Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
Also called Cornus mas, cornelian cherry extract, Cornus mas fruit extract, European cornel, dogwood cherry, zoghal akhteh.
Best grade C across 13 graded outcomes Botanical Last checked
The short answer
From 16 sourcesCornelian cherry is an anthocyanin-rich dogwood fruit. A 2025 meta-analysis of seven small trials found modest drops in weight, triglycerides, fasting glucose and HbA1c and a rise in HDL, but no change in LDL or liver enzymes, all at low certainty. Nearly all trials come from Iran and Turkey, several papers report the same trial, and none ran longer than 12 weeks.
Every graded outcome on this page
13 rows · line = participants- CGrade CWeight, lipids and blood sugar markers (pooled)Cardiometabolicn 336
- CGrade CWeight, blood sugar and lipids in metabolic syndrome and related disordersCardiometabolicn 313
- CGrade CWeight, lipid ratios and insulin resistance after menopauseLipidsn 84
- CGrade CMenopause symptoms (Greene scale) and sex hormonesMenopausen 84
- CGrade CHbA1c, insulin and triglycerides in type 2 diabetesBlood sugarn 60
- CGrade CBlood pressure and body fat in fatty liverBlood pressuren 50
- DGrade DWeight and blood markers in fatty liver, with or without diet therapyFatty livern 87
- DGrade DInsulin resistance in women, added to diet therapyBlood sugarn 84
- DGrade DBone turnover markers and inflammationBone markersn 84
- DGrade DLiver enzymes, CK-18 and liver scores in fatty liverFatty livern 50
- DGrade DLipids and vascular inflammation in children with dyslipidemiaLipids (children)n 40
- ∅No effectLipid accumulation product and atherogenic indicesLipidsn 50
- ∅No effectGlucose control, insulin resistance and adiponectin in fatty liverBlood sugarn 50
- 10 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- Meta-analysis
- 2025 GRADE review of 7 RCTs: HbA1c -0.28 points, fasting glucose -5.7 mg/dl, triglycerides -30.6 mg/dl, HDL +2.0 mg/dl; no change in LDL, insulin or liver enzymes. A second 2025 meta-analysis (5 RCTs, 313 people) also found lower LDL and total cholesterol113
- Certainty
- The meta-analysis rated every outcome low or very low certainty, with no more than 336 people in any pooled result (full-text table)1
- Type 2 diabetes
- 6 weeks of extract (600 mg anthocyanins a day) lowered HbA1c by 0.24 points vs a slight rise on placebo in 60 patients2
- Menopause symptoms
- Greene climacteric score fell 3.19 vs 0.76 points with 900 mg/day extract for 8 weeks in 84 women5
What it is
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is a sour red dogwood fruit rich in anthocyanins, sold as fruit, freeze-dried powder and extracts.
Forms, side by side
3 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) forms compared
3 forms| 3 forms | Dry fruit extract capsules | Liquid fruit extract | Whole or freeze-dried fruit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | Not measured in the cited abstracts.235 | Not measured; anthocyanin content reported inconsistently (320 vs 32 mg/day).6912 | Not measured.1011 |
| GI tolerance | Adverse events are not described in the abstracts.235 | Not described in the abstracts.6912 | Not described in the abstracts.1011 |
| Studied for | Menopause, lipids, diabetes | Fatty liver | Children's lipids, fatty liver |
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
13 graded outcomes, largest study first13 graded outcomes: 6 improved, 5 mixed, 2 no effect. The largest, a 2025 meta-analysis of 336 people on weight, lipids and blood sugar markers (pooled), found mixed results.
