It is a powerful natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Nearly 17 million adults are hypertensive in France, or around one in 3 people. Having too high blood pressure is the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease, because it forces the heart to work harder and damages the arteries, thus considerably increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Fortunately, several Fruits are recognized for their beneficial effects on cardiovascular function thanks to their richness in antioxidants, fiber and essential nutrients. These compounds help regulate blood pressure, improve lipid profile and reduce inflammation, factors crucial for heart and vessel health.
By analyzing 12 scientific studies carried out on rats, researchers from the University of Medical Sciences in Isfahan (Iran) realized that there was one fruit in particular that was able to significantly reduce blood pressure. The hypotensive effect of this fruit was, when taken in the form of a highly concentrated extract of leaves or seeds, comparable to that of a drug commonly prescribed against hypertension: captopril. It is an enzyme-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), which is mainly marketed in France in the form of generic drugs (Captopril Viatris, Captopril Zentiva, Captopril Sandoz, etc.).
The fruit studied is none other than quince, the flagship fruit of autumn. According to the researchers, “different parts of quince, including leaves, seeds and fruit (whole), could be used to improve cardiovascular factors, including blood pressure as quince has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.” As the quince fruit is very hard and astringent in its raw state, it is traditionally eaten cooked, most often transformed into jelly, jam, fruit paste (cotignac) or integrated into compotes and cooked dishes.
If the quantities of quince to eat to expect such effects have not been precisely announced, this study – published in the scientific journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine – opens the way for future research to confirm the interest of quince as a beneficial food supplement for human health.
