by Eric Yarnell, ND, RH(AHG)
Last updated 24 Jan 2022
This monograph is protected by copyright and is intended only for use by health care professionals and students. You may link to this page if you are sharing it with others in health care, but may not otherwise copy, alter, or share this material in any way. By accessing this material you agree to hold the author harmless for any use of this information.Please donate to help support the extensive amount of time and energy it takes to create and maintain this site. Please donate to help support the extensive amount of time and energy it takes to create and maintain this site.
Table of Contents
Clinical Highlights
Saskatoon fruit is a delicious, nutritious food, as well as being antiadhesive and antimicrobial.
Saskatoon fruit is extremely safe, though consuming too much may cause diarrhea.
Saskatoon fruit is extremely safe, though consuming too much may cause diarrhea.
Amelanchier alnifolia over ripe fruit (photo copyright E. Yarnell)
|
Amelanchier alnifolia leaf (photo copyright E. Yarnell)
|
Clinical Fundamentals
Part Used: the fruit, fresh or dried
Taste: sweet and sour, this fruit is extremely delicious.
Major Actions:
Fruit extracts were shown to inhibit nitric oxide production by inflamed macrophages, but to induce TNFα synthesis by these same cells (Wang and Mazza 2002a and b). This activity correlated directly with concentration of anthocyanins in the extracts. Saskatoon fruit extracts are effective at inhibiting cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 in vitro (Adhikari, et al. 2005). The activity of saskatoon fruit extracts against COX-2 in vitro was relatively low compared to other fruit extracts in one study (Boivin, et al. 2007).
Major Organ System Affinities
Major Indications:
Major Constituents:
There is no appreciable vitamin C in saskatoon fruit (Panther and Wolfe 1972).
Adverse Effects: Excessive ingestion of fresh saskatoon, like many fruits, can cause transient, non-serious diarrhea. The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides that might become toxic with massive ingestion (there are no published reports of this actually happening); simply drying or cooking the fruit removes these compounds. It is likely diarrhea would occur before enough fruit could be eaten to cause cyanide poisoning.
Contraindications: There are no known contraindications.
Drug Interactions: There are no known or suspected drug interactions.
Taste: sweet and sour, this fruit is extremely delicious.
Major Actions:
- Antimicrobial
- Antiadhesive (possibly)
- Inflammation modulating (Boivin, et al. 2007; Adhikari, et al. 2005)
Fruit extracts were shown to inhibit nitric oxide production by inflamed macrophages, but to induce TNFα synthesis by these same cells (Wang and Mazza 2002a and b). This activity correlated directly with concentration of anthocyanins in the extracts. Saskatoon fruit extracts are effective at inhibiting cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 in vitro (Adhikari, et al. 2005). The activity of saskatoon fruit extracts against COX-2 in vitro was relatively low compared to other fruit extracts in one study (Boivin, et al. 2007).
Major Organ System Affinities
- Respiratory Tract
Major Indications:
- Upper and lower respiratory infections
- Gastrointestinal infections
Major Constituents:
- Flavonoids, including high levels of flavonols and anthocyanins, 250–600 mg/100 g fresh fruit (Juríková, et al. 2013; Hosseinian 2007; Mazza 2005)
- Proanthocyanidins, type B (Juríková, et al. 2013), 3% of dry fruit (up to 369 mg/100 g fruit) and 10–14% of leaf and stem (Lavola, et al. 2012; Hosseinian 2007)
There is no appreciable vitamin C in saskatoon fruit (Panther and Wolfe 1972).
Adverse Effects: Excessive ingestion of fresh saskatoon, like many fruits, can cause transient, non-serious diarrhea. The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides that might become toxic with massive ingestion (there are no published reports of this actually happening); simply drying or cooking the fruit removes these compounds. It is likely diarrhea would occur before enough fruit could be eaten to cause cyanide poisoning.
Contraindications: There are no known contraindications.
Drug Interactions: There are no known or suspected drug interactions.
Pharmacy Essentials
Tincture: 1:2–1:3 w:v ratio, 30% ethanol
Dose:
Acute, adult: up to 5 ml (1 tsp) q2h during acute symptoms, dropping to 4–5 times a day as symptoms moderate, continued until symptoms resolve completely, adjusted to body size and sensitivities
Chronic, adult: 2.5–5 ml (0.5–1 tsp) tid, adjusted to body size and sensitivities
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Glycerite: 1:3 w:v ratio, 75%+ vegetable glycerine
Dose: same as tincture above, and probably even preferable to it
Decoction: 3–5 g (1 heaping tbsp) of fruit simmered, covered, in 250 ml of water for 15–30 min, the result of which makes one cup (not 8 oz, but one dose). The amount of water used can be adjusted to patient taste in subsequent cups.
Dose:
Acute adult: 1 cup six times a day
Chronic, adult: 1 cup tid
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Capsules: these are not widely available..
Dose:
Acute, adult: 1–2 g per dose, otherwise dosed as with acute tincture
Chronic, adult: 1–2 g tid
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
If you need help formulating with this herb, or any other, you can use the formulation tool. Remember that when using this herb in a formula, due to synergy, you can usually use less.
