Editor’s Note: Each month, HerbalEGram highlights a conventional food and
briefly explores its history, traditional uses, nutritional profile, and modern
medicinal research. We also feature a nutritious recipe for an easy-to-prepare
dish with each article to encourage readers to experience the extensive
benefits of these whole foods. With this series, we hope our readers will gain
a new appreciation for the foods they see at the supermarket and frequently
include in their diets.
The basic materials for this series were compiled
by dietetic interns from Texas State University in San Marcos and the
University of Texas at Austin through the American Botanical Council’s (ABC’s)
Dietetic Internship Program, led by ABC Education Coordinator Jenny Perez. We would like to acknowledge Perez, ABC Special
Projects Director Gayle Engels, and ABC Chief Science Officer Stefan Gafner,
PhD, for their contributions to this project.
By Hannah
Baumana and Alexandra McKeeb
a HerbalGram Associate Editor
b ABC Dietetics
Intern (Texas State, 2017)
Overview
The
rose (Rosa spp.) hip (also sometimes
written as “rosehip”) is a pseudofruit in the economically important Rosaceae
family, which includes apple (Malus
spp.), strawberry (Fragaria spp.),
plum (Prunus spp.), and almond (Prunus spp.). The genus Rosa includes more than 100 species that
have been cultivated since ancient times in a vast array of climates.1
Both rose petals and rose hips can be used in culinary and herbal preparations.
Rose plants grow as shrubs and are characterized by thorny stems, compound,
serrated leaves, and attractive, colorful flowers.2 Different
species of roses are native to areas around the world from Europe to Japan,
where they have a long history of culinary and medicinal use.3
Today, roses are cultivated commercially for ornamental and medicinal purposes
in Europe and Asia, but wild varieties are also found in North and South
America.
The rose
hip is an aggregate fruit that consists of several dry fruits that are enclosed
by a hypanthium: an enlarged, red, and fleshy floral cup.4 In
particular, the hip of R. canina, or dog rose, has been used as a
medicinal ingredient for about 2,000 years and is the subject of ongoing
clinical trials that focus on its anti-inflammatory and health-promoting properties.
Phytochemicals and Constituents
Rose
hip is well-known for its high vitamin C content. Rose hip is also a source of
many other nutrients and bioactive compounds. Noteworthy compounds found in
rose hip include carotenoids, tocopherols, tannins, pectin, amino acids, fatty
acids, essential oils, and an anti-inflammatory galactolipid known as GOPO: (2S)-1,2-di-O[(9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9-12-15-trienoyl]-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl glycerol.5
Vitamin
C is necessary for the biosynthesis of collagen, a primary protein in
connective tissue in the human body. L-carnitine is an amino acid that helps
convert fat tissue into energy, and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) is a hormone
and neurotransmitter.5 These biological functions and vitamin C’s
antioxidant capabilities have led to its use as an adjunct therapy for cancer,
cardiovascular ailments, cataracts, cognitive decline, and the common cold,6
but therapeutic dosages for optimal benefits have yet to be determined. It also
has been reported that other organic acids and flavanols present in rose hip
aid in inhibiting oxidation of vitamin C, increasing its stability and
bioavailability in humans.7 Rose hip seed contains a high amount of
dietary fiber, which supports the gut microbiota by increasing the absorption
of nutrients.4
Carotenoids
in rose hip include beta-carotene, lycopene, rubixanthin, lutein, and
zeaxanthin.5 Dietary carotenoids have been associated with an array
of antioxidant activities: induction of apoptosis (normal, pre-programmed cell
death), inhibition of mammary cell proliferation, inhibition of angina
pectoris, and radical stabilization and protection from prostate cancer and
macular degeneration.4 Lycopene in particular has been found in very
high concentrations in rose hip fruit.6 This antioxidant phytonutrient
can support cardiovascular health, protect against degenerative eye conditions
such as cataracts, treat asthma and numerous different types of cancer, and
support treatment of the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.5
One
of the most diverse groups of phytonutrients are triterpenes (including plant
sterols), some of which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.4
Plant sterols (phytosterols) are essential in forming and maintaining cell
membranes. β-Sitosterol is usually the most abundant phytosterol
found in R. canina and has been found to inhibit the absorption of dietary
cholesterol.4,8
Rose
hip seed contains polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic acid (LA), and
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).4 These compounds can support cardiovascular
health by decreasing triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the blood,
inhibiting thrombosis, dilating blood vessels, and inhibiting inflammation.
