Cranberry fruit extracts have been shown to inhibit expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 cells and reduce colonic tumor burden and tissue inflammation in a mouse model of colitis. These activities are attributed to both the triterpenoid and polyphenol constituents of the fruit. The pentacyclic triterpenoids ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA), corosolic acid (CA), maslinic acid (MA), and esters of UA and OA occur in the waxy layer of cranberry peel, and their content in cranberry products is likely to vary with the fruit source and processing methods. UPLC-MS (ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) was applied to determine the four triterpenoid acids and their esters in cranberry products and raw materials. Cranberry pomace, a side stream in juice production, was a rich source at 64,090 µg total triterpenoids/g DW. Cranberry juice beverages ranged from 0.018 to 0.26 µg/g of product, fruit samples ranged from 6542 to 17,070 µg/g DW, and whole berry products contained up to 2665 µg/g DW. Free UA was the most plentiful triterpenoid in all samples. These analyses illustrate the potential value of an underutilized side stream in cranberry juice production and highlight potential benefits of whole fruit products.

Vaccinium macrocarpon (American Cranberry) fruit is processed to make juice, supplements, and other edible products, leaving pomace as a sidestream that contains secondary metabolites with potential anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities. Ultrasound-assisted extraction and chromatographic methods were developed to prepare an extract (POM-ACE) and fractions rich in pentacyclic triterpenoids and phytosterols for bioactivity evaluation. These were characterized using UPLC-MS and GC-MS. Anti-inflammatory effects were assessed in a human monocyte (THP-1) model, identifying several fractions containing triterpenoids and sitosterol that significantly inhibited IL-1β expression. Molecular docking indicated favorable interactions of these components with NLRP3, suggesting a possible modulation of inflammasome. Fractions rich in ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA) and their p-hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) esters also showed mild concentration-dependent inhibition of lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. Pearson correlation analysis identified strong positive correlations between UA, OA, and their trans-HCA esters with LOX inhibition. Anti-proliferative activity was assessed in HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma cells using MTT, with several fractions exhibiting moderate concentration-dependent activity (IC₅₀ = 12–17 µg/mL). PLS regression analysis supported significant contributions by UA, OA, and their HCA esters. Flow cytometry experiments demonstrated that cell death occurs in part through apoptosis; the role of apoptosis was further supported by favorable molecular docking interactions between pomace triterpenoids and caspases-3 and -9. These findings suggest that cranberry pomace is a promising source of triterpenoids and phytosterols with anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties.