralysis caused by β-amyloid accumulation in the experimental model.

Under standard conditions, approximately 95% of organisms expressing the amyloid peptide develop paralysis within two days; however, supplementation with the pulp powder reduced this phenomenon by about 28%.

In contrast, neither cherry juice nor purified anthocyanin extracts produced similar protective effects.

Mechanism and conclusion

An especially interesting aspect concerns the mechanism underlying the observed protective activity.

The analyses suggest that the beneficial effect is not directly mediated by activation of the classical oxidative stress response pathways.

This indicates that the biological activity may depend on complex interactions among multiple compounds present in the food matrix rather than on the action of isolated antioxidants alone.

In conclusion, the study demonstrates that cherry processing waste can be converted into anthocyanin-rich functional ingredients with potential protective effects against neurodegenerative processes in experimental models.

Circular economy application

This strategy represents a concrete example of circular economy applied to the agri-food industry, where agricultural by-products are valorized to develop innovative foods with potential benefits for human health.

Source: Blackburn, S.A.; Sullivan, W.G.; Freeman, L.M.; Howland, K.; Karamalegos, A.A.; Dallaway, M.; Philo, M.; Tullet, J.M.A.; Ezcurra, M. Upcycling of Waste Cherries Produces an Anthocyanin-Rich Powder That Protects Against Amyloid-β Toxicity in C. elegans. Antioxidants 2025, 14, 995. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080995 

Image source: Stefano Lugli

Melissa Venturi
University of Bologna (IT)

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