Muscadine Grapes Fight Inflammation

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Stephen J. Stringer, an Agricultural Research Service geneticist at the Southern Horticultural Laboratory in Poplarville, Miss., is working toward developing new, healthful varieties of muscadine grapes. Muscadines are grown commercially in the southeastern United States, where they are often called scuppernongs and are used primarily in juices, wines, jellies and preserves. Stringer is breeding muscadines with thinner skins, a crisp and melting flesh, high sugar content, and increased concentrations of nutraceuticals, which are chemical compounds found in foods that may prevent disease.

Muscadine grapes are extremely high in antioxidants and compounds that health experts believe fight inflammation and blood clotting, thus translating to healthy heart benefits. Muscadines contain other beneficial compounds, such as gallic and ellagic acids, which are not commonly found in high concentrations in other grape species.