Benefits
Airway and respiratory support
Boysenberry and apple polyphenols reduced airway inflammation in mice given an inhaled allergen. In people, one small crossover trial in 20 healthy adults exposed to ozone reported less throat irritation; the other symptoms showed only a trend toward faster resolution. This is early evidence, not an established respiratory benefit.
Immune cells in the lung, animal data only
The anthocyanin-rich blend lowered the number of inflammatory immune cells in mouse lung tissue and shifted macrophage gene expression toward a repair-associated pattern. No immune outcome has been measured in people, so this is a laboratory finding rather than a proven immune benefit.
Antioxidant polyphenols
The berry and apple polyphenols are antioxidants in laboratory tests. The mouse study measured inflammatory cells, mucous and gene expression, not antioxidant activity, so this is a property of the compounds rather than an effect shown in the body.
Mechanism of action
Anti-inflammatory polyphenols
Anthocyanins and related polyphenols modulate inflammatory signaling and immune-cell behavior in the airways, easing inflammatory responses in mice given an inhaled ovalbumin challenge.
Tissue recovery support
In the mouse study the concentrate raised Arg1 gene expression and the cytokines CXCL10 and CCL4, markers linked with repair-type macrophages. Tissue repair itself was not measured, and none of this has been shown in people.
Clinical trials
Mouse study of BerriQi boysenberry and apple juice concentrate. Male mice were given the concentrate by oral gavage 1 hour before an intranasal ovalbumin challenge and again 2 days later. (Shaw et al. 2021, Food Science and Nutrition). Animal study, not a human trial.
Male C57BL/6J mice, dosed at 2.5 mg/kg of total anthocyanins, which the authors describe as a 0.2 mg/kg human equivalent dose.
In the mice, the concentrate cut allergen-induced eosinophils, neutrophils, T cells and mucous production in the lung, and raised Arg1 gene expression and the cytokines CXCL10 and CCL4. Two other macrophage markers measured, Ym-1 and Fizz1, rose with the allergen but were no higher with the concentrate than without it. Recovery was inferred from these markers, not measured. Nothing here was tested in people.