Several studies on the LA and ALA contents in rose hip seed extract have shown inhibition
of the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2, which are involved in the
production of pro-inflammatory compounds called prostaglandins.4,5 The
galactolipid GOPO has been shown to attenuate inflammatory responses in
different cellular systems such as macrophages, peripheral blood leukocytes,
and chondrocytes.5
Historical and Commercial Uses
The
rose flower has had a significant cultural impact throughout human history. Rose
has been mentioned in the clay tablets of Mesopotamia, the writings of
Confucius, and Greek mythology, and it is especially prominent in Turkish folk
literature.9 The Ottomans made heavy use of rose in medicinal preparations,
in particular rose water. They believed that smelling rose water could
strengthen the spirit and emotions, empower the brain and mind, regulate rapid
heartbeat, alleviate nausea, strengthen the stomach, and heal disorders of the
eyes if applied topically. The Greek physician Dioscorides authored the first known
record of rose as a medicinal plant in the first century CE and mentioned both
internal and external applications. For other recorded historical uses of the
rose plant, see Table 1.
Rose
hip continues to be used as both medicine and food in Turkey, where it is valued
for its medicinal and aromatic properties and as an ingredient in snacks,
marmalades, and juices.6 In Romania, Turkey, and Iran, rose hip is
used in a variety of forms as a source of vitamins A and C to supplement intake
and as folk medicine to treat the common cold, gallstones, constipation, and
gastric disorders. Currently, Turkey supplies about 70% of the world’s rose
products, such as rose water and essential oil.9
Rose
hip is a common food product in European countries, as well, where it appears
in desserts, breads, jellies, marmalades, ice cream, puddings, soups, syrups,
and beverages.6 In the United States, indigenous peoples such as the
Chumash and Samish tribes have used native wild rose hip (R. californica) raw, cooked, or brewed into wine. Medicinally,
native tribes have used rose hip topically to relieve colds, infections, pain,
inflammation, and influenza. In China, rose hip is used to flavor wine and is popular
for its vitamin-rich extract that can help treat a variety of illnesses
associated with the common cold and inflammation.3,6 Rose hip
seed-derived oils are very popular in China in skincare and cosmetics.
Table 1: Recorded Therapeutic Uses for
Dog Rose (Rosa canina)4
Plant Part
|
Therapy Type
|
Condition
|
Roots
|
Internal
use
|
Anal
hemorrhoids, dysuria, cough, rheumatism
|
Leaves
|
Internal
use
|
Colds,
flu, cough, itching, eczema
|
Branches
|
Internal
use
External
use
|
Kidney
stones
Eczema
|
Fruits
(shells)
|
Internal
use
|
Cold,
flu, cough, bronchitis, asthma, nephritis, gallbladder disease, burns,
vitamin C deficiency, colic, lower urinary tract disorders, arthritis,
rheumatic disorder, eyewash, diarrhea, intestinal catarrhs
|
Fruits
(seeds)
|
Internal
use
|
Kidney
and lower urinary tract health, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, gout, sciatica,
cold, fever, blood purification, vitamin C deficiency
|
Fruits
(seeds and shells)
|
External
Use
|
Rheumatism,
hemorrhoids, diarrhea, cardiac disorders, hypoglycemia, and infection
|
Modern Research
The
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of rose hip have been studied in
clinical trials that predominantly used powdered rose hips as the active
ingredient. The majority of trials have focused on these properties when
assessing obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders (comorbidities) as
well as arthritis and pain-related conditions. In vitro studies have also been conducted
to assess rose hip’s effects on cell health and protection.
Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
In
clinical trials, those taking dried and powdered rose hip fruit experienced
significant reductions in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol levels and systolic blood pressure compared to those taking a placebo,
as well as reduced cardiovascular risk markers in obese subjects.10
Rose hip powder also was associated with significantly decreased fasting blood
glucose levels and the total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes.11
In
vitro, rose hip extract has been found to significantly increase proliferation
of BTC-6 cells (murine pancreatic β-cells) with no reported cytotoxicity of
healthy cells compared to the control.12 The regeneration of pancreatic
β-cells has been shown to play an essential role in managing diabetes mellitus.
This increase in β-cell proliferation may be one of the mechanisms in which
rose hip extract helps manage diabetes mellitus. This proliferative effect
could counteract the deficiency of pancreatic β-cells found in this condition and
increase their viability and performance.
