Cyanidin-3-Rutinoside — Keracyanin (Anthocyanin · Muscle Recovery · Anti-inflammatory)
| Compound | Cyanidin-3-Rutinoside (Keracyanin) |
| Chemical class | Polyphenol — Anthocyanin (Cyanidin-3-O-Rutinoside) |
| CAS | 28338-59-2 |
| Primary source | Prunus cerasus (tart/sour cherry), Sambucus nigra (elderberry) |
| Key applications | Anti-inflammatory, muscle recovery, exercise soreness |
| Claim strength | Moderate |
| Typical form | Tart cherry extract; elderberry extract co-constituent |
| Buy from Herbuno | Contact Herbuno for sourcing enquiries → |
Name origin: Keracyanin — from Greek keras (cherry, as in cherry wax) — reflecting its primary isolation from cherry fruit. Cyanidin-3-rutinoside is the disaccharide (rutinose = rhamnose + glucose) glycoside of cyanidin at C-3. Rutinose attachment distinguishes it from C3G (monosaccharide) and affects hydrolysis kinetics and bioavailability. Traditional use: Tart cherry preparations have traditional use in Eastern European folk medicine for joint inflammation and gout. Cherry consumption for gout management is one of the best-substantiated traditional use claims for any single food in modern clinical research. Research trajectory: Tart cherry extract (cyanidin-3-rutinoside dominant) has meaningful RCT evidence for post-exercise muscle recovery, reduced exercise-induced oxidative stress, and gout-related uric acid modulation. It is one of the most commercially established anti-inflammatory botanical ingredients in sports nutrition. Commercial source: Commercially available as tart cherry extract standardised to total anthocyanins (Herbuno: Tart Cherry Anthocyanins 2% and 1%). See sourcing options below.
Evidence for Cyanidin-3-Rutinoside Applications
Exercise-induced muscle damage and recovery: Multiple human RCTs demonstrate tart cherry extract (standardised to total anthocyanins, with cyanidin-3-rutinoside as dominant component) significantly reduces muscle soreness, strength loss, and inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6) after eccentric exercise. Studies in marathon runners, cyclists, and resistance-trained athletes consistently show faster recovery. Claim strength: High (multiple RCTs across exercise modalities).
Anti-inflammatory and COX inhibition: Cyanidin-3-rutinoside inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 in a manner structurally analogous to NSAIDs, but at higher concentrations. The anti-inflammatory mechanism is relevant for general inflammation management, joint health, and gout support. Human uric acid reduction with tart cherry consumption has been documented in gout patients. Claim strength: Moderate.
Sleep quality: Tart cherry extract is a natural source of melatonin (a direct phytochemical contributor) and contains procyanidins that inhibit tryptophan breakdown enzymes — increasing melatonin precursor availability. Human RCTs show tart cherry juice improves sleep duration and quality in older adults with insomnia. Claim strength: Moderate.
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Dosage & Formulator Specification
Sports recovery RCTs: 480 mL/day tart cherry juice (approximately 60–80 mg total anthocyanins) or 400–600 mg/day tart cherry extract standardised to 2–5% total anthocyanins, starting 4–7 days before a major exercise event and continuing 2–3 days post-event. Sleep quality studies use 30 mL tart cherry juice concentrate twice daily.
Herbuno’s Tart Cherry Anthocyanins 2% extract is directly applicable for sports recovery formulations. For higher anthocyanin content per serving, specify the 2% grade over the 1% grade. Cyanidin-3-rutinoside typically constitutes 60–75% of total tart cherry anthocyanin content; confirm by HPLC profile for premium formulations.
Cyanidin-3-rutinoside has the rutinose disaccharide which requires gut microbial hydrolysis (rutinase activity) before absorption — Tmax is therefore delayed relative to C3G (monosaccharide), typically 2–3 hours post-ingestion. This slower release may contribute to extended anti-inflammatory exposure. Water-soluble; compatible with liquid and capsule formats equally.
Frequently Asked Questions — Cyanidin-3-Rutinoside
Is tart cherry better than sweet cherry for these applications?
Tart (sour) cherry (Prunus cerasus) has approximately 5–10-fold higher anthocyanin content than sweet cherry (Prunus avium), making it significantly more practical as a supplement source. The clinical evidence base uses tart cherry preparations specifically; sweet cherry evidence is limited. For formulation, tart cherry extract is the appropriate source.
Can tart cherry extract replace NSAIDs for post-exercise soreness?
Tart cherry extract should not be positioned as an NSAID replacement. Its COX inhibitory potency is lower than pharmaceutical NSAIDs. However, for sports nutrition recovery positioning — where the goal is reducing recovery time and managing sub-clinical exercise-induced inflammation — tart cherry extract has comparable RCT evidence to ibuprofen for this specific application. Position as a natural recovery support ingredient, not as a drug substitute.
Is the sleep benefit from tart cherry extract due to melatonin or anthocyanins?
Both contribute. Tart cherry is a genuine dietary source of melatonin (0.01–0.02 mg per 30 mL concentrate) and tryptophan. The anthocyanin fraction (including cyanidin-3-rutinoside) inhibits indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme that breaks down tryptophan, thereby preserving tryptophan availability for melatonin synthesis. This dual mechanism — direct melatonin delivery + endogenous melatonin support — distinguishes tart cherry from isolated melatonin supplementation.
What is the minimum anthocyanin dose in tart cherry extract for exercise recovery benefit?
Based on the most relevant RCTs, 60–120 mg/day total anthocyanins appears to be the effective range for exercise recovery. At Herbuno’s Tart Cherry 2% anthocyanin extract, this requires 3–6 g/day extract — a relatively high extract dose. Consider the 2% grade for a practical capsule dosage or explore higher-standardisation tart cherry concentrates for more efficient delivery.
Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human RCTs; Moderate = limited trials or strong preclinical convergence; Emerging = early-stage lab or animal data.
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