Currant black

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 24.01.2025

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Synonym(s)

black currant; Black Currant; Cassis; Ribes nigrum L.

Definition
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The blackcurrant is the parent plant of Ribis nigri folium, the medicinal, officinal dried currant leaves that are collected during or shortly after the flowering period.

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) is a deciduous shrub plant from the gooseberry family. It is native to the temperate climate zones of Europe and Asia and is mainly cultivated in Central Europe. The plant grows to a height of between 1 and 2 m and has heart-shaped, lobed leaves about 10 cm wide at the base. The blackcurrant produces greenish-yellow flowers in April and May, which are arranged in hanging clusters.

These develop into its fruits, black, aromatic berries with a diameter of 0.8-1.2 cm.

Blackcurrants are mostly consumed as nectar and lemonade; they are also processed into jelly or jam. The fruits form the basis of blackcurrant syrup and blackcurrant liqueur. An extract of blackcurrant flower buds is used in the perfume industry as a fruity fragrance component, see also Ribes nigrum leaf extract (INCI).

Ingredient(s)
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In the buds: amino acids: arginine, proline, glycine, alanine. also: oligosaccharides, phytohormones: abisic acid, giberellins , cytokines, growth factors. Essential oils, flavonoids, polyphenols, unsaturated fatty acids: alpha linolenic acid, tannins, vitamins and minerals.

Mechanism of action: anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic through cortisol release in the adrenal cortex, antiviral.

Inhibition of the release of TNF alpha, interleukin 1, interferon gamma, suppression of histamine release.

Naturopathy
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Indication: runny nose, sneezing attacks, itching, burning itchy eyes, dyspnoea.

Rhinitis allergica, eczema, bronchial asthma.

Viral infections with rhinitis and laryngitis or pharyngitis

Exhaustion, fatigue, convalescence

Arthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia

Vascular diseases with oedema

External: insect bites

Note(s)
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Literature
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  1. Ritter S. (2020) Ribes nigum- immediate help for allergies. Naturmed Dispatch 2: 14-16
  2. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/ribes_nigrum/schwarze_johannisbeere.htm
  3. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/johannisbeere.php