AUTHOR=Czerwińska Monika E. , Melzig Matthias F. 

TITLE=Cornus mas and Cornus Officinalis—Analogies and Differences of Two Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.00894

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2018.00894

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Among 65 species belonging to the genus <italic>Cornus</italic> only two, <italic>Cornus mas</italic> L. and <italic>Cornus officinalis</italic> Sieb. et Zucc. (Cornaceae), have been traditionally used since ancient times. <italic>Cornus mas</italic> (cornelian cherry) is native to southern Europe and southwest Asia, whereas <italic>C. officinalis</italic> (Asiatic dogwood, cornel dogwood) is a deciduous tree distributed in eastern Asia, mainly in China, as well as Korea and Japan. Based on the different geographic distribution of the closely related species but clearly distinct taxa, the ethnopharmacological use of <italic>C. mas</italic> and <italic>C. officinalis</italic> seems to be independently originated. Many reports on the quality of <italic>C. mas</italic> fruits were performed due to their value as edible fruits, and few reports compared their physicochemical properties with other edible fruits. However, the detailed phytochemical profiles of <italic>C. mas</italic> and <italic>C. officinalis</italic>, in particular fruits, have never been compared. The aim of this review was highlighting the similarities and differences of phytochemicals found in fruits of <italic>C. mas</italic> and <italic>C. officinalis</italic> in relation to their biological effects as well as compare the therapeutic use of fruits from both traditional species. The fruits of <italic>C. mas</italic> and <italic>C. officinalis</italic> are characterized by the presence of secondary metabolites, in particular iridoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids and flavonoids. However, much more not widely known iridoids, such as morroniside, as well as tannins were detected particularly in fruits of <italic>C. officinalis</italic>. The referred studies of biological activity of both species indicate their antidiabetic and hepatoprotective properties. Based on the available reports antihyperlipidemic and anticoagulant activity seems to be unique for extracts of <italic>C. mas</italic> fruits, whereas antiosteoporotic and immunomodulatory activities were assigned to preparations of <italic>C. officinalis</italic> fruits. In conclusion, the comparison of phytochemical composition of fruits from both species revealed a wide range of similarities as well as some constituents unique for cornelian cherry or Asiatic dogwood. Thus, these phytochemicals are considered the important factor determining the biological activity and justifying the use of <italic>C. mas</italic> and <italic>C. officinalis</italic> in the traditional European and Asiatic medicine.</p>