While most people think of rose hips as being red in color, some species of plants produce rose hips that range from deep purple to black. However, all rose hips, which first appear in spring and mature in late summer or early autumn, are edible and highly nutritious. Other than culinary use, rose hips have a variety of other purposes, including medicinal applications.
Description
Rose hips are technically defined as pomes, a type of fruit produced by the flowering plants that comprise the Rosaceae family. More specifically, rose hips are classified as a pseudocarp, sometimes alternately referred to as a false fruit or accessory fruit, although botanists have largely discontinued the use of the latter terms. By definition, a pseudocarp is a fruit in which some of its fleshy parts are not generated from the plant’s ovaries, but from "accessory tissue" that houses the ovaries. Apples, pears and strawberries are other examples of pseudocarp fruits.
Chemical Composition
According to the online database provided by Drugs.com, rose hips contain vitamin A, C, K and several B vitamins, as well as pectin, polyphenols, citric acid, malic acid, tannins, carotenoids, pigments and vanillin. In terms of vitamin C, fresh rose hips contain a range of 0.5 to 1.7 percent I-dehydroascorbic acid and l-ascorbic acid, but the vitamin C content in commercial rose hip preparations varies considerably. In fact, an early study outlining a method of extracting l-ascorbic acid from rose hips and several commercial products revealed a range of vitamin C content from 0.03 to 1.3 percent.
Culinary Uses
Rose hips are traditionally used to make jelly, jam, marmalade, syrup, various baked goods, wine and mead. Rose hips are also used to make herbal tea, often in combination with other herbs and flowers, such as chamomile and hibiscus. During World War II, when citrus fruits were often difficult to obtain, rose hip syrup was used as a substitute source of vitamin C.
Medicinal Uses
Traditionally, rose hips are used as a diuretic to treat colds and flu and to relieve gastric complaints. Modern science is exploring the use of rose hips to treat certain inflammatory disorders, namely osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, a team of Danish researchers reported in the July-August 2005 issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology that a powder made from the crushed shells and seeds of Rosa canina rose hips significantly reduced inflammation and pain in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis. Similarly, a study published in the Feb. 17, 2010, issue of Phytomedicine said rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with the same powdered preparation experienced parallel results.
Miscellaneous Uses
Rose hips are also used as feed for certain animals. For example, the powdered form is given to horses and chinchillas to improve skin and coat. The downy hairs that reside inside the rose hip are used to make itching powder. Whole, dried rose hips are sold for use in floral crafts and to make potpourri.
Safety
According to Drugs.com, no toxic side effects are generally associated with consuming rose hips or using topical preparations made from rose hips. However, people with respiratory sensitivities may experience an allergic reaction from inhaling rose hip powder.
References
- Drugs.com: Rose Hips
- Planta Medica; "Fast and Selective Assay of l-Ascorbic Acid in Rose Hips by RP-HPLC Coupled with Electrochemical and/or Spectrophotometric Detection"; Ziegler SJ et al.; 1986 Oct;52(5):383-7
- Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology; "A Powder Made from Seeds and Shells of a Rose-hip Subspecies (Rosa canina) Reduces Symptoms of Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis”; Winther K et al; 2005 Jul-Aug;34(4):302-8
- Phytomedicine; "Rose Hip Herbal Remedy"; Willich SN et al; 2010 Feb;17(2):87-93
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