Blackcurrant: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Blackcurrant
Scientific name(s)
Ribes nigrum
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Oligo-Proanthocyanidins
Anthocyanins
Vitamin C
Tannins
Flavonoids
Kaempferol
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Convalescence ✪✪✪✪✪
Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions make it recommended for post-infectious recovery, notably post-flu, but also post-surgery, and post-radiotherapy recovery. It is also advised in cases of physical and mental stress or fatigue due to overwork. A real tonic, blackcurrant helps boost the body to fight against flu-like states, thanks to the tannins and vitamin C in the berries.
Posologie
Orally: leaf, buds, berries
170 - 510 mg
Adults
gemmotherapy, dry extract
Glaucoma ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research in healthy patients without glaucoma shows that taking 50 mg of anthocyanins from blackcurrant per day for 4 weeks decreases intraocular pressure (IOP) by 1.2 mmHg compared to the baseline value. A larger clinical trial, including patients with open-angle glaucoma, shows that taking blackcurrant anthocyanins at 50 mg per day alongside standard glaucoma medications for 24 months improves ocular blood flow compared to placebo. Taking this dose of blackcurrant anthocyanins also seems to reduce IOP by about 1.5 mmHg compared to placebo in patients receiving only one anti-glaucoma medication in eye drop form. However, it does not seem to improve IOP in patients taking more than one anti-glaucoma medication. These results suggest that blackcurrant anthocyanins could be beneficial in patients with open-angle glaucoma.
Posologie
Orally: berries
50 mg
Adults
extract standardized in anthocyanins
Athletic performance ✪✪✪✪✪
Blackcurrant appears to enhance coordination and stamina. The anthocyanins in blackcurrant influence vasorelaxation and blood flow regulation. It has been shown that blackcurrant powder affects physiological and cardiovascular responses at rest and during physical exercise. According to researchers, these observations could have favorable implications for physical performance.
Posologie
Oral: berries
1.5 - 6 g
Men
powder, juice
Effects of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on sport climbing performance
Beneficial Effects of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Maximal Sprint Speed during the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test
Beneficial Physiological Effects With Blackcurrant Intake in Endurance Athletes
The effect of New Zealand blackcurrant on sport performance and related biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Gout ✪✪✪✪✪
Patients with gout experience painful inflammatory reactions due to the formation of monosodium urate crystals. In addition to painful joint deposits of these crystals, gout patients often experience the formation of urate stones in their kidneys, which is treated by alkalinizing the urine. Berry juice has been used to modulate urinary pH for the treatment of conditions like kidney stones. Some studies show that blackcurrant juice has alkalinized the urine and also increased the excretion of citric and oxalic acid.
Posologie
Oral: leaf, buds, berries
170 - 510 mg
Adults
gemmotherapy, dry extract
Rheumatism ✪✪✪✪✪
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, blackcurrant leaves have been used for a long time in Europe to treat arthritis and rheumatic conditions. Blackcurrant buds stimulate the adrenal glands and help combat inflammation by secreting cortisol.
Posologie
Oral: leaf, buds
170 - 510 mg
Men
gemmotherapy, mother tincture, dry extract
Urinary Disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
Traditionally valued for supporting renal and digestive elimination functions, blackcurrant leaves are officially recognized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as a traditional herbal remedy. They are particularly recommended to increase urine production, thus facilitating the cleansing of urinary tracts, and are used as an adjunct to relieve minor urinary disorders.
Posologie
Oral: leaf, buds, berries
170 - 510 mg
Adults
gemmotherapy, dry extract
ENT Infections ✪✪✪✪✪
Related to its anti-inflammatory properties with a respiratory focus. The presence of vitamin C in blackcurrant makes this fruit a natural remedy for winter colds. Indeed, vitamin C can strengthen the immune system.
Posologie
Oral: leaf, buds, berries
170 - 510 mg
Men
gemmotherapy, dry extract
Kidney Stones ✪✪✪✪✪
Related to its hypouricemic and uricosuric properties.
Posologie
Oral: leaf, berries
170 - 510 mg
Adults
dry extract
Skin Health ✪✪✪✪✪
There is interest in using blackcurrant to enhance skin health and slow its aging. Animal and in vitro research shows that blackcurrant extract and blackcurrant anthocyanins increase collagen and elastin in the skin of rats and in human fibroblast cells. Collagen and elastin maintain skin elasticity and flexibility, preventing the skin surface from becoming saggy and wrinkled. The many antioxidants in blackcurrant act as radical scavengers, countering the highly reactive and unstable active oxygen derivatives responsible for premature aging. No clinical studies to support these effects.
Posologie
Oral: berries
Adults
infusion, juice
Blackcurrant Anthocyanins Increase the Levels of Collagen, Elastin, and Hyaluronic Acid in Human Skin Fibroblasts and Ovariectomized Rats
A Review of the Potential Benefits of Plants Producing Berries in Skin Disorders
Medicinal plants used for dermatological affections in Navarra and their pharmacological validation
Blackcurrant seed oil for prevention of atopic dermatitis in newborns: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Allergies ✪✪✪✪✪
Blackcurrant acts on asthma, allergic rhinitis, and hay fever thanks to its polyphenol content.
