Acerola
Scientific names: Malpighia emarginata, Malpighia glabra, Malpighia punicifolia, Malpighia punicifolia, Malpighia retusa
Family: Malpighiaceae
Alternate names: Acérola, Acerola Cherry, Antilles Cherry, Barbados Cherry, Barbadoskirsche, Cereja das Antilhas, Cereja do Para, Cerejeira das Antilhas, Cereso, Cereza, Cerise de Cayenne, Cerise de la Barbade, Cerise des Antilles, Cerisier, Cerisier de Barbade, Cerisier des Antilles, Chereese, Grosella, Puerto Rican Cherry, Semeruco, West Indian Cherry, West Indies Cherry, Westindische Kirsche
Actions: Antioxidant
Background
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) is a shrub or small tree. Its fruit is similar to a cherry and is a red color when ripe. It is a rich source of vitamin C.
Acerola also contains many minerals and other vitamins, including beta-carotene, lutein, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, and pantothenic acid. It's native to Central America, northern South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Acerola is commonly used to prevent vitamin C deficiency. It is also used for the common cold, diarrhea, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.
Acerola also contains many minerals and other vitamins, including beta-carotene, lutein, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, and pantothenic acid. It's native to Central America, northern South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Acerola is commonly used to prevent vitamin C deficiency. It is also used for the common cold, diarrhea, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Acerola fruit is possibly safe for most adults. The fruit contains a large amount of vitamin C. It should be taken in amounts that provide no more than 2000 mg of vitamin C daily. Higher doses can increase the risk of side effects such as severe diarrhea.
Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis): In large doses, acerola might increase the chance of getting kidney stones. This is due to the vitamin C in acerola.
Latex allergy: People with latex allergy might also have an allergic reaction to acerola.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if acerola is safe to use in medicinal amounts when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use in amounts greater than those found in food.Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis): In large doses, acerola might increase the chance of getting kidney stones. This is due to the vitamin C in acerola.
Latex allergy: People with latex allergy might also have an allergic reaction to acerola.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Vitamin C deficiency. Acerola is a rich source of vitamin C. Taking acerola by mouth might help prevent or treat vitamin C deficiency.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of acerola might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Aluminum
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Acerola contains vitamin C, which can increase how much aluminum the body absorbs. If you have kidney problems and take aluminum-containing medicines (also called "phosphate binders") regularly, avoid using acerola, especially in high doses.
Aspirin
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Acerola contains vitamin C. Vitamin C might decrease how much aspirin is removed in the urine. But this probably isn't a big concern.
Estrogens
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Acerola contains a large amount of vitamin C. Vitamin C might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of estrogen. Taking acerola along with estrogens might increase the effects and side effects of estrogens.
Medications for cancer (Alkylating agents)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Acerola contains vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. There is some concern that antioxidants might decrease the effects of some medications used for cancer. If you are taking medications for cancer, check with your healthcare provider before taking acerola.
Medications for cancer (Antitumor antibiotics)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Acerola contains vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. There is some concern that antioxidants might decrease the effects of medications used for cancer. If you are taking medications for cancer, check with your healthcare provider before taking acerola.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Acerola contains vitamin C. Large amounts of vitamin C might decrease the effects of warfarin. Decreasing the effects of warfarin might increase the risk of clotting. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin might need to be changed.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Iron: Due to its vitamin C content, acerola might increase the amount of iron the body absorbs from foods and supplements.
Rose hip: Rose hip and acerola both contain high levels of vitamin C. Don't take both together. This might increase the risk of side effects from vitamin C. Adults should not take more than 2000 mg of vitamin C daily.
Vitamin C: Due to the vitamin C content in acerola, using acerola along with vitamin C supplements might increase the risk of side effects from vitamin C. Adults should not take more than 2000 mg of vitamin C daily.
Rose hip: Rose hip and acerola both contain high levels of vitamin C. Don't take both together. This might increase the risk of side effects from vitamin C. Adults should not take more than 2000 mg of vitamin C daily.
Vitamin C: Due to the vitamin C content in acerola, using acerola along with vitamin C supplements might increase the risk of side effects from vitamin C. Adults should not take more than 2000 mg of vitamin C daily.
Interactions with foods
Acerola might increase how much iron the body absorbs from foods.