Arthritis and Pain-Related Conditions
Arthritis
is an inflammatory condition characterized by the destruction of cartilage and
joints and can eventually lead to negative effects on the skin, eyes, lungs,
heart, blood, and nerves. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a form of arthritis that is
triggered by articular cartilage destruction. Most often, OA treatment aims to
subdue symptoms related to pain or stiffness and reduce inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition in which the
body’s immune system attacks the joints, causing pain similar to OA.
A
particular variety of rose hip powder from Langeland Island, Denmark, with a
relatively high level of GOPO, has shown anti-inflammatory activity in patients
with OA compared to placebo, with participants reporting significant reductions
in stiffness, pain during manual activities, and general feelings of
discomfort.13 Daily supplementation with rose hip powder also correlated
with a significant reduction in the use of conventional medications such as
acetaminophen, opioids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and
reduction in pain according to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis
Index (WOMAC) compared to placebo in patients with OA.14 In patients
with RA, rose hip powder was associated with significant improvement according
to the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index after six months
of daily supplementation.15 Patients with self-reported knee-related
walking limitations experienced significant increases in knee joint movement
and improvements in knee flexing ability compared to the control group after
supplementation with rose hip powder.16
Age-Related Skin Conditions
Rose
hip’s vitamin C, carotenoid, polyphenol, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and
GOPO contents have been investigated for anti-aging activities. Oral rose hip
supplementation correlated with significant differences over baseline in the
depth of crow’s feet wrinkles, skin moisture content, and elasticity.17
The results were similar to those of a comparison group that used astaxanthin,
a carotenoid that has gained popular use as an anti-aging agent.
Consumer Considerations
The nutrient
and bioactive compound contents of rose hip depend on the subspecies,
processing techniques, growing region, and environmental conditions.6
Assays show that ripe rose hips have the highest tocopherol and β-carotene levels,
while unripe hips contain higher levels of ascorbic acid.18
When
choosing or harvesting roses for consumption, either for petals or hips,
consumers should note that the ornamental roses available in flower shops,
nurseries, and grocery stores often are grown with the use of pesticides. In
order to avoid chemical exposure, consumers should try to ensure that the roses
are organically grown specifically for culinary and/or medicinal purposes.
Wild-harvested roses should come from a habitat with no history of pesticide
use or run-off (i.e., the side of a road or an unknown garden should be
avoided).
Nutrient Profile19
Macronutrient Profile: (Per 100 grams rose
hips)
162 calories
1.6 g
protein
38.22
g carbohydrate
0.3 g
fat
Secondary Metabolites: (Per 100 grams rose
hips)
Excellent source of:
Vitamin
C: 426 mg (473.3% DV)
Vitamin
A: 4345 IU (86.9% DV)
Dietary
Fiber: 24.1 g (80.3% DV)
Manganese:
1 mg (43.5% DV)
Vitamin
E: 5.84 mg (38.9% DV)
Vitamin
K: 25.9 mcg (21.6% DV)
Very good source of:
Magnesium:
69.3 mg (16.5% DV)
Calcium:
169 mg (13% DV)
Good source of:
Riboflavin:
0.12 mg (9.2% DV)
Potassium:
429 mg (9.1% DV)
Niacin:
1.3 mg (8.1% DV)
Iron:
1.1 mg (6.1% DV)
Also provides:
Phosphorus:
60.6 mg (4.8% DV)
Vitamin
B6: 0.08 mg (4.7% DV)
Thiamin:
0.02 mg (1.7% DV)
Trace Amount:
Folate:
3.2 mcg (0.8% DV)
DV =
Daily Value as established by the US Food and Drug Administration, based on a
2,000-calorie diet.
Recipe: Immune-Boosting Rose Hip JamCourtesy of Katja
Heino20
Ingredients:
- 1 cup
dried, deseeded rose hips
- 1 1/2
cups fruit juice of choice (ex: apple, cherry, pomegranate)
- 1
teaspoon grated orange zest
Directions:
- Combine
rose hips and juice in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer
4-5 minutes.
- Remove
from heat, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
- After
refrigerating, combine rose hip/juice mixture and orange zest in a food
processor or blender and puree until smooth.
|
Image credit (top to bottom):
Dog rose blossom (Rosa canina) ©2018 Steven Foster Dog rose hips (Rosa canina) ©2018 Steven Foster Dog rose illustration from Atlas des plantes de France by Amédée Masclef, 1891 Dog rose hips (Rosa canina) ©2018 Steven Foster
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