Editing Prunus (section)

===Cherries===
Cherries contain many different [[phenols|phenolic compounds]] and [[anthocyanin]]s, which are indicators of being rich in antioxidants.<ref name="Usenik-2008">{{Cite journal|date=1 March 2008|title=Sugars, organic acids, phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.)|journal=Food Chemistry|language=en|volume=107|issue=1|pages=185–192|doi=10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.08.004|issn=0308-8146|last1=Usenik|first1=Valentina|last2=Fabčič|first2=Jerneja|last3=Štampar|first3=Franci}}</ref><ref name="Liu-2013" /> Recent research has linked the phenolic compounds of the sweet cherry (''[[Prunus avium]]'') with antitumor properties.<ref name="Bastos-2015">{{Cite journal|date=15 April 2015|title=Chemical characterisation and bioactive properties of Prunus avium L.: The widely studied fruits and the unexplored stems|journal=Food Chemistry|language=en|volume=173|pages=1045–1053|doi=10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.10.145|pmid=25466123|issn=0308-8146|last1=Bastos|first1=Claudete|last2=Barros|first2=Lillian|last3=Dueñas|first3=Montserrat|last4=Calhelha|first4=Ricardo C.|last5=Queiroz|first5=Maria João R.P.|last6=Santos-Buelga|first6=Celestino|last7=Ferreira|first7=Isabel C.F.R.|hdl=1822/39810|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

[[Reactive oxygen species]] (ROS) include [[superoxide radical]]s, [[hydrogen peroxide]], [[hydroxyl radical]]s, and [[singlet oxygen]]; they are the byproducts of metabolism. High levels of ROS lead to oxidative stress, which causes damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The oxidative damage results in cell death, which ultimately leads to numerous diseases and disorders. Antioxidants act as a defense mechanism against the oxidative stress.<ref name="Liu-2013" /><ref name="Wang-2000" /> They are used to remove the [[Radical (chemistry)|free radicals]] in a living system that are generated as ROS.<ref name="Lee-etal-2007">{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Bo-Bae|last2=Cha|first2=Mi-Ran|last3=Kim|first3=Soo-Yeon|last4=Park|first4=Eunju|last5=Park|first5=Hae-Ryong|last6=Lee|first6=Seung-Cheol|date=1 June 2007|title=Antioxidative and Anticancer Activity of Extracts of Cherry (Prunus serrulata var. spontanea) Blossoms|journal=Plant Foods for Human Nutrition|language=en|volume=62|issue=2|pages=79–84|doi=10.1007/s11130-007-0045-9|pmid=17577669|bibcode=2007PFHN...62...79L |s2cid=19550239|issn=0921-9668}}</ref><ref name="Liu-2013" /> Some of those antioxidants include [[Glutathione S-transferase|gutathione S-transferase]], [[glutathione peroxidase]], [[superoxide dismutase]], and [[catalase]].<ref name="Lee-etal-2007" /> The antioxidants present in cherry extracts act as inhibitors of the free radicals.<ref name="Nile-2014" /> However, the DNA and proteins can be damaged when an imbalance occurs in the level of free radicals and the antioxidants. When not enough antioxidants are available to remove the free radicals, many diseases can occur, such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson's disease, etc.<ref name="Wang-2000" /> Recent studies have shown that using natural antioxidants as a supplement in chemotherapy can decrease the amount of oxidative damage. Some of these natural antioxidants include vitamin C, [[tocopherol]], and [[epigallocatechin gallate]]; they can be found in certain cherry extracts.<ref name="Lee-etal-2007" />