Cranberry Fruit - Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton

Each monograph establishes national standards for assuring authenticity, purity, and quality control of the monographed botanical. Accompanying the standards is the AHP Therapeutic Compendium which provides a complete and critical review of the pharmacological and safety data currently available, including information on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, actions, medical indications, historical and modern and traditional use, structure and function claims, dosages, interactions, side effects, contraindications, toxicology, and more.

Cranberry is used by many for its beneficial effects on the urinary tract and especially for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections. It has been hypothesized that cranberry is useful against urinary tract infections because it inhibits the adhesion of uropathogenic bacteria to epithelial cells. The AHP cranberry monograph reviews all the data on the bacterial anti-adhesion effects of cranberry. In particular, it presents data implicating the proanthocyanidin fraction of cranberry in this effect. In addition, evidence concerning the effect of cranberry on calcium oxalate stone formation is reviewed.

Table of Contents:

• Nomenclature
• History
• Identificaton
• Commercial Sources and Handling
• Consitutents
• Analytical
• Therapeutics
• Safety Profile
• International Status
• References