BLACK CURRANT FRUIT

BLACK CURRANT FRUIT (Ribes nigrum L.) +++

Synonym:
- Ribes nigrum var. chlorocarpum Späth. Entries are for fruits rather than seeds; seed oil is a by-product! For leaves, see next entry. Leaves not generally considered food.

Activities (Black Currant Fruit):
- Analgesic (f; SKJ); Angioprotective (1; X3635653); Antialzheimeran (1; COX; FNF); Antiarthritic (1; COX; FNF); Antibacterial (1; PNC); Anticancer (1; COX; FNF); Anticholera (1; PNC); Antiinflammatory (1; COX; PNC); Antipyretic (f; PNC); Antisecretory (1; PNC); Antiseptic (1; PH2); Antispasmodic (1; PH2; PNC); Astringent (1; APA); Depurative (f; EFS); Diaphoretic (f; EFS; FEL); Digestive (f; EFS); Diuretic (f; EFS; PNC); Hypotensive (1; PH2; PNC); Lipoperoxidase-Inhibitor (1; PH2); Vasoprotective (1; PNC); Xanthine-Oxidase-Inhibitor (1; PH2).

Indications (Black Currant Fruit):
- Alzheimers (1; COX; FNF); Angina (f; HHB); Arthrosis (1; COX; FNF); Bacteria (1; FNF; PNC); Bruise (f; PH2); Calculus (f; FEL); Cancer (1; COX; FEL; FNF); Cardiopathy (f; PNC); Chill (1; APA); Cholecystosis (f; PHR); Cholera (1; FNF; PNC); Cold (1; APA; PHR; PH2); Colic (f; HHB); Cough (f; HHB; PHR; PH2); Cramp (1; PH2; PNC); CVI (f; PH2); Cystosis (f; PH2); Diarrhea (1; APA; HHB; PH2; PNC); Dropsy (f; FEL); Dysuria (f; HHB); Felon (f; JLH); Fever (f; EFS; FEL; PNC); Flu (1; APA); Gastrosis (f; PH2); Gout (f; HHB); Hemorrhoid (f; FEL; PH2); High Blood Pressure (1; PH2; PNC); Hoarseness (f; FEL; PH2; PNC); Infection (1; PNC); Inflammation (1; COX; PH2; PNC); Mucososis (f; PH2); Pain (f; SKJ); Quinsy (f; KAB); Rheumatism (f; HHB); Sore Throat (f; KAB; PH2; PNC); Stomachache (f; PHR; PH2);
Stomatosis (f; PH2); Strep Throat (f; PH2); Water Retention (f; EFS; HHB; PNC); Wound (f; HHB).

Dosages (Black Currant Fruit):
- 600 - 6000 mg/day; 4 (250 mg) capsules 2 ×/day; 1 - 2 tsp chopped leaf, up to several ×/day (APA); 5 - 10 ml fruit syrup, 1 - several ×/day (PHR; PH2); 1 glassful fruit juice/day; gargle with 1 part juice/1 part water (PHR).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Black Currant Fruit):
- Class 1 (AHP). Not covered by Commission E (KOM). None known (PHR). Not covered (CAN).

Extracts (Black Currant Fruit):
- As a major source of the major COX-2 Inhibitor ([+]-catechin), this might be viewed by enthusiasts as another herbal miracle aspirin (COX). Anthocyanins and polyphenols in berries of several Ribes, Rubus, and Vaccinium spp. have in vitro antiradical activity on chemically generated superoxide radicals. The extracts also inhibit xanthine oxidase. All crude extracts were highly active toward chemically generated superoxide radicals. Ribes nigrum extracts exhibited most activity, being the richest in both anthocyanins and polyphenols. But Ribes rubrum extracts seem to contain more active substances (X1332092).