Dose:
Acute, adult: up to 5 ml (1 tsp) q2h during acute symptoms, dropping to 4–5 times a day as symptoms moderate, continued until symptoms resolve completely, adjusted to body size and sensitivities
Chronic, adult: 2.5–5 ml (0.5–1 tsp) tid, adjusted to body size and sensitivities
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Glycerite: 1:3 w:v ratio, 75%+ vegetable glycerine
Dose: same as tincture above, and probably even preferable to it
Decoction: 3–5 g (1 heaping tbsp) of fruit simmered, covered, in 250 ml of water for 15–30 min, the result of which makes one cup (not 8 oz, but one dose). The amount of water used can be adjusted to patient taste in subsequent cups.
Dose:
Acute adult: 1 cup six times a day
Chronic, adult: 1 cup tid
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Capsules: these are not widely available..
Dose:
Acute, adult: 1–2 g per dose, otherwise dosed as with acute tincture
Chronic, adult: 1–2 g tid
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
If you need help formulating with this herb, or any other, you can use the formulation tool. Remember that when using this herb in a formula, due to synergy, you can usually use less.
Other Names
Latin synonyms:
Current correct Latin binomial: Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt:
Amelanchier carrii Rydb
Amelanchier cuneata Piper
Amelanchier glabra Greene
Amelanchier leptodendron Lunell
Amelanchier macrocarpa Lunell
Amelanchier polycarpa Greene
Amelanchier siskiyouensis CK Schneid
Amelanchier subintegra Greene
Aronia alnifolia Nutt
Pyrus alnifolia Lindl
Amelanchier alnifolia Farw (status uncertain, treated here as a synonym)
English Common Names: saskatoon (see Nēhiyawēwin below for origin of this word), serviceberry, Pacific serviceberry, western serviceberry, alder-leaf shadbush, dwarf shadbush, chuckley pear, western juneberry, pigeon berry
Native American Common Names (grouped linguistically and geographically):
Nēhiyawēwin ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ (Cree, Algonquian): ᒥᓵᐢᐠᐘᑑᒥᐣ misâskwatômin (singular), ᒥᓵᐢᐠᐘᑑᒥᓇ misâskwatômina (plural), referring to the fruit (the English common name "saskatoon" is a corruption of this name)
Dena’ina Qenaga, Dena'inaq' (Tanaina, Athabascan): kentł’ech’ (“flat blue”)
Dakeł ᑕᗸᒡ (Carrier, Athabascan): shrub: k’emai, k’en (Stuart/Trembleur Lake dialect), mai dənəłgəs, k’en, k’enmaiʔ (Stoney Creek dialect), fruit: k’en mai, k’e mai, mai dənəłgəs (Ulkatcho dialect)
Dënesųłiné (Chipeqyan, Atahbascan): kinjíé
Dene Zágéʼ (Kaska, Athabascan): k’e jíjé’ dihcho dzídzé’ (“blue grouse berry”), jíje choʔ (“big berry”)
Tse'khene (Sekani, Athabascan): k’ehmi-ehe
Tałtan ẕāke (Tahltan, Athabascan): shrub: dechitł’ejé; fruit: detłlideja, detłideje
dAXunhyuuga’ (Eyak, Athabascan): i-démštiw
Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin, Athabascan): shrub: dɨgichen, fruit: dɨg, possibly contracted from dînsh-gige (“blue grouse berry”)
Witsuwit’en (Northern Carrier, Athabascan): lhighah, łighah, łəghəx̌ (“together”)
Łingít (Tlingit, Na-Dené [related to Athabascan languages]): gaawáq, gawāk
Nisg̱a’a (Tsimshian, language and family): shrub: sq’an gam, fruit: gam
Gitxsanimaax (Tsimshian, language and family): shrub: sgangem (Western dialect), sgangam (Eastern dialect); fruit: gyam, gem (Western dialect), gam (Eastern dialect)
Sm’álgyax (Sm’algyax, Tsimshian): shrub: sgən gyem, fruit: gyem
Sgüüx̣s (Kitasoo, Tsimshian): ga m’aʔi
nuxalk (Bella Coola, Salish): shrub: sq’sk-łp, fruit: sq’sk
siʔneməš (Samish [a North Straits dialect], Salish): steitčsan
SENĆOŦEN (Saanich [a North Straits dialect], Salish): shrub: sčiʔsəníłč, fruit: sčíʔsəŋ, sčíčsən
W̱LEMI,ĆOSEN (Lummi [a North Straits dialect], Salish): s’tcī’tsen
halq̓eméylem (Halkomelem, Salish): fruit, dried: sk’ak’áxwe, fruit, fresh: ts’esláts (“turns black”), shrub: ts’eslátselhp; fruit: tushnéc ~ shtushnéc; shrub tushnéculhp (Island dialect); fruit: təshnéts (Quw'utsun dialect); shrub: ts’əslétsəłp, fruit, fresh: tspəsléts, fruit, dry: sk’ək’éxwə (Upriver dialect)
dxʷləšúcid (Northern Lushootseed, Salish): fruit: qʷ’əlastəb (“to cook”); wood: k’olástabats, qulástabats
nəxʷsƛ̓ay̓əmúcən (Klallam, Salish): čəčsinəč
ńseĺxčiń (Colville-Okanagan, Salish): shrub: siʔíłp, fruit: síyaʔ (general), shrub: słaq (regular variety with bigger fruit and darker leaves), shrub: siʔílp, fruit: siyíya (dry rocky habitat variety), fruit: sk’ek’sáłaʔq (“bad little fruit” variety), fruit: t’et’q’íłmel’x (“face/eye of basin” variety), fruit: łeq’ałpákst (“short bush” variety), fruit: lexʷús (“face/eye of basin” variety), fruit: wusxeníłeml’x (“tall bush” variety), fruit: skʷ’lkʷ’lqin (“high mountain top” variety), sqʷ’ets’qʷ’ets’wiʔháłaʔq (“chipmunk’s little fruit” variety), fruit: t’et’’íkʷt’ekʷt (“always bursting” variety) or kt’et’íkʷs (“burst eye” variety), fruit: sx̌ʷetł’x̌ʷítł’aʔst, new suckers: spep’aʕts’álaqʷ (This highlights that even when some words for a plant are remembered in other languages, a great deal of fine detail likely has been lost.)
