Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Frequently asked questions

How does cloudberry provide its health benefits?

Cloudberry contains several bioactive compounds that contribute to its medicinal effects. The high vitamin C content provides antioxidant activity and supports immune function and collagen synthesis. Anthocyanins and quercetin offer additional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ellagic acid has demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant activity in laboratory studies. Citric acid contributes to the fruit's antimicrobial effects. These compounds work synergistically to support the herb's traditional uses for wound healing, digestive support, and urinary tract health. Evidence level: C (preliminary clinical evidence).

Does cloudberry interact with any medications?

There are no established drug interactions for cloudberry when consumed as food or traditional preparations. The vitamin C content is moderate and unlikely to cause significant interactions. However, due to citric acid and other organic acids, individuals taking medications affected by urinary pH changes should consult a healthcare provider. Those on blood thinners or diabetes medications should monitor for effects, though no specific interactions have been documented. Evidence level: Traditional use with no reported interactions.

What is the recommended dosage for cloudberry?

Cloudberry is primarily consumed as a food, and fresh berries can be eaten freely as part of a normal diet. For therapeutic purposes, traditional use suggests 2-3 cups daily of leaf tea. Fresh or preserved berries have been used traditionally for vitamin C supplementation and digestive support. As cloudberry products vary in concentration, follow manufacturer guidelines for commercial preparations. There is insufficient clinical evidence to establish standardized therapeutic doses. Evidence level: Traditional use.

Is cloudberry safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Cloudberry is considered safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding when consumed as a food in normal dietary amounts. The fruit has a long history of use in Nordic countries without reported adverse effects. The vitamin C and nutrient content may actually be beneficial during pregnancy. However, concentrated extracts or supplements have not been specifically studied in pregnant populations, so food forms are preferred. Pregnant women should consult their healthcare provider before using any herbal preparations. Evidence level: Traditional use, considered safe as food.

What is cloudberry used for medicinally?

Cloudberry has been used traditionally in Nordic folk medicine for centuries. Its primary historical use was preventing and treating scurvy due to its high vitamin C content. The berries and leaves have been applied to wounds to promote healing, attributed to antimicrobial compounds. Internally, cloudberry preparations have been used for diarrhea and other digestive complaints. The herb has also been used for urinary tract support. Modern interest focuses on its antioxidant properties from anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and quercetin. Evidence level: C (preliminary evidence supporting traditional uses).

PubMed-compiled information sheet

This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.

Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b

Summary

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) is a circumpolar boreal plant rich in bioactive polyphenols and ellagitannins [PMID:37233639, PMID:35209815].

Background

Cloudberry is a herbaceous clonal peatland plant and a dioecious perennial that grows in acidic peat soils with high organic matter [PMID:19520701, PMID:36771613, PMID:21628260]. It is the third most important wild berry species gathered for human consumption in Sweden [PMID:4147281].

Traditional uses

It is widely used in food and in folk medicine [PMID:37233639], and is traditionally harvested as food in northern Scandinavia [PMID:4147281].

Active compounds

Cloudberry is rich in ellagitannins (including sanguiin H-6 and lambertianin C), flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids (primarily caffeic), gallic acids, ellagic acids, catechin, and procyanidins [PMID:37233639, PMID:34943693, PMID:21916411]. It also contains carotenoids (specifically xanthophylls such as beta-apo-10'-luteinal, trans-lutein, and zeaxanthin), vitamins C, A, and E, and pentacyclic triterpenoids such as tormentic acid and beta-sitosterol [PMID:41462639, PMID:4147281, PMID:39428696].

Mechanism of action

Ellagitannins may act via metabolic transformation by gut microbiota into urolithins [PMID:35209815]. Antimicrobial mechanisms include destabilization and permeabilization of the plasma membrane, inhibition of extracellular microbial enzymes, direct action on microbial metabolism, and antiadherence to epithelial cells [PMID:15578177]. In colon carcinoma models, cloudberry extract inhibited HGF-induced cancer cell migration and inhibited Met receptor tyrosine phosphorylation [PMID:27270323].

Clinical evidence

Evidence DColorectal Cancer (Animal Model)

Cloudberry reduced tumor number (15-30%) and tumor size by over 60%, while decreasing levels of nuclear beta-catenin and cyclin D [PMID:18296318]. It also inhibited HGF-induced cancer cell migration in human colon carcinoma cells [PMID:27270323].

Evidence DMetabolic Inflammation/Obesity (Animal Model)

Supplementation with air-dried cloudberry powder prevented the rise of systemic inflammation marker serum amyloid A (SAA) and hepatic injury marker alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and decreased expression of inflammation-related genes (Mcp1, Cxcl14, Tnfa, S100a8) [PMID:36145221].

Evidence DMRSA Biofilm/Wound Infection (In Vitro/Animal Model)

Sanguiin H-6 and lambertianin C from cloudberry seeds inhibited in vitro biofilm development and growth of MRSA; sanguiin H-6 showed significant anti-MRSA effect in a murine wound model [PMID:34943693, PMID:37424779].

Evidence DAcanthamoeba Infection (In Vitro)

Methanol extracts of Rubus chamaemorus displayed amebicidal or amebostatic activity against pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp [PMID:16862806, PMID:19050923].

Evidence summary

The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and chemopreventive properties, particularly attributed to ellagitannins.

PubMed sources

1.PMID: 25053101 (2015) — Sorbitol, Rubus fruit, and misconception. · Food chemistry
2.PMID: 37233639 (2023) — Comprehensive Characterization of Secondary Metabolites in Fruits and Leaves of Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.). · Metabolites
3.PMID: 18296318 (2008) — Berries as chemopreventive dietary constituents--a mechanistic approach with the ApcMin/+ mouse. · Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition
4.PMID: 36145221 (2022) — Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) Supplementation Attenuates the Development of Metabolic Inflammation in a High-Fat Diet Mouse Model of Obesity. · Nutrients
5.PMID: 21628260 (2009) — Pollination ecology of the high latitude, dioecious cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus; Rosaceae). · American journal of botany

Cloudberry

Sources & Citations

Calculate a safe dose of Cloudberry