Products
View all products
RRP: $49.95$42.46Save: 15%
Per 30 g (Cacao):
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola) equiv. vitamin C 50 mg
- Pea protein isolate 25.2 g
- Dunaliella salina equiv. beta-carotene 390 µg
- Aloe barbadensis 1 g
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 2.5 mg
- Natural chocolate flavour
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Thaumatin
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
RRP: $50.20$32.64Save: 35%
Per capsule:
RRP: $32.65$21.22Save: 35%
RRP: $34.95$29.01Save: 17%
Per 1 mL:
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola) ext. 10.42 mg equiv. vitamin C 3.3 mg
- Drosera
- Spongia tosta
- Althaea officinalis ext. 25 mg
- Hedera helix ext. 4.5 mg
- Antimonium tartaricum
- Hepar sulphuricum
- Ipecacuanha
- Cholecalciferol 0.25 μg equiv. vitamin D3 10 IU
- Zinc glycinate 1.42 mg equiv. zinc 400 μg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 18.25 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 15 mg
RRP: $20.99$16.79Save: 20%
RRP: $69.95$59.46Save: 15%
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Per tablet:
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola) ext. 12.5 mg
- Total Vitamin C 1000 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 385 mg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 382.2 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 315 mg
- Sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 337.5 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 300 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 25 mg
- Rutin (Rutoside) 50 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids (Hesperidin) 50 mg
- Rosa canina ext. 62.5 mg
RRP: $48.99$36.75Save: 25%
Per tablet:
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola) ext. 12.5 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 385 mg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 382.2 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 315 mg
- Sodium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 337.5 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 300 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 25 mg
- Rutin (Rutoside) 50 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids (Hesperidin) 50 mg
- Rosa canina ext. 62.5 mg
RRP: $23.99$18.00Save: 25%
Per tablet (Strawberry Vanilla):
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola) ext. 7.5 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 60 mg
- Zinc gluconate 13.9 mg equiv. zinc 2 mg
- Echinacea purpurea ext. 4.45 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 10 mg
- Cholecalciferol 6.25 µg equiv. vitamin D3 250 IU
- Beta-carotene (Carotenoids) 1 mg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 48.7 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 40 mg
RRP: $34.95$24.46Save: 30%
RRP: $48.09$35.59Save: 26%
RRP: $46.95$38.73Save: 18%
RRP: $54.95$45.33Save: 18%
Per 10 g:
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola) ext. 267 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 1 g
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder 333 mg
- Wheatgrass powder 333 mg
- Inulin (Dietary fibre) 800 mg
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium bifidum 3 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium lactis 5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium longum 1 billion CFU
- Cynara scolymus powder 500 mg
- Hordeum vulgare 200 mg
- Malus (Apple) 200 mg
- Brassica oleracea (leaf & sprout) powder (Kale) 100 mg
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple) 240 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 67 mg
- Beta glucan 50 mg
- Resveratrol 10 mg
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 65 mg
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed) 400 mg
- Oryza sativa (Rice bran) 500 mg
- Pea protein isolate 1 g
- R-alpha lipoic acid 67 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 400 µg
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) 5.3 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 567 µg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 434 µg
- Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) 1.7 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 0.8 µg
- Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D) 3.8 µg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 333 mg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate (Vitamin E) 100 mg
- Ubidecarenone (Coenzyme Q10) 8 mg
- Copper gluconate 225 µg
- Potassium phosphate - dibasic 104 mg
- Folic acid 67 µg
- Biotin 10 µg
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous 14 mg
- Magnesium citrate 42 mg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 10 mg
- Chromium picolinate 10 µg
- Calcium citrate 132 mg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 1.4 mg
- Selenomethionine (Selenium) 30 µg
- Beta-carotene (Carotenoids) 1.7 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids (Hesperidin) 500 mg
- Citric acid anhydrous 150 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis powder 68 mg
- Taraxacum officinale ext. 33 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus powder 200 mg
- Glycyrrhiza glabra powder 67 mg
- Crataegus monogyna ext. 29 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 67 mg
- Vitis vinifera ext. 67 mg
- Camellia sinensis ext. 67 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum powder 21 mg
- Lentinula edodes powder 21 mg
- Aloe barbadensis ext. 500 mg
- Zingiber officinale powder 67 mg
- Eleutherococcus senticosus ext. 1 g
- Centella asiatica ext. 67 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 67 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 67 mg
- Arctium lappa ext. 21 mg
- Rosa canina powder 168 mg
- Lycium barbarum 33 mg
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot) 167 mg
