Rose Hip as a Nutraceutical

*Ditte Christina Lustrup and Kaj Winther*

### **Abstract**

From ancient times, rose hip has been used as food source and as part of herbal remedies. Modern research has confirmed that rose hip, especially when containing seeds and shells, reduces pain and improves daily activity in animal models and in patients with osteoarthritis. The effect size on pain is comparable to that observed with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and superior to that obtained with paracetamol. For example, treatment with a subspecies of *Rosa canina* (Lito) resulted in 50% reduction in intake of pain killers. There are also strong indications that conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, aging skin, and wrinkles benefit from treatment with rose hip. Cardiovascular diseases, especially where hyperlipidemia plays a major role, can be treated with rose hip, since a modest reduction of blood cholesterol levels as well as kidney and liver protection has been reported with the treatment. Variation in efficacy and amount of active ingredients in the different species, as well as with different ways of production, should be recognized. Rose hip can be collected from nature. It takes 5–7 *Rosa canina* berries to produce the daily dose of 5 gram of mixed shell-seed powder.

**Keywords:** Rosa canina, rose hip, seeds, shells, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, vitamin C, collagen

### **1. Introduction**

Rose hip is the pseudo-fruit of the wild rose (genus *Rosa* L.), the ancestor of the cultivated rose that is one of the most important flowers of the floricultural industry [1]. The genus *Rosa* includes over 100 different species that are found in many parts of the world, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East [2], as well as in some parts of Africa [3, 4]. While most species originate from Asia, some are native to Europe, northwest Africa, and North America [5]. Wild roses are widespread in nature and are generally hardy plants capable of growing in many different environments. Some species flourish close to the sea, growing in sandy soil, while others are more common in the lowlands, inland, or in mountain regions [2, 6]. Their fruits can be harvested from late summer to early spring, depending on the specific type, climate, geographical location, and weather. The appearance, size, and taste of rose hips vary from species to species. While some are small such as mediumsized blueberries, others such as the fruits of *Rosa rugosa* can be as big as a large-sized strawberry, weighing up to 30 grams [author's own experience]. Often, the fruits are orange red in color. However, there are also yellow-green varieties, such as the fruits from *Rosa roxburghii*, or dark purple to almost black fruits from *Rosa pimpinellifolia*. Shape-wise, they vary from oval to flat or round to regular round fruits (**Figure 1**).

**Figure 1.** *Rosa rugosa berries. One flower is seen in the right lower corner.*