Posologie
Oral: buds, leaf
170 - 510 mg
Adults
gemmotherapy, mother tincture
Blackcurrant proanthocyanidins augment IFN-gamma-induced suppression of IL-4 stimulated CCL26 secretion in alveolar epithelial cells
Blackcurrant anthocyanins modulate CCL11 secretion and suppress allergic airway inflammation
Properties
Bio-energizing
Blackcurrant is an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and several energizing flavonoids. Blackcurrant berries are four times richer than oranges in vitamin C: from 200 to 250 mg per 100 g of fruit.
Usages associés
Anti-inflammatory
Clinical studies have detected significant corticosteroid-like anti-inflammatory activity in blackcurrant leaves. They act through several molecular mechanisms: they decrease the expression of inflammatory molecules IL-8 and E-selectin, a key action in reducing allergic reactions. The anthocyanins and polyphenols present in the leaves offer anti-inflammatory effects comparable to corticosteroids. In fact, anthocyanins have shown the ability to inhibit the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), which can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in the body, such as inflammatory cytokines. Finally, the prodelphinidins in blackcurrant leaves reduce the expression of adhesion molecules and inhibit COX-2 enzyme activity, reducing vascular inflammation and helping manage chronic inflammatory diseases.
Usages associés
Antioxidant
In addition to their anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activity, the oligo proanthocyanidins (OPC) in blackcurrant leaves inhibit lipoperoxide formation by scavenging free radicals and thus give blackcurrant leaves an antioxidant activity estimated at fifty times that of vitamin C.
Usages associés
Uricosuric Effect
Traditionally, blackcurrant leaf extract is appreciated for its ability to increase urine production, which is particularly useful for individuals with gout or high levels of uric acid in urine. It is also sometimes used as a hypotensive agent.
Usages associés
Analgesic
Blackcurrant relieves joint pain, rheumatism, arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. In a pain assessment model in rats, preventive administration of a 15% ethanolic blackcurrant leaf extract led to a greater reduction in pain threshold than paracetamol used as a control.
Usages associés
Vision
The vaso-relaxing effects of blackcurrant anthocyanins can increase blood flow to the eye, which could improve eye function. Some clinical evidence shows that blackcurrant anthocyanins normalize plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1), which are often abnormal in patients with glaucoma. Blackcurrant anthocyanosides also help improve the eyes' ability to adapt to darkness. Additionally, individuals with visual fatigue problems have reported an improvement in their vision after consuming 50 mg of blackcurrant anthocyanosides, according to a study.
Usages associés
Dermatological Effect
There is interest in using blackcurrant to improve skin health and slow its aging. Research on animals and in vitro show that blackcurrant extract and anthocyanins increase collagen and elastin in rat skin and human fibroblast cells. Collagen and elastin maintain the skin's elasticity and flexibility and prevent the skin surface from becoming slack and wrinkled.
Usages associés
Vascular Effect
Some in vitro and animal research suggests blackcurrant has antithrombotic and vaso-relaxing properties and increases peripheral blood flow, implying it could prevent myocardial infarction and stroke. This might explain its benefit in patients with venous insufficiency.
Immuno-modulatory
Polyphenolic extracts from different blackcurrant cultivars can, in vitro, suppress the secretion of chemokines CCL26 known for being associated with the constant recruitment of eosinophils at inflammatory sites during the late phase of allergic response. This provides a theoretical basis for the traditional use of blackcurrant in asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult from 18 years: 170 mg - 510 mg (dry extract)
Blackcurrant berries, juice, their extracts, and blackcurrant seed oil products have been used safely in clinical research. Dosages as indicated by the EMA: - Single dose: 2 to 4 g of crushed herbal substance in 200 ml boiling water as an infusion 3 times a day. - Daily dose: 6-12 g. - Single dose: 170 mg dry extract (7:1, water), 1 to 3 times a day. Daily dose: 510 mg. - Single dose: 340 mg of powdered herbal substance, 3 to 5 times a day. Daily dose: 1020-1700 mg.
Interactions
Médicaments
Diuretics: weak interaction
The concomitant use of synthetic diuretics is not recommended.
Precautions
Pregnant woman: avoid
There is no established research regarding the effects of using blackcurrant-based therapeutic products orally during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Renal insufficiency: use with caution
Blackcurrant leaf is contraindicated in edemas related to heart or kidney failure.
Heart disorders: use with caution
Blackcurrant leaf is contraindicated in edemas related to heart or kidney failure.
Child under 18 years: avoid
Use in children and adolescents under 18 has not been established due to a lack of sufficient data.
Breastfeeding woman: avoid
There is no established research regarding the effects of using blackcurrant-based therapeutic products orally during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
