Omnia SanaThe complete database record: 5 documented constituents, 3 pharmacological actions, 6 traditional / indicated uses, with 15 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Low, creeping, evergreen dwarf shrub (Ericaceae) with slender, wiry stems that root at the nodes. Leaves are tiny, alternate, leathery and ovate with in-rolled margins, dark green above and whitish beneath. Flowers are small, pink and four-petalled, sharply reflexed backward so that the protruding stamens and style resemble a crane's head and neck - the origin of the name 'craneberry', later shortened to 'cranberry'. The fruit is a small, round, tart red berry.[8]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to boggy, acidic wetlands - sphagnum bogs and marshes - across northern and central Europe and northern Asia, requiring waterlogged, nutrient-poor, acidic peat soils.[8]
Harvesting
Berries are hand-picked or wet-harvested (traditionally by hand-raking the bog) in autumn once fully ripe and deep red.[8]
Key Constituents
The A-type proanthocyanidins are considered responsible for inhibiting bacterial adhesion to the urinary tract lining.
Give the fruit its characteristic tartness and are traditionally credited with a mild urinary-acidifying effect.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antimicrobial action
Traditional Use & History
Cranberry has a long northern-European and Native American tradition as a food and folk remedy for urinary complaints, valued for its tart, astringent, vitamin-C-rich fruit. Modern research on its proanthocyanidins supports a role in reducing bacterial adhesion in the urinary tract, consistent with the traditional use for cystitis and recurrent urinary tract infections.[2, 12]
Preparations
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Food amounts are generally considered safe (berries in meals, drinks, sauces). (Williams et al., 2023).
Duke (2002) includes cranberry primarily at the experimental level for its astringent, diuretic, and antioxidant properties. Commission E has not approved cranberry for specific indications, though there is evidence supporting its role in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) by inhibiting bacterial adhesion to uroepithelial cells (proanthocyanidins). Duke notes the high vitamin C and organic acid content. Food-grade consumption is considered safe and beneficial as a urinary acidifier (Duke, 2002).
Harvest Readiness
[11]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Shareef, S.M., Khaleel, R.A. and Maryoosh, T.M (2024) 'Nephroprotective effect of cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) in streptozocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in mice', Drug Metabolism and Personalized Therapy, 39(1), pp. 35-45. doi:10.1515/dmpt-2023-0092 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1515/dmpt-2023-0092 - Jurikova, T., Skrovankova, S., Mlcek, J., Balla, S. and Snopek, L (2018) 'Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, and Biological Effects of European Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos)', Molecules, 24(1), pp. 24. doi:10.3390/molecules24010024 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24010024 - Sedbare, R., Raudone, L., Zvikas, V., Viskelis, J. and others (2022) 'Development and Validation of the UPLC-DAD Methodology for the Detection of Triterpenoids and Phytosterols in Fruit Samples of Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton and Vaccinium oxycoccos L', Molecules, 27(14), pp. 4403. doi:10.3390/molecules27144403 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27144403 - Sedbare, R., Sprainaityte, S., Baublys, G., Viskelis, J. and Janulis, V (2023) 'Phytochemical Composition of Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos L.) Fruits Growing in Protected Areas of Lithuania', Plants (Basel), 12(10), pp. 1974. doi:10.3390/plants12101974 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101974 - Brown, P.N., Turi, C.E., Shipley, P.R. and Murch, S.J (2012) 'Comparisons of large (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) and small (Vaccinium oxycoccos L., Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) cranberry in British Columbia by phytochemical determination, antioxidant potential, and metabolomic profiling with chemometric analysis', Planta Medica, 78(6), pp. 630-640. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1298239 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1298239 - Harini, K., Janani, K., Teja, K.V., Mohan, C. and Sukumar, M (2022) 'Formulation and evaluation of oral disintegrating films using a natural ingredient against Streptococcus mutans', Journal of Conservative Dentistry, 25(2), pp. 128-134. doi:10.4103/jcd.jcd_143_21 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4103/jcd.jcd_143_21 - Cesoniene, L., Daubaras, R., Jasutiene, I., Vencloviene, J. and Miliauskiene, I (2011) 'Evaluation of the biochemical components and chromatic properties of the juice of Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton and Vaccinium oxycoccos L', Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 66(3), pp. 238-244. doi:10.1007/s11130-011-0241-5 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-011-0241-5 - Van Rossum, F., Vereecken, N.J., Bredat, E. and Michez, D (2012) 'Pollen dispersal and fruit production in Vaccinium oxycoccos and comparison with its sympatric congener V. uliginosum', Plant Biology, 15(2), pp. 344-352. doi:10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00646.x Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00646.x - Kawash, J., Colt, K., Hartwick, N.T., Abramson, B.W. and others (2022) 'Contrasting a reference cranberry genome to a crop wild relative provides insights into adaptation, domestication, and breeding', PLoS One, 17(3), pp. e0264966. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264966 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264966 - Stobnicka, A. and Gniewosz, M (2017) 'Antimicrobial protection of minced pork meat with the use of Swamp Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos L.) fruit and pomace extracts', Journal of Food Science and Technology, 55(1), pp. 62-71. doi:10.1007/s13197-017-2770-x Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-017-2770-x - Plants For A Future 'Vaccinium oxycoccos (Small Cranberry)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Vaccinium+oxycoccos Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Vaccinium+oxycoccos - Hooton, T.M., Vecchio, M., Iroz, A., Tack, I., Dornic, Q., Seksek, I. and Lotan, Y (2018) 'Effect of increased daily water intake in premenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections: a randomized clinical trial', 178(11), pp. 1509--1515. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4204 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4204 - Jepson, R.G., Williams, G. and Craig, J.C (2012) 'Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Cranberries%20for%20preventing%20urinary%20tract%20infections - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Selected studies & references
All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.