1Weight, lipids and blood sugar markers (pooled)
Mixed · Grade C · Meta-analysis, 336 people, 2025
Adults in 7 randomized trials (n is the largest pooled outcome, 336 people in 4 trials)
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight, lipids and blood sugar markers (pooled) | Mixed | 336 | Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2025 | Adults in 7 randomized trials (n is the largest pooled outcome, 336 people in 4 trials) |
| Weight, blood sugar and lipids in metabolic syndrome and related disorders | Improved | 313 | Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2025 | Adults with metabolic syndrome or related disorders in 5 RCTs |
| Weight and blood markers in fatty liver, with or without diet therapy | Mixed | 87 | Grade D · RCT, 2024 | Adults with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease |
| Menopause symptoms (Greene scale) and sex hormones | Improved | 84 | Grade C · RCT, 2023 | Postmenopausal women |
| Weight, lipid ratios and insulin resistance after menopause | Improved | 84 | Grade C · RCT, 2019 | Postmenopausal women aged 45-60 |
| Insulin resistance in women, added to diet therapy | Improved | 84 | Grade D · RCT, 2023 | Women aged 18–45 with insulin resistance |
| Bone turnover markers and inflammation | Mixed | 84 | Grade D · RCT, 2021 | Healthy postmenopausal women aged 45-60 |
| HbA1c, insulin and triglycerides in type 2 diabetes | Improved | 60 | Grade C · RCT, 2015 | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Blood pressure and body fat in fatty liver | Improved | 50 | Grade C · RCT, 2023 | Adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease |
| Liver enzymes, CK-18 and liver scores in fatty liver | Mixed | 50 | Grade D · RCT, 2021 | Adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease |
| Glucose control, insulin resistance and adiponectin in fatty liver | No effect | 50 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2026 | Adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (40 completed) |
| Lipid accumulation product and atherogenic indices | No effect | 50 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2022 | Adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease |
| Lipids and vascular inflammation in children with dyslipidemia | Mixed | 40 | Grade D · RCT, 2013 | Children and adolescents aged 9-16 with dyslipidemia |
Every graded row
13 rowsShowing 13 of 13 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CWeight, lipids and blood sugar markers (pooled)CardiometabolicSmall drops in TG, glucose, HbA1cMeta-analysis · 7 studies
n 336 · 2025
Mixed Body weight -0.57 kg, BMI -0.38, waist -1.36 cm, triglycerides -30.6 mg/dl, fasting glucose -5.72 mg/dl and HbA1c -0.28 fell, and HDL rose 2.03 mg/dl. Total cholesterol, LDL, insulin, AST and ALT did not change.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 7 studies, n = 336, 2025
- Population
- Adults in 7 randomized trials (n is the largest pooled outcome, 336 people in 4 trials)
- Form
- Cornelian cherry fruit, powder or extract
- Dose
- Varied by trial
- Duration
- 6 to 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 1 · PubMed 40770337 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CWeight, blood sugar and lipids in metabolic syndrome and related disordersCardiometabolicImprovedMeta-analysis · 5 studies
n 313 · 2025
Improved BMI (MD −0.31), fasting glucose (MD −4.85), total cholesterol (MD −13.40), triglycerides (MD −36.47), LDL (MD −15.35), insulin (MD −3.20) and HbA1c (MD −0.36) fell and HDL rose (MD 2.08), with high heterogeneity for insulin, HbA1c and triglycerides.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 5 studies, n = 313, 2025
- Population
- Adults with metabolic syndrome or related disorders in 5 RCTs
- Form
- Cornelian cherry fruit, powder or extract
- Dose
- Varied by trial
- Duration
- Varied by trial
- Source
- Reference 13 · PubMed 39895218 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CWeight, lipid ratios and insulin resistance after menopauseLipidsBetter lipid ratiosRCT
n 84 · 2019
Improved Weight, BMI, waist, LDL/HDL and total cholesterol/HDL ratios and fibrinogen fell, and HDL and ApoA1 rose versus control.
- Design
- RCT, n = 84, 2019
- Population
- Postmenopausal women aged 45-60
- Form
- Cornus mas extract capsules vs starch placebo
- Dose
- 3 x 300 mg/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 31418933 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CMenopause symptoms (Greene scale) and sex hormonesMenopauseGreene score -3.19 vs -0.76RCT
n 84 · 2023
Improved Total Greene score fell 3.19 vs 0.76 points (P < 0.001) and vasomotor symptoms decreased; FSH fell (P = 0.016) and estradiol rose (P = 0.018).
- Design
- RCT, n = 84, 2023
- Population
- Postmenopausal women
- Form
- Cornus mas hydroalcoholic extract vs placebo
- Dose
- 300 mg three times daily
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 36696645 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CHbA1c, insulin and triglycerides in type 2 diabetesBlood sugarHbA1c -0.24 pointsRCT
n 60 · 2015
Improved HbA1c changed -0.24 vs +0.023 points and triglycerides -23.66 vs +2.83 mg/dl; insulin rose 1.13 vs fell 0.643 (all P < 0.05 vs placebo).
- Design
- RCT, n = 60, 2015
- Population
- Adults with type 2 diabetes
- Form
- Cornus mas fruit extract capsules (150 mg anthocyanins each) vs placebo
- Dose
- 2 capsules twice daily (600 mg anthocyanins/day)
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 26508984 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CBlood pressure and body fat in fatty liverBlood pressureAbout -8.6 mmHgRCT
n 50 · 2023
Improved Diastolic BP changed -8.62 vs +0.53 mmHg and systolic -8.63 vs 0.0 mmHg (adjusted P = 0.03 and 0.02). Body fat mass fell slightly after adjustment; weight and waist did not change.
