It also has resveratrol, which gives red wine its health-boosting properties. The compound has been found to stop vision deteriorating, help reduce risk of lung cancer, protect against colon and prostate cancers and slow ageing.
Resveratrol is thought to work by cleansing the body of pollutants and other contaminants, the 'Daily Express' newspaper reported. In fact, in their study, the researchers found mulberry juice contained more than twice as many antioxidants as orange and cranberry juice, or a handful of blueberries.
The antioxidant level of a food or drink was measured using the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. The system's inventors found that not-from-concentrate mulberry juice had Orac value of 530 per fluid ounce. Orange and cranberry juices had an Orac score of 250, apple juice 130 and grapefruit 450.
Spokesman Paul Green of The Progressive Food, which commissioned the study, said: "Mulberries have been used since ancient times to protect people from colds and other ailments, so I'm not surprised the fruit's rich source of antioxidants.
"Antioxidants are known for aiding the immune system which protects the body against germs and viruses. But they're also viable alternative to botox and other medical procedures thanks to their anti-ageing properties."
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