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Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) and Immune support: evidence and sources
For educational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants, especially alongside prescribed medication, during pregnancy, or for a serious condition.
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Full Blackcurrant monograph →All plants for immune support →
The blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L., Grossulariceae), a small, perennial shrub native to central Europe and northern Asia, is cultivated throughout the world, including the United States. In addition to its anecdotal use in traditional herbal medicine, modern laboratories have demonstrated the potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of blackcurrant constituents on a myriad of disease states. The properties of the blackcurrants are conferred from its biochemical constituents, some of which include anthocyans (specifically delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside), flavonols, phenolic acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. A plethora of studies have been published with regards to its various therapeutic applications. This article attempts to summarize these studies, providing a general overview of the research in this field. Several studies focus on the therapeutic potential of blackcurrants with regards to hypertension and other cardiovascular-associated illnesses, neoplastic, neurodegenerative and ocular diseases, nephrolithiasis, and diabetic neuropathy. Safety concerns and future directions are also mentioned, suggesting the critical examination of the exact mechanism of action, specific radical-scavenging capabilities of the blackcurrants and the crucial need for well-designed clinical trials to ensure the successful use of blackcurrants in a clinical setting.
3 sources supporting Blackcurrant for Immune support. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's immunomodulator / immune support action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Blackcurrant (BC) is a well-known and appreciated berry fruit in our country and Poland is the largest BC producer among European Union countries and the second, after Russia, producer in the world. Due to the short shelf life of BC, its consumption in fresh form is relatively low , therefore the berries are processed into juices, jams, jellies, and freeze-dried products or alcoholic beverages. The high nutritional value of BC berries result from high content of bioactive compounds (among others, vitamin C, anthocyanins, pectins, organic acids, as well as polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in seeds of the fruit). Anthocyanins (ANTs) create the largest group among all polyphenolic compounds contained in BC. The results from different studies confirm that ANTs are important in attenuation oxidative stress parameters in the organism, and therefore can reduce the risk of certain non-communicable chronic diseases. Consumption of unprocessed and processed blackcurrants (i.e. juices and products containing fruit extracts) may support the nutrition therapy of cardiovascular diseases, certain eye diseases and may normalize the lipid profile of the blood plasma. Additionally, the beneficial profile of unsaturated fatty acids from BC seeds supports the therapy of autoimmune diseases. This article is attempts to summarize the results of the studies on the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumor and antimicrobial effects of BC bioactive compounds including the mechanisms of their action depending on the form of the fruit (e.g. juice, whole fruit extract, dried pomace, or seed oil). The article also highlights the potential use of BC in production of functional food, important in the dietary prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases resulting from increased oxidative stress in the organism.