Jerte Valley cherry-based product modulates serum inflammatory markers in rats and ringdoves

SummaryAgeing is commonly accompanied by a chronic subclinical inflammatory status that coexists with immune dysfunction. Consumption of foods rich in antioxidants is associated with a lower incidence of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the consumption of a Jerte Valley cherry-based beverage on the inflammatory load in two different animal species: rats and ringdoves (Streptopelia risoria); each divided into two age groups. To this purpose, circulating levels of both pro-inflammatory (IL-1β and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-2) cytokines were measured before and after a 10-day treatment with the Jerte Valley cherry-based beverage. Our results suggest that the 10-day treatment with the Jerte Valley cherry-based beverage modulated the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in both rats and ringdoves by down-regulating the levels of pro-inflammatory (IL-1β and TNF-α) cytokines and up-regulating the levels of anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-2) cytokines. Moreover, old animals showed imbalanced levels of inflammatory markers towards a pro-inflammatory status, thereby underlining the fact that ageing is usually accompanied by systemic inflammation and inflammation-related chronic diseases. In conclusion, since an increased dietary intake of vegetable-derived bioactive compounds may retard age-related immune dysfunctions and prolong life-span, supplementing diets with the cherry-based beverage may reduce the inflammatory load by modulating the serum concentrations of some markers of inflammation.