The clinical effectiveness of chokeberry: a systematic review

Abstract

Products derived from the black chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa, are claimed to be beneficial in disorders or diseases associated with oxidative stress. The claims are based on evidence from in vitro studies and animal experiments. The active principle – a mixture of procyanidins, anthocyanins and phenolic acids – constitutes one of the most potent natural antioxidants. A systematic review was carried out of the quality of the clinical trials on chokeberry products that had been published up to December 2009, and conventionally established criteria were used to assess the strength of the evidence for their clinical effectiveness. Thirteen studies were identified. The quality of most of the trials and, correspondingly, the evidence of effectiveness for Aronia products is poor. Though laboratory and clinical data indicate that chokeberry products may well be useful as ‘functional food’ for disorders or diseases related to oxidative stress, these promising indications need to be confirmed in more rigorous studies before putative therapeutic uses can be confidently recommended for chokeberry products. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Capacity and Quality of Chokeberry (Aronia Melanocarpa) Products

“…Although recent studies have pointed out diff erent positive eff ects of chokeberry juices and extracts (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), current evidence of eff ectiveness does not yet meet the accepted standards that would secure chokeberry products an indisputable place in therapy. Promising indications from laboratory and clinical data need to be confi rmed in more rigorous studies before putative therapeutic uses can be confi dently recommended for chokeberry products (22).…”

Design, formulation and sensory evaluation of a polyphenol-rich food placebo: an example of aronia juice for food intervention studies

“…Among various plant foods, aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) has been of special interest since its fruits have been indicated as a rich source of polyphenols. Polyphenols from aronia fruits, mainly anthocyanins and procyanidins, represent one of the most potent natural antioxidants, exerting the positive impact on overall health, but also on diseases and states associated with marked level of oxidative stress, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and metabolic disorders (Chrubasik et al 2010;Sikora et al 2014;Kardum et al 2015). Although beneficial effects of aronia polyphenols on CVD risk factors such as hypertension, elevated blood lipids and glucose, platelet hyperactivity and obesity have been demonstrated, controlled clinical trials on aronia juice are still lacking, partly due to the difficulties in delivering suitable control drink.…”

Comparison of in vitro anti-lipase and antioxidant activities, and composition of commercial chokeberry juices

“…Nevertheless, chokeberry berries are rarely consumed directly because of their specific organoleptic properties, such as unpleasant astringent taste and their smell of bitter almonds [5]. So, it is preferable to use them for syrup, juice, jam, liqueur, and wine production.…”