Cherry Constituents

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I got the herbarium for this herb uploaded yesterday but I'm still working on the appendix for the constituents.  Once done, I'll get that posted as well.  Again, an herbarium is an herbalists personal notes on each herb.

On to the constituents of cherry.

Anthocyanins are the red to blue dyes. They are produce the pinks, reds, violets, and blues and give the astringent flavor. Ganora adds these are water-soluble, protect the plant from UV rays, are antioxidant, carcinostatic, and anti-inflammatory and are induced by cooler weather.  She also mentions the constituent encourages apoptosis in cancer cells and growth of new cells. They are also venotonic and improve night vision. Pierre adds these help defend the plant from germs and bugs (Hoffman, 2003, p. 106; Ganora, 2009, p. 41, 45, 58, 66, 117, 120, 156, 168; Pierre, 2005, p. 8-9).

Benzaldehyde (Volatile Oil) is a higher-molecular-weight aldehyde which has a pleasant flowery scent and is found in essential oils (Hoffman, 2003, p. 65).

Boron: Pierre says this is for bone health (Pierre, 2005, p. 8-9).

Cyanidin-3-glucoside (Anthocyanins):

Cyanidin 3-glucosyrlrutinoside (Anthocyanins):

Cyanidin 3-rutinoside (Anthocyanins):

Cyanidin (Anthocyanins):

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Anthocyanins):

Cyanogenic glycosides (C-glycosides) (Amino Acid): These are composed of a sugar moiety, 2 variable R groups, and a nitrile group. They are also derived of various amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These are bitter compounds that can be toxic but humans do not complete absorption of them. We are able to digest a very small amount as a result. These are more soluble in hot water or hot alcohol.

Cyanide:

Eudesmic Acid:

Nitrates:

Nitrites: Antioxidant compounds (Petersen, 2018).

Prunasin (Cyanogenic Glycosides): Petersen (2018) says this turns to hydrogen cyanide when crushed (p. 120)

P-coumeric acid (polyphenolic acid) is apparently quite prolific in the plant world.  It is antifungal and antihepatoxic. It may have some cytotoxicity (Hoffman, 2003, p. 94).

Perillyl alcohol (POH): for cancer. Pierre says it prevents breast and pancreatic cancer (Ulbricht, 2010, p. 466; Pierre, 2005, p. 8-9).

Phenolic acids are best described as antimicrobial in the urinary tract and anti-inflammatory. All phenols are antimicrobial and were first used as antiseptics (Hoffman, 2003, p. 92; Petersen, 2018, p. 90).

Quercetin (Flavonoid) reduces allergy-induced inflammation, inhibits the growth of head and neck cancers, inhibits reverse transcriptase. Fallon says this has anti-thyroid properties. Cohen says it prevents gout. Pierre says it fights cancer and prevents heart disease.  Also, process cherries, such as those in a can, have twice as much as fresh cherries (Hoffman, 2003, p. 14; Fallon, 2001, p. 502; Cohen, 2007, p. 262; Pierre, 2005, p. 8-9).

Scopoletin (coumarin) is common in the Nightshade family, poppies and grapefruit (Ganora, 2009, p. 65, 110).

Tannins (Polyphenols) can damper some of the harsher effects of some constituents but excessive use of them can cause certain cancers. In lab studies, they can inhibit fungi, yeast, bacteria and viruses. They do inhibit some other cancers and are antioxidants. There are different kinds of tannins so the risks vary. They are present in plants to protect them in various ways, depending on location (Hoffman, 2003, p. 114-117, 201).

Have a Great Day!