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot) 83 mg
- Carica papaya (Papain) 250 mg
- Lecithin 725 mg
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp) 8 mg
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Natural pineapple flavour
- Thaumatin
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Xanthan gum
- Brassica oleracea var. italica powder 150 mg
- Theobroma cacao powder 100 mg
1 kg
RRP: $226.40$147.16Save: 35%
Per 8 g:
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola) powder 120 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 1.68 g
- Wheatgrass powder 1.12 g
- Medicago sativa powder 160 mg
- Hordeum vulgare powder 160 mg
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 80 mg
- Brassica oleracea (leaf) powder (Kale) 80 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (sprout) powder
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Pea (fibre) sprouted
- Lepidium meyenii (root) powder
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii) (SB) 200 mg
- Tremella fuciformis powder 200 mg
- Lucuma
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice protein)
- Lentinula edodes powder 160 mg
- Quinoa (sprout) powder
- Grifola frondosa powder 80 mg
- Schisandra chinensis powder 80 mg
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Daucus carota juice dry
- Davidson plum powder
- Backhousia citriodora (leaf) powder
- Kakadu plum powder 80 mg
- Banana resistant starch powder
- Tasmannia lanceolata powder
- Citrus australasica
RRP: $69.95$62.95Save: 10%
Per 15 g (Rich Chocolate):
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola) powder 100 mg
- Pea protein isolate 8.3 g
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 1.5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium lactis 1.5 billion CFU
- Marine algae 500 mg
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed) 250 mg
- Sunflower lecithin 200 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 100 mg
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot) 100 mg
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot) 100 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 100 mg
- Wheatgrass powder 100 mg
- Zingiber officinale powder 40 mg
- Ribes nigrum powder 200 mg
- Vitis vinifera powder 200 mg
- Lycium chinese powder 100 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus powder 100 mg
- Bacopa monnieri powder 50 mg
- Taraxacum officinale powder 30 mg
- Malus (fibre) powder (Apple) 640 mg
- Apple pectin 200 mg
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium) 100 mg
- Citric acid anhydrous 150 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 70 mg
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 30 mg
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid 20 mg
- Beta glucan 8 mg
- Dunaliella salina 8 mg
- Lutein 2 mg
- Zeaxanthin (Carotenoids) 400 µg
- Natural chocolate flavour
- Calcium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Zinc gluconate
- d-alpha-Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
- Thaumatin
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Manganese gluconate
- D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenomethionine (Selenium)
- Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Folate
- Chromium picolinate
- Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3)
- Fucus vesiculosus powder 98 mg
- Stevia rebaubiana powder
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1)
- Copper
- Calendula officinalis powder
- Biotin
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Theobroma cacao powder 2.1 g
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala powder 100 mg
- Carica papaya 50 mg
- Hordeum vulgare 100 mg
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Potassium phosphate - dibasic
- Magnesium gluconate
RRP: $45.00$36.91Save: 18%
RRP: $49.95$42.46Save: 15%
Per 10 g (Berry):
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola)
- Schisandra chinensis
- Berberis vulgaris
- Cynara scolymus
- Silybum marianum
- Passionfruit
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Piper nigrum
- Zingiber officinale
- Camellia sinensis
- Beta vulgaris
- Ribes nigrum
- L-glutamine
- L-glycine
- L-methionine
- Zinc gluconate
- Taurine
- Choline bitartrate
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Folic acid
- Selenomethionine (Selenium)
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Apple pectin
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Natural flavours
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Echinacea angustifolia
- Curcuma longa
- L-cysteine
- Oryza sativa (Rice hulls)
- Silicon dioxide
- Punica granatum
- Vaccinium corymbosum (fruit) powder
RRP: $59.95$46.76Save: 22%
Per 7 g:
- Malpighia glabra (Acerola) (fruit) powder
- Brassica oleracea (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Fagopyrum esculentum (leaf)
- Fragaria ananassa (Strawberry)
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Malus (Apple)
- Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon)
- Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk fruit)
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Lycium barbarum (fruit)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (sprout) powder
- Curcuma longa (rhizome)
- Medicago sativa
- Punica granatum
- Rubus idaeus
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Fructooligosaccharides
- Pyrus communis (Pear)
- Lentinula edodes
- Urtica dioica
- Mentha x piperita
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Green banana starch
- Oryza sativa (Rice fibre)
- Xanthan gum
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Brewer’s yeast)
- Rhodophyta (Red seaweed)
- Berry flavour
RRP: $29.95$23.36Save: 22%
Per capsule:
RRP: $49.45$34.62Save: 30%
RRP: $60.95$42.67Save: 30%
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