- Design
- RCT, n = 50, 2023
- Population
- Adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Form
- Cornus mas fruit extract (liquid) vs placebo
- Dose
- 20 ml/day
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 37344070 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DWeight and blood markers in fatty liver, with or without diet therapyFatty liverSimilar to diet aloneRCT
n 87 · 2024
Mixed Weight, glucose, HbA1c, liver enzymes and lipids fell in the powder-plus-diet, diet-only and powder-only groups; powder plus diet performed similarly to diet alone.
- Design
- RCT, n = 87, 2024
- Population
- Adults with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease
- Form
- Freeze-dried Cornus mas fruit powder, with or without diet therapy, vs diet alone or no treatment
- Dose
- 30 g/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 11 · PubMed 37611681 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DInsulin resistance in women, added to diet therapyBlood sugarImprovedRCT
n 84 · 2023
Improved With diet therapy, insulin-resistance markers fell about twice as much (in percentage) as with diet alone (p < .05), while weight and body measurements were similar. The abstract's comparison of fruit alone with control is unclearly worded.
- Design
- RCT, n = 84, 2023
- Population
- Women aged 18–45 with insulin resistance
- Form
- Lyophilized dried cornelian cherry, with or without diet therapy, vs diet alone or control
- Dose
- 20 g/day
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 14 · PubMed 38107130 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DBone turnover markers and inflammationBone markersSome markers lowerRCT
n 84 · 2021
Mixed Bone alkaline phosphatase, PTH and hsCRP decreased between groups; osteocalcin, C-telopeptide and calcium did not differ.
- Design
- RCT, n = 84, 2021
- Population
- Healthy postmenopausal women aged 45-60
- Form
- Cornus mas extract vs starch placebo
- Dose
- 900 mg/day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 33969554 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DLiver enzymes, CK-18 and liver scores in fatty liverFatty liverNo clear liver effectRCT
n 50 · 2021
Mixed CK-18 fell within the extract group but not versus placebo; the fibrosis score differed between groups (p = 0.02) because it rose on placebo. ALT, AST and steatosis did not change.
- Design
- RCT, n = 50, 2021
- Population
- Adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Form
- Cornus mas fruit extract (liquid) vs placebo
- Dose
- 20 ml/day
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 34254372 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DLipids and vascular inflammation in children with dyslipidemiaLipids (children)Only apo A-I differedRCT
n 40 · 2013
Mixed Cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and adhesion molecules improved from baseline in the fruit group, but between groups only apo A-I differed (p = 0.016).
- Design
- RCT, n = 40, 2013
- Population
- Children and adolescents aged 9-16 with dyslipidemia
- Form
- Whole Cornus mas fruit vs usual diet
- Dose
- 50 g twice daily
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 10 · PubMed 23625305 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectLipid accumulation product and atherogenic indicesLipidsNo effectRCT
n 50 · 2022
No effect No difference versus placebo in lipid accumulation product (P = 0.91), atherogenic index of plasma (P = 0.84) or Castelli risk indices.
- Design
- RCT, n = 50, 2022
- Population
- Adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Form
- Cornus mas fruit extract (liquid) vs placebo
- Dose
- 20 ml/day
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 8 · PubMed 35063242 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectGlucose control, insulin resistance and adiponectin in fatty liverBlood sugarNo effect on glucoseRCT
n 50 · 2026
No effect No significant effect on fasting glucose, insulin or insulin-resistance indices. Adiponectin fell on placebo but not with extract, with a between-group difference only in women (P = 0.01).
- Design
- RCT, n = 50, 2026
- Population
- Adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (40 completed)
- Form
- Cornus mas fruit extract (liquid, 32 mg anthocyanins/day) vs placebo
- Dose
- 20 ml/day
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 9 · PubMed 41484805 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Fewer independent trials than papers
Effects on glucose are inconsistent
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Interactions
0 agentsNone found in our sources.
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Cornelian cherry and your picks, and between your picks.
- Loading names…
Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Cornelian cherry.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
5 groups- People on glucose-lowering medicines
- Extract lowered HbA1c and raised insulin in type 2 diabetes; combined use with diabetes drugs was not studied.21
- People on blood pressure medicines
- Liquid extract lowered blood pressure by about 8.6 mmHg in a fatty-liver trial; combined effects with blood pressure drugs were not studied.7
- Hormone-sensitive conditions
- In postmenopausal women the extract lowered FSH and raised estradiol; people with hormone-sensitive conditions were not studied.5
- Drug interactions
- No published drug-interaction studies were found, and neither LiverTox nor LactMed has a cornelian cherry entry; the abstracts cited here do not report adverse events in detail.1
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No reliable data. None of the cited trials studied pregnancy or breastfeeding, the 2025 meta-analysis excluded pregnant and breastfeeding women, and LactMed has no cornelian cherry entry.1
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
2 checksAnthocyanin content varies
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
7 answersDoes cornelian cherry lower blood sugar?
