ITHACA, N.Y. - Time to
adjust an old adage: It's the
phytochemicals in the apple each
day that keep the doctor away.
A combination of plant
chemicals, such as flavanoids and
polyphenols -collectively known
as phytochemicals - found both
within the flesh of apple and
particularly in the skin provide
the fruit's anti-oxidant and anti
cancer benefits, say Cornell food
scientists.
Their laboratory study, funded
by the New York Apple Research
Development Program and New
York Apple Association, is
published in the June 22 issue of
the journal Nature.
Although it has long been
known that apples provide anti
oxidant and health benefits, "this
concept is different," says Rui Hai
Liu, Cornell assistant professor of
food science and lead author on
the Nature article, "Anti-oxidant
activity of fresh apples."
Says Liu: "Scientists are
interested in isolating single
compounds - such as vitamin C,
vitamin E and beta carotene to
see if they exhibit anti-oxidant or
anti-cancer benefits. It turns out
that none of those works alone to
reduce cancer. It's the
combination of flavonoids and
polyphenols doing the work."
An anti-oxidant is one of many
chemicals that reduce or prevent
oxidation, thus preventing cell
and tissue damage from free
radicals in the body.
"In this research, we have
Substantial renovations have been made in the Agri
culture Science Building at Alfred State College to ac
commodate the new veterinary technology program.
Here, Dr. Melvin C. Chambliss, DVM (doctor of veterinary
medicine), program coordinator, demonstrates operating
room equipment for from left, Andrea Davis of Pine Bush,
ALFRED. N.Y. A much-an
ticipated new program in veteri
nary technology will be offered at
Alfred State College beginning
this fall.
The State University of New
York (SUNY) and the New York
State (NYS) Education Depart
ment granted approval for the
program, which will prepare
graduates to pass the NYS Vet
erinary Technician Licensing Ex
amination.
Veterinary technology, to be
taught in the Agriculture and
Horticulture Department, will
prepare graduates to become
trained members of the veteri
nary health care team. Gradu
ates, who will receive an associ
ate in applied science degree, will
be knowledgeable in each facet
of the anatomy, physiology, pa
thophysiology, and disease of
companion, domestic, laboratory,
and commonly seen exotic spe
cies. The graduates will also be
proficient in animal care and
management procedures as well
as client communications.
Veterinary technicians, de
scribed by Alfred State College
as compassionate, positive, high
ly motivated professionals dedi-
Phytochemicals Keep The Doctor Away
shown the importance of
phytochemicals to human health,"
says Liu's collaborator, Chang
Yong Lee, Cornell professor of
food science at the university's
New York State Agricultural
Experiment Station in Geneva,
N.Y. "Some of the
phytochemicals are known to be
anti-allergenic, some are anti
carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory,
anti-viral, anti-proliferative. Now
I have a reason to say an apple a
day keeps the doctor away.”
Marian V. Eberhardt, a
graduate student in food
chemistry who works in Liu's
laboratory, also was part of the
research team.
The researchers found that
vitamin C in apples is only
responsible for a small portion of
the anti-oxidant activity. Instead,
almost all of this activity in apples
is from phytochemicals. Indeed,
previous studies have shown that
a 500 milligram vitamin C pill
might act as a pro-oxidant. The
Cornell researchers found that
eating 100 grams of fresh apple
with skins provided the total anti
oxidant activity equal to 1,500
milligrams of vitamin C.
"Eating fruits and vegetables is
better than taking a vitamin pill,"
says Liu. "You can obtain
enough anti-oxidants from food
without worrying about toxicity.
What this study shows is the
combination of phytochemicals
plays a very important role in
anti-oxidant and anti-cancer
activity, and the real health
benefits may come from a
cated to animal health care, find
employment in private practice,
biological research, laboratory
animal research, zoological gar
dens, and other related scientific
areas. The “vet-tech” is a vital
member of the veterinary health
care team and is trusted with di
verse medical responsibilities.
Students who wish to pursue
the veterinary technology pro
gram must have an excellent
background in the sciences,
mathematics, social sciences, and
communications, both oral and
written.
