Herb Profile
Acerola
Malpighia emarginata
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) carries a Grade C rating — limited evidence.
Last reviewed: •3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·C Limited
Use extra caution — Immune active potential; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, immunosuppressants, and during active cancer treatment unless clinician supervised. Details
- Evidence
- Limited Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- Moderate caution
- Best for
- Antioxidant, Stress resilience, Inflammatory signaling
- Avoid / review if
- Kidney Stone Risk, Iron Overload Conditions, G6PD Deficiency Caution With Very High Vitamin C Dosing
Safety
Safety & Cautions
Immune active potential; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, immunosuppressants, and during active cancer treatment unless clinician supervised.
Elevated caution
Caution level: Elevated. One caution category applies — read it before use.
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- Kidney Stone Risk
- Iron Overload Conditions
- G6PD Deficiency Caution With Very High Vitamin C Dosing
Full safety note
- Immune active potential; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, immunosuppressants, and during active cancer treatment unless clinician supervised.
Evidence
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Read as directional context, not settled clinical proof.
LimitedLimited Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Inflammatory Signaling Modulation · Oxidative Stress Modulation · Immune Signaling Modulation
Research maturity: Emerging research — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Immune active potential; use caution with autoimmune disease, transplant medicines, immunosuppressants, and during active cancer treatment unless clinician supervised.
This profile cites 3 human studies.
Study design details
Evidence Grade
Grade C: Limited Evidence
Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.
- Design Match
- Randomized controlled trial
- Risk of Bias
- Low
- Consistency
- Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a randomized controlled trial, drawn from 3 recorded studies, 1 in people.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
- Strong
- Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
- Moderate
- Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
- Preliminary / Mixed
- Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
- Traditional / Theoretical
- Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (3)1 human evidence source · 1 human trial · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable
Filter by study class
Showing 3 of 3 studies.
What the evidence actually shows
This table contains 3 structured sources, including 1 human evidence source; 1 is a human trial.
| Study | Design | N | Dose | Duration | Population | Outcome | Result & magnitude | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bolke L et al. · Nutrients · 2019 Background | Randomized controlled trial Randomly assigns participants to interventions or controls, reducing many sources of bias when the trial is conducted well. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) Anti-Inflammatory Activity-A Review Olędzki R et al. · Int J Mol Sci · 2024 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Acerola, an untapped functional superfruit: a review on latest frontiers Prakash A et al. · J Food Sci Technol · 2018 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
- No standardized dose
- Preparation specific; use standardized product label for Fruit powder and require source backed dosage review before therapeutic claims.
How Acerola works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Acerola Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways (preclinical)
- Inflammatory Signaling Modulation
- Oxidative Stress Modulation
- Immune Signaling Modulation
Compare related active botanicals
Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Acerola
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
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Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Founder & Head Researcher · Oak Ridge, TN · Last reviewed August 2026
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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