Fruit (berries) • Generally safe as food for most people; adverse effects mainly GI discomfort or allergy in sensitive individuals. • If using high-dose extracts, use extra caution with blood-thinners/anticoagulants (evidence is not definitive, but polyphenol-rich supplements are often treated cautiously in practice). Leaf (folium) • EMA classifies blackcurrant leaf as a traditional herbal medicinal product (not “well-established use”): minor joint pain and urinary-tract flushing. • Typical label cautions (EMA-style): not recommended <18, avoid if you have edema due to impaired heart/kidney function, and seek medical advice if urinary symptoms persist/worsen. • Pregnancy/lactation: food use is fine, but medicinal leaf dosing is generally used cautiously due to limited robust safety data. Seed (seed oil) • Usually well tolerated, but may cause GI upset in some people. • Caution with anticoagulants/antiplatelet drugs (PUFA supplements are often used cautiously here). • Note: some trials explored maternal/infant contexts, but that does not automatically mean “recommended in pregnancy” outside medical supervision.

Safety note^{[11, 12, 13]}Info

Duke (2002) rates blackcurrant fruit highly (+++), with evidence for anti-inflammatory, angioprotective, and antioxidant activities. Ribes nigrum extracts showed the richest anthocyanin and polyphenol content in antioxidant studies, outperforming many other common berries. Clinical use is supported for diarrhea, colds, and flu. The high vitamin C and anthocyanin content underpin its vasoprotective effects. The fruit is treated as food-grade medicine and is classified as generally safe (Duke, 2002).

References

REF-1243, REF-1244, REF-1245, REF-1246, REF-1247, REF-1248, REF-1249, REF-1250, REF-1251, REF-1252

References & Sources

Lee, Y., Pham, T.X., Bae, M., Hu, S. and others (2019) 'Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Prevents Obesity-Induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Mice', Obesity (Silver Spring), 27(1), pp. 112-120. doi:10.1002/oby.22353 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.22353
da Costa, P., Schetinger, M.R.C., Baldissarelli, J., Stefanello, N. and others (2024) 'Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) improves cholinergic signaling and protects against chronic scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice', Journal of Psychopharmacology, 38(12), pp. 1170-1183. doi:10.1177/02698811241273776 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241273776
Nanashima, N., Horie, K., Yamanouchi, K., Tomisawa, T. and others (2020) 'Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Extract Prevents Dyslipidemia and Hepatic Steatosis in Ovariectomized Rats', Nutrients, 12(5), pp. 1541. doi:10.3390/nu12051541 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051541
Lee, Y. and Lee, J.Y (2019) 'Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Extract Exerts an Anti-Inflammatory Action by Modulating Macrophage Phenotypes', Nutrients, 11(5), pp. 975. doi:10.3390/nu11050975 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11050975
Lappi, J., Raninen, K., Vakevainen, K., Karlund, A. and others (2020) 'Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) lowers sugar-induced postprandial glycaemia independently and in a product with fermented quinoa: a randomised crossover trial', British Journal of Nutrition, 126(5), pp. 708-717. doi:10.1017/S0007114520004468 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520004468
Horie, K., Maeda, H., Nanashima, N. and Oey, I (2021) 'Potential Vasculoprotective Effects of Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Extract in Diabetic KK-Ay Mice', Molecules, 26(21), pp. 6459. doi:10.3390/molecules26216459 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216459
Nanashima, N., Horie, K., Kitajima, M., Takamagi, S. and others (2021) 'Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Extract in Healthy Female Subjects: A Pilot Study', Molecules, 26(13), pp. 4085. doi:10.3390/molecules26134085 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26134085
Horie, K., Nanashima, N., Maeda, H., Tomisawa, T. and others (2021) 'Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) Extract Exerts Potential Vasculoprotective Effects in Ovariectomized Rats, Including Prevention of Elastin Degradation and Pathological Vascular Remodeling', Nutrients, 13(2), pp. 560. doi:10.3390/nu13020560 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020560
Oczkowski, M (2021) 'Health-promoting effects of bioactive compounds in blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) berries', Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny, 72(3), pp. 229-238. doi:10.32394/rpzh.2021.0174 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.32394/rpzh.2021.0174
Vagiri, M., Conner, S., Stewart, D., Andersson, S.C. and others (2015) 'Phenolic compounds in blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) leaves relative to leaf position and harvest date', Food Chemistry, 172, pp. 135-142. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.09.041 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.09.041
Gopalan, A., Reuben, S.C., Ahmed, S., Darvesh, A.S., Hohmann, J. and Bishayee, A (2012) 'The health benefits of blackcurrants', 3(8), pp. 795--809. Randomized trial
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org
Watson, A.W., Haskell-Ramsay, C.F., Kennedy, D.O., Dodd, F.L., Wightman, E.L. and Reay, J.L (2015) 'Acute supplementation with blackcurrant extracts modulates cognitive functioning and inhibits monoamine oxidase-B in healthy young adults', 54(3), pp. 505--513. Traditional / reference
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