Asian cornelian cherry / shan zhu yu (山茱萸)
Cornus officinalis
Edible plantPhoto credit: Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Low; fruit flesh is edible-grade.
Contraindications: TCM caution in damp-heat/urinary obstruction patterns.
Interactions: None well documented.
Evidence level
Supported by clinical trials in humans.
Preparations
wine-processed · fruit
Part used: fruit
in formula (Liu Wei Di Huang, Jin Gui Shen Qi) · fruit
Part used: fruit
decoction · fruit
Part used: fruit
Traditional use: tonifies liver and kidney, secures essence, stops sweating/discharge; dizziness, lumbar weakness, night sweats, frequent urination
Proposed mechanism: iridoid glycosides (loganin, morroniside), tannins — antioxidant, hypoglycemic, neuroprotective, anti-osteoporotic
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: The fleshy fruit is consumed as a tart edible (also a culinary cornelian-cherry relative).
Toxic lookalike warning
Do not confuse decorative Cornus berries or other red-berried shrubs; identify to species before eating any wild cornel fruit.
Nutritional notes
Rich in organic acids, vitamin C, polyphenols (functional-food fruit).
Healing traditions
Sources (1)
- [E6] Liuwei Dihuang systematic review/meta-analysis & network pharmacology (contains Corni Fructus)