Does it help with menopause symptoms?
One 8-week trial in 84 postmenopausal women found a larger drop in menopause symptom scores with 900 mg/day extract; hot flushes showed only a downward trend in number and duration. It has not been repeated by another group.5
Does it lower cholesterol?
The meta-analysis found higher HDL and lower triglycerides but no change in total or LDL cholesterol.1
Does cornelian cherry help with weight loss?
Not clearly. A 2025 GRADE-assessed meta-analysis found weight 0.57 kg lower, but a second 2025 meta-analysis of six trials found no change in weight, body fat or waist and a small rise in BMI. In a 12-week trial, adding 20 g/day of dried fruit to diet therapy did not change weight more than diet alone.11514
Does cornelian cherry have side effects?
Is cornelian cherry the same as a regular cherry?
Sources
16 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
16 sources- 1Cornelian cherry, cardiometabolic health, and dietary intake: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis Nutr Metab (Lond), 2025 · PMID 40770337
- 2Evaluation of the Effects of Cornus mas L. Fruit Extract on Glycemic Control and Insulin Level in Type 2 Diabetic Adult Patients: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.RCT Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2015 · PMID 26508984
- 3The effect of Cornus mas fruit extract consumption on lipid profile, glycemic indices, and leptin in postmenopausal women- A randomized clinical trial.RCT Phytother Res, 2019 · PMID 31418933
- 4The effect of Cornus mas extract consumption on bone biomarkers and inflammation in postmenopausal women: A randomized clinical trial.RCT Phytother Res, 2021 · PMID 33969554
- 5The effect of Cornus mas fruit extract on vasomotor symptoms and sex hormones in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial.RCT Menopause, 2023 · PMID 36696645
- 6The effect of (Cornus mas L.) fruit extract on liver function among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.RCT Phytother Res, 2021 · PMID 34254372
- 7Effect of Cornus mas L. fruit extract on blood pressure, anthropometric and body composition indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.RCT Clin Nutr ESPEN, 2023 · PMID 37344070
- 8Effect of Cornus mas L. fruit extract on lipid accumulation product and cardiovascular indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.RCT Clin Nutr ESPEN, 2022 · PMID 35063242
- 9The effect of Cornus mas L. fruit extract supplementation on glycemic control, insulin resistance, and adiponectin levels in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.RCT J Health Popul Nutr, 2026 · PMID 41484805
- 10Investigation of the lipid-modifying and antiinflammatory effects of Cornus mas L. supplementation on dyslipidemic children and adolescents.RCT Pediatr Cardiol, 2013 · PMID 23625305
- 11Effects of Cornus mas L. on anthropometric and biochemical parameters among metabolic associated fatty liver disease patients: Randomized clinical trial.RCT J Ethnopharmacol, 2024 · PMID 37611681
- 12The effect of total anthocyanin-base standardized (Cornus mas L.) fruit extract on liver function, tumor necrosis factor α, malondealdehyde, and adiponectin in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver: a study protocol for a double-blind randomized clinical trial.RCT Nutr J, 2019 · PMID 31324181
- 13Effects of Cornus mas L. Supplementation on Anthropometric and Metabolic Characteristics in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Meta-analysis Phytother Res, 2025 · PMID 39895218
- 14The effect of lyophilized dried cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) intake on anthropometric and biochemical parameters in women with insulin resistance: A randomized controlled trial.RCT Food Sci Nutr, 2023 · PMID 38107130
- 15A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Cornus mas L. on Anthropometric Indices and Body Composition.Meta-analysis Food Sci Nutr, 2025 · PMID 40666824
- 16The Impact of Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.Meta-analysis Nutrients, 2024 · PMID 38999920
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
3 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| key facts, evidence, studied doses, who should avoid, FAQ, questions, related | Added a second 2025 meta-analysis (5 trials, 313 people, C), which unlike the GRADE review found lower total and LDL cholesterol, and a 2023 trial of 20 g/day dried fruit with diet therapy in 84 women with insulin resistance (D). Added FAQ on weight loss (citing a 2025 body-composition meta-analysis that found no weight change) and side effects, and cited a 2024 meta-analysis (415 people) in the evidence-strength answer. Widened studied doses to include 20 g/day dried fruit. Checked LactMed and LiverTox (no cornelian cherry entry) and NCCIH and MedlinePlus (no page): no documented drug interactions, so the interactions list stays empty. Added page questions and a link to the metabolic goal hub. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review (first draft). Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (titles and years taken from the record, none retracted) and the abstract read for each cited row. Studied doses are reported as research doses, not dosing advice. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
| all | Adversarial review: the menopause FAQ no longer says hot flushes became fewer; PMID 36696645 reports only a decreasing trend in their number and duration. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: adversarial review |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.