nlaka'pamuctsin (Thompson, Salish): shrub: stsáqʷməłp (general), stseqʷmúy or y’húseʔ (real/original type), sqʷistm, sqʷistméłp (“tall” variety), spəqpáq or spəqpaqə́łp (white variety), siʔhúseʔ or y’húseʔ or siʔhuseʔéłp (“good-fruited” sweet tall variety), qʷuʔqʷuʔúseʔ, tək stsáqʷm, qʷuʔqʷuʔuseʔéłp (“watery fruit” variety), snk’y’epúpse (“little coyote” or small variety), təx̌təx̌óx̌seʔ (“little bitter” variety), tł’əxʷixʷúseʔ (“little sweet” variety), nəq’naq’óqʷ’seʔ (“little rotten” variety); fruit: stsáqʷəm, stsáqʷm
sƛ̓áƛ̓y̌əmx (Lillooet, Salish): s.cáqʷ-əm, s.cáqʷ-əm-ʔúl (ST1); shrub: stsáqʷmaz’, fruit: stsáqʷəm (Pemberton dialect); shrub: stsáqʷmaz̓, fruit: stsáqʷəm (general), stsaqʷəmʔúl (main/original type), spə́q́əq (white variety), swəłkʷaʔúʔsaʔ or swałkʷaʔúʔsaʔ (red variety), stł’əxl’ús (sweet variety), təx̌l’ús (bitter variety), nə̌’ně’úq’saʔ (“rotten” variety) (Fraser River dialect)
təw'ánəxʷ (Skokomish-Twana, Salish): fruit: qʷ’alástab (“to scorch”)
sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim (Squamish, Salish): shrub: nástam’ay, fruit: snástam
q̓ʷay̓áyiłq̉ (Upper Chehalis, Salish): fruit: tsə́šš, tsəšáš, qʷ’əlástm (“to cook”)
ʔayajuθəm (Comox, Salish): shrub: shíshisay, fruit: shíshis
šecwepemctšín (Shuswap, Salish): shrub: speqpeqełp, fruit: speqpeqʔúw’i, spəqpəq (regular variety, western and eastern dialects), stsíqʷem (Western dialect), stsíqʷu (Eastern dialect) (“red” variety)
séliš (Spokane-Kalispel-Pend d’Oreille, Salish): shrub: słqé, fruit: słáq, shrub: siy’ey’eʔ (“to become discouraged,” variety with redder fruit)
snchitsu’umshtsn (Couer d’Alene, Salish): fruit: słaq
ɦiɬtsʰaqʷ (Bella Bella, Wakashan): shrub: t’iłas, fruit: t’iłə́ṃ
Kwak̓wala (Kwakiutl, Wakashan): shrub: íxp’aʔèms, fruit: íxp’aʔà ("sweet")
T̓aat̓aaqsapa (Nootka, Wakashan): t’iʔiłtup
ʔuwíkʼala (Oowekyala, Wakashan): shrub: tiłàs, t’il’as, fruit: tiłṃ
X̄a’islak̓ala, X̌àh̓isl̩ak̓ala (Haisla, Wakashan): shrub: t’il’as, fruit: t’iłṃ
Ichishkíin Sɨ́nwit (Yakama, Sahaptin): shrub: kayáasuwaash ("arrow place"), kkáasu; fruit: chcháya, chchaa
Niimi'ipuutímt (Nez Perce, Sahaptin): kayapásx; kikéye (Amelanchier utahensis)
Sł'púlmš (Lower Cowlitz, Sahaptin): shrub: kasáax̌an’ł; fruit: kə́sx, kísx, qʷ’ál’ax̌ʷ (“to cook”)
X̱aat Kíl (Haida, isolate): gaan x̌aw’laa (Skidegate dialect), gaan x̌aw.ulaa (Massett dialect), gáan x̌áw’laa (Kaigani dialect), all mean “sweