Functional properties of Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.): a comprehensive review

Abstract

Cornus mas, also known as the Cornelian cherry, is a plant that grows in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Its green leaves and reddish oval fruits are associated with many beneficial properties such as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. These features are driven by the rich polyphenolic composition, with anthocyanins and iridoids in Cornelian cherry fruits as well as flavonoids and phenolic acids in leaves. The antioxidant behavior as well as the composition significantly depends on the cultivar of the plant and its genotype. The functional properties of Cornelian cherry have been recognized in many in vitro and toxicological studies. Cornus mas fruits and their extracts have been found to have significant antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. The beneficial effect of C. mas fruits as a food component has been determined in numerous papers focused on functional food. However, there is no information in existing literature about C. mas leaves in functional food applications. This paper presents the results of current studies including their synthesis to answer the question whether the Cornelian cherry exhibits positive properties due to its bioactive compound content.

Cornus mas L. Stones: A Valuable by-Product as an Ellagitannin Source with High Antioxidant Potential

“…Knowledge of the medicinal use of C. mas dates back to traditional medicine practices, for example, in Greece, Turkey, Slovakia, and China, where it served for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal and circulatory disorders, diabetes, diarrhea, and flu. According to the literature reports, fruits were used most frequently, whereas leaves, flowers, and fruit stones were applied to a minor extent [ 2 , 3 ].…”

“…This fact probably justifies the traditional applications of cornelian cherry [ 2 , 8 ]. Recently, several in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic, antimicrobial, and anticancer activity of the fruits [ 3 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

“…Cornelian cherry stone forms 8.0–15.9% [ 5 , 14 ] or 5.7–11.0% [ 3 ] of total fruit weight and is considered to be a waste material after fruit processing. Exploitation of fruit stones (technological wastes) is not a new issue for the food industry.…”

Beneficial Effects of Cornelian Cherries on Lipid Profile and NO/ROS Balance in Obese Zucker Rats: Comparison with CoQ10

“…Recently, many studies have pointed to the beneficial effects of polyphenolic substances contained in Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L., CC). Cornelian cherry is a member of the Cornaceae family and known as a medicinal plant that grows in eastern and southern Europe, southwest Asia and Middle East [8][9][10]. All cultivars of the cornelian cherry have a high biological value, mainly associated with their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities which are attributed to a rich polyphenolic composition [11].…”

Application for novel electrochemical screening of antioxidant potential and phytochemicals in Cornus mas extracts

“…Note that cornelian cherry can be mostly found as a shrub growing up to 9 m high as well as, although rarely, as a small tree (Czerwińska & Melzig, 2018). Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) is recognized as a source of polyphenols, tannins, anthocyanins, and iridoids, all of which are present in both its fruits and leaves (Szczepaniak, Kobus-Cisowska, Kusek, & Przeor, 2019;Kucharska, Szumny, Sokól-Letowska, Piórecki, & Klymenko, 2015). Cornelian cherry is a plant grown in the Eastern and Southern regions of Europe and the Middle East, where it has been used in domestic cuisines for centuries (Czyżowska et al, 2017;Rop, Mlcek, Kramarova, & Jurikova, 2010).…”