Herb Profile
Cranberry Vaccinium Macrocarpon
Vaccinium macrocarpon
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a tart North American berry whose A type proanthocyanidins are thought to reduce the ability of E.
Last reviewed: •4 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·B Moderate
Use extra caution — Generally safe; GI upset possible; high intake may increase kidney stone risk Details
- Evidence
- Moderate Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- High caution
- Best for
- Antimicrobial, Stress resilience
- Avoid / review if
- History Of Kidney Stones (Oxalate), Warfarin (Case Reports Of Interaction), Potential Additive Bleeding Risk When Combined With Anticoagulant Or Antiplatelet Medications
Safety
Safety & Cautions
Generally safe; GI upset possible; high intake may increase kidney stone risk
High caution
Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.
- Interaction-AwareMedication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- Anticoagulant CautionBleeding or anticoagulant-adjacent caution language is present.
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- History Of Kidney Stones (Oxalate)
- Warfarin (Case Reports Of Interaction)
- Potential Additive Bleeding Risk When Combined With Anticoagulant Or Antiplatelet Medications
Safety classifications
- Interaction-Aware: Medication or interaction context is explicitly noted.
- Anticoagulant Caution: Bleeding or anticoagulant-adjacent caution language is present.
Full safety note
- Generally safe; GI upset possible; high intake may increase kidney stone risk
Safety labels
- Interaction-Aware
- Anticoagulant Caution
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
High-Priority Caution
147 flagged pairingsBleeding / anticoagulant risk
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Bleeding / anticoagulant riskCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 147 of 147 pairings in this mechanism group.
- aescin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Aged Garlic Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- ajoene — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Ajwain — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Allicin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Garlic — Theoretical interaction certainty
- American Ginseng Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Andrographis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Archangelica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Dahurica — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Pubescens — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Angelica Root — Theoretical interaction certainty
+135 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Evidence
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Useful signal, but study design, dose, and population still matter.
ModerateModerate Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Oxidative Stress Modulation
Research maturity: Established research — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Generally safe; GI upset possible; high intake may increase kidney stone risk
This profile cites 4 human studies.
Study design details
Evidence Grade
Grade B: Moderate Evidence
Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.
- Design Match
- Meta-analysis
- Risk of Bias
- Low
- Consistency
- Not assessed
Strongest recorded design is a meta-analysis, drawn from 5 recorded studies, 2 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 (5)2 human evidence sources · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable
Filter by study class
Showing 5 of 5 studies.
What the evidence actually shows
This table contains 5 structured sources, including 2 human evidence sources; 0 are human trials.
| Study | Design | N | Dose | Duration | Population | Outcome | Result & magnitude | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background | Meta-analysis Statistically combines results from multiple eligible studies; confidence still depends on the quality, consistency, and directness of those studies. | — | — | — | — | — | A 2026 meta-analysis found no significant overall effect of cranberry consumption on C-reactive protein or interleukin-6, with substantial between-study heterogeneity. | PubMed → |
Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections PubMed · Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2023 Background | Systematic review Uses a predefined method to find and evaluate relevant studies, but may or may not pool their results statistically. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Cranberry Polyphenols and Prevention against Urinary Tract Infections: Relevant Considerations González de Llano D et al. · Molecules · 2020 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
PubMed indexed authors · 2006 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Safety and efficacy of cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon) during pregnancy and lactation Dugoua JJ et al. · Can J Clin Pharmacol · 2008 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
- Dose guidance
- Juice: 240 300 mL/day; standardized extract (~36 mg proanthocyanidins/day); variability across products
How Cranberry Vaccinium Macrocarpon works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Cranberry Vaccinium Macrocarpon Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways (preclinical)
- Oxidative Stress Modulation
Compare related active botanicals
Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.
Compare & Sourcing
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Review available sources for Cranberry Vaccinium Macrocarpon
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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