Dogwood (Cornus spp.)

Category

Herbs & Supplements

Synonyms

Cornus controversa, Cornus kousa, Cornus macrophylla, Cornus nuttallii, Cornus officinalis, Cornus officinalis Sieb et Zucc, Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zuce, Cornus stolonifera, Cornus stolonifera Michx, dandi tablet, dogwood fruit, red-osier dogwood, zuo-gui-wan.

Background

Dogwood (Cornus spp.) is a deciduous tree that has showy, four-petal flowers in early spring. The indigenous peoples of the boreal forest in Canada traditionally used Cornus stolonifera for diabetes or its complications. Elders of the Saanich and Cowichan Coast Salish people of the southern Vancouver Island used Cornus nuttallii bark to treat respiratory ailments.

There is limited human evidence about the use of dogwood for use in cancer and as an antioxidant. However, future studies may investigate these areas further. Dogwood has been studied with other herbs to see its effects on hormone levels in postmenopausal and infertile women, although currently, there is a lack of strong evidence for these conditions.

Evidence

DISCLAIMER: These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Fertility: A traditional Chinese combination of herbs seems to have helped a woman with postmenopausal levels of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone to become pregnant. Although this result is interesting, further research is needed in this area.
Grade: C

Postmenopausal symptoms: There is currently insufficient available evidence to recommend dogwood for or against the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms. More studies are needed in this area.
Grade: C

Tradition

WARNING: DISCLAIMER: The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.
Antioxidant, cancer, cataracts, coronary heart disease, diabetes, diabetic complications, diabetic eye disease, diabetic microangiopathy (disease of very fine blood vessels), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), HIV/AIDS, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), respiratory ailments, sperm motility.

Dosing

Adults (over 18 years old)

There is no proven safe or effective dose for dogwood in adults.

Children (under 18 years old)

There is no proven safe or effective dose for dogwood in children.

Safety

DISCLAIMER: Many complementary techniques are practiced by healthcare professionals with formal training, in accordance with the standards of national organizations. However, this is not universally the case, and adverse effects are possible. Due to limited research, in some cases only limited safety information is available.

Allergies

Avoid in individuals with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to dogwood (Cornus spp.) or its constituents.

Side Effects and Warnings

Use cautiously in patients taking aldose reductase inhibitors, as dogwood may inhibit these enzymes.

Use cautiously in patients taking antineoplastic (anticancer) agents, as dogwood may have antineoplastic activity.

Use cautiously in patients with HIV, as dogwood may inhibit virus replication.

Use cautiously in patients attempting to become pregnant or who are postmenopausal, as dogwood may alter hormone levels.

Avoid in patients who are using birth control pills, as dogwood may alter hormone levels.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Dogwood is not recommended in pregnant or breastfeeding women due to a lack of available scientific evidence.

Dogwood should be used cautiously with estrogens, fertility agents, and birth control pills.

Dogwood fruits may increase sperm motility.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs

Dogwood may protect against diabetic complications. Patients taking drugs for diabetes by mouth or insulin should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.

Dogwood fruit may alter cholesterol levels in the body. Use with caution.

Dogwood may have anticancer activity. Use cautiously with anticancer agents due to possible additive effects.

Dogwood may have antioxidant activity. Use cautiously with antioxidants due to possible additive effects.

Use dogwood extracts (stem and leaf) cautiously with antiretroviral agents due to possible additive effects.

Dogwood fruit may alter hormone levels and may increase fertility in infertile women. Use cautiously with estrogen, fertility agents, and birth control pills.

Interactions with Herbs and Dietary Supplements

Dogwood fruit may alter cholesterol levels in the body. Use with caution.

Dogwood may have antineoplastic activity; use cautiously with anticancer herbs and supplements due to possible additive effects.

Dogwood may have antioxidant activity. Use cautiously with antioxidants due to possible additive effects.

Use dogwood extracts (stem and leaf) cautiously with herbs and supplements with antiviral activity due to possible additive effects.

Dogwood fruit may alter hormone levels and may increase fertility in infertile women. Use cautiously with fertility herbs and supplement and phytoestrogens.

Dogwood may protect against diabetic complications. Patients taking herbs or supplements for diabetes by mouth or insulin should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Dose adjustments may be necessary.

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature, and was peer-reviewed and edited by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com): Ashley Brigham, PharmD (Northeastern University); Dilys Burke, BA (Natural Standard Research Collaboration); Dawn Costa, BA, BS (Natural Standard Research Collaboration); Nicole Giese, MS (Natural Standard Research Collaboration); Shaina Tanguay-Colucci, BS (Natural Standard Research Collaboration); Tera Stock, PharmD (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences); Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD (Massachusetts General Hospital); Wendy Weissner, BA (Natural Standard Research Collaboration).

Bibliography

DISCLAIMER: Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

Chang JS, Chiang LC, Hsu FF, et al. Chemoprevention against hepatocellular carcinoma of Cornus officinalis in vitro. Am J Chin Med 2004;32(5):717-725.

Chao SL, Huang LW, Yen HR. Pregnancy in premature ovarian failure after therapy using Chinese herbal medicine. Chang Gung Med J 2003;26(6):449-452.

Jeng H, Wu CM, Su SJ, et al. A substance isolated from Cornus officinalis enhances the motility of human sperm. Am J Chin Med 1997;25(3-4):301-306.

Kim HY, Oh JH. Screening of Korean forest plants for rat lens aldose reductase inhibition. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 1999;63(1):184-188.

Liang R, Chen MR, Xu X. [Effect of dandi tablet on blood lipids and sex hormones in women of postmenopausal stage]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 2003;23(8):593-595.

McCune LM, Johns T. Antioxidant activity in medicinal plants associated with the symptoms of diabetes mellitus used by the indigenous peoples of the North American boreal forest. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;82(2-3):197-205.

Min BS, Kim YH, Tomiyama M, et al. Inhibitory effects of Korean plants on HIV-1 activities. Phytother Res 2001;15(6):481-486.

Nishino C, Kobayashi K, Fukushima M. Halleridone, a cytotoxic constituent from Cornus controversa. J Nat Prod 1988;51(6):1281-1282.

Renault S, Croser C, Franklin JA, et al. Effects of consolidated tailings water on red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera Michx) seedlings. Environ Pollut 2001;113(1):27-33.

Turner NJ, Hebda RJ. Contemporary use of bark for medicine by two Salishan native elders of southeast Vancouver Island, Canada. J Ethnopharmacol 1990;29(1):59-72.

Xu HQ, Hao HP, Zhang X, et al. Morroniside protects cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells from damage by high ambient glucose. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2004;25(4):412-415.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.