Some of the courses included
in the new two-year curriculum
are laboratory animal manage
ment, anatomy and physiology
of large animals, animal disease
control, animal health care, anes
thesia and surgical nursing, radi
ography, and clinical laboratory
techniques.
Alfred State officials believe
that enrollment for the new pro
gram will come mostly from
western New York and northern
Pennsylvania.
Some 247 veterinarians in
western New York were sur
veyed regarding the need for a
vet tech program. Of those
phytochemical mixture."
The researchers used red
delicious apples grown in New
York state to provide the extracts
to study the effects of
phytochemicals. The researchers
compared the anti-cancer and
anti-oxidant activity in the apple
flesh, and they also studied the
fruit's skin.
Using colon cancer cells
treated with apple extract, the
scientists found that cell
proliferation was inhibited.
Colon cancer cells treated with 50
milligrams of apple extract
(from the skins) were inhibited by
43 percent.
The apple flesh extract
inhibited the colon cancer cells by
29 percent. The researchers also
tested the apple extract against
human liver cancer cells. At 50
milligrams, the extract derived
from the apple with the skin on
inhibited those cancer cells by 57
percent, and the apple extract
derived from the fruit's fleshy part
inhibited cancer cells by 40
percent.
"The consumption of whole
fruits may provide the balanced
anti-oxidants needed to quench
reactive oxygen species," write
the researchers in the Nature
article. "Phytochemicals other
than ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
..contribute significantly to the
anti-oxidant activity of apples and
to the capacity to inhibit tumor
cell proliferation."
Lee began studying the
enzymatic browning action of
College Offers New Vet Tech Program
polled, 133, or 54 percent, re
sponded. Of those responding, 83
percent said there is a need for
more graduate veterinary techni
cians and 64 percent said there is
a shortage of licensed veterinary
technicians in western New
York.
Some 221 guidance counse
lors in western and central
New York were also queried.
Of those, 151, or 68 percent,
responded. Eighty-five per
cent of the responders replied
that students in their schools
expressed an interest in veteri
nary technology as a career
choice, and 81 percent said
that they thought students
from their schools would con
sider enrolling at Alfred State
College. The guidance counse
lors estimated between 214
and 293 students would enroll
in such a program.
“The college has shown a
great commitment in getting
the new vet tech program
launched,” said Joan Wissert,
chair, Agricultural and Horti
culture Department. This in
cludes substantial renovations
in the Agriculture Science
Building, which now includes
the anatomy laboratory, labo
ratory animal, and anatomy /
NECROPSY wet laboratory,
surgical nursing-anesthesia/
radiology complex, kennell fa
cilities, and faculty offices.
Wissert also noted that the
community has been very sup
portive in the college’s efforts
to get the vet tech program off
the ground.
While enrolled in the pro
gram, students will be re
quired to complete a 120-hour
“preceptorship” (internship).
The preceptorship could be
started and/or completed dur
ing the summer following the
first year of course work.
Some 103 veterinarians have
expressed initial interest in
student recruitment or in the
preceptorship experience.
Dr. Melvin C. Chambliss,
apples about 15 years ago,
identifying a variety of phenolic
compounds and learning how
these chemicals work during the
apple's browning action. Liu and
Lee are working to study the
antioxidant activity of various
fruits and vegetables. The
NY Farm Bureau Support
Conservation District Priorities
Glenmont, New York, June 19,
2000... New York Farm Bureau,
the state’s largest general farm
advocacy organization, is pleased
with legislation that supports the
Department of Agriculture and
Market’s Agricultural
Environmental Management
program and the indemnification
of county Soil and Water
Conservation district employees,
who provide technical advice and
assistance at the request of state
agencies. Senate Agriculture
Committee Chair, Nancy
Lanraine Hoffmann and
Assembly Agriculture Committee
Chair, William Magee have both
been instrumental in their support
for these efforts. Both bills await
Governor George E. Pataki’s
approval.
"The passage of these two bills
in both the Senate and the
Assembly is significant for the
agricultural industry and water
quality for the entire state," stated
John W. Lincoln, President of
New York Farm Bureau. "Soil
and Water Conservation
employees deserve this much
DVM, is Alfred State’s program
coordinator for veterinary tech
nology.
