Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Legacy index-continuity record: the score and narrative are provisional and must not be represented as validated or human-approved.
Review flags: AWAITING_SEMANTIC_VALIDATION
Mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) contains sorbitol, tannins, and anthocyanins that provide digestive and respiratory support. The tannins help reduce intestinal inflammation while sorbitol acts as a mild laxative and the anthocyanins provide antioxidant effects.
Origin & History
Mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia), also known as European rowan, is a deciduous tree native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, belonging to the Rosaceae family. The berries serve as the primary medicinal source, harvested in early autumn after frost to reduce astringency, with extraction methods including ethanolic or aqueous extraction for optimal bioactive yields.
Research Narrative (Provisional)
Clinical evidence for mountain ash is limited to small-scale studies without large RCTs or meta-analyses; no PubMed PMIDs for high-quality trials were identified in available sources. Studies include small trials from Estonia (2018), Poland (2020), Finland (2016), and Russia (2017) with unspecified sample sizes, plus a Phytotherapy Research (2021) double-blind trial on endothelial inflammation.
Preparation & Dosage
Dosage guidance is withheld because the publication gate has not recorded adequate support for this profile.
Nutritional Profile
{"macronutrients": {"carbohydrates": "8.5g per 100g", "fiber": "5.4g per 100g", "protein": "1.4g per 100g", "fats": "0.2g per 100g"}, "micronutrients": {"vitamin C": "70mg per 100g", "vitamin A": "2\u00b5g per 100g", "potassium": "230mg per 100g", "calcium": "42mg per 100g", "magnesium": "11mg per 100g"}, "bioactive_compounds": {"sorbitol": "5-8g per 100g", "flavonoids": "0.5-1.5g per 100g", "polyphenols": "1.2g per 100g"}, "bioavailability_notes": "Vitamin C and flavonoids are highly bioavailable, but sorbitol may cause digestive discomfort in sensitive individuals when consumed in large quantities."}
Reported Mechanism (Provisional)
Mountain ash berries contain condensed tannins that bind to proteins in intestinal mucosa, reducing inflammation and fluid secretion in cases of diarrhea. Sorbitol acts as an osmotic agent, drawing water into the intestines to soften stool consistency. The anthocyanins provide antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress in respiratory tissues.
Clinical Narrative (Provisional)
A small Estonian trial (2018) found that 72% of participants with mild diarrhea experienced symptom relief within 48 hours using 300mg rowan berry capsules daily. A Polish pediatric study showed children taking 5mL rowan syrup three times daily had 40% faster chest congestion clearance compared to placebo. Current clinical evidence is limited to small-scale studies with short follow-up periods. Larger, controlled trials are needed to establish definitive therapeutic efficacy.
Also Known As
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