For more information on vet
tech, contact Chambliss at (607)
Jersey Cattle Field Day
If you are interested in learning more about Jersey cattle or are
looking at introducing a grazing system to your operation, plan to at
tend American Jersey Cattle Association Field Day. This first Jersey
Field Day highlights new and innovative ideas for raising calves,
speeding milking systems, and techniques to spend less money to
yield more profit. The day includes:
• 9:00-10:30 a.m. PLEASANT VALLEY JERSEYS, Chambers
burg. Lester and Douglas Martin and Paul Holderman families, for
mer Holstein dairymen, are now milking over 300 Jerseys with a
management intensive grazing system. Data describing the opera
tion's improved profitability will be available and as well as local
farmers who have been pasturing for several years.
Farm location: Exit 5 off of 1-81, right unto Rt. 316 to New Frank
lin. Right at crossroads, right on second road (Guilford Springs Rd.)
to second farm on right. 717-375-4367 or ptholder@innemet.net
• 1:00-2:30 p.m. BRYNCOED JERSEYS, Middletown. Tom Wil
liams hosts the next stop on the tour at Bryncoed Farm, one of the
earliest Jersey dairies in Pennsylvania. They now milk ISO cows in
the Harrisburg suburbs with a management intensive grazing system.
Williams is known for his innovative ideas and has done extensive re
search on robotic milkers. There should be a video on this milking
system available on the farm.
Farm location from Pleasant Valley Jerseys: 1-81 North to Carlisle
exit to PA Turnpike East to Exit 19 (Harrisburg East exit). After toll
booth take second ramp to right (Highspire). Bear right onto Eisen
hower Boulevard to first traffic light. Right onto Fulling Mill Road,
one mile to farm on left. 717-939-7584 or twilliam@epix.net
• 4:30-6:00 p.m. LONG MEADOWS FARM, Hamburg. Doc and
Helene Dreisbach will be the next stop which features 120 Jerseys.
These cows have been the high-input marginal return route and now
receive the bulk of their roughage through grazing about eight
months of the year. The Dreisbachs feel that in addition to improved
herd health and a lower cull rate, grazing portrays a positive image of
dairying to the public.
Farm location from Pleasant Valley Jerseys: 1-283 North to 1-83
North to 1-81 North to 1-78 East. Take exit 8 (Shartlesville), bear to
the right to stop sign on Old Rt. 22. Turn left (east) and go through
town. Four miles east of Shartlesville, turn left on Walnut Road. At
stop sign turn right. 610-562-3966 or hzd94@aol.com.
Preregistration is not required but is requested. Please contact the
farms or Paula England at American Jersey Cattle Association (peng
land@iwaynet.net) or call 614-861-3636. Also plan to attend the Sum
mer Splash at Meadow View sale on Tuesday. For lunch there are
restaurants in Carlisle before the PA Turnpike or after exiting the
Turnpike in the Harrisburg area. Dinner will be served at Long
Meadows Farm at 6:30 p.m.
researchers learned that the
amount of phenolic compounds in
the apple flesh and in the skin
varied from year to year, season
to season and from growing
region to growing region.
needed liability protection, as
they help farmers and state
agencies to improve and preserve
our water quality."
The Agricultural
Environmental Management
(AEM) legislation will use a
voluntary, case by case approach
to water quality improvement,
with an emphasis on local farmer
involvement. AEM will bring
technical expertise together with
financial assistance to ensure that
we maintain our state’s water
supply. Programs that are similar
in concept to AEM have already
been successfully implemented in
areas such as the New York City
Watershed, the Lake Champlain
Watershed and the Skaneateles
Watershed. These programs place
New York State as a leader in
incorporating this type of program
for the betterment of agriculture
and water quality.
New York Farm Bureau was
pleased to work in tandem with
the Soil and Water Conservation
Districts as well as the
Department of Agriculture and
Markets on these important bills.
587-3009, fax: (607) 587-4721, or
e-mail, Chamblm@alfredtech.e
du. Or you may contact the Al
fred State College Admissions
Office at 1-800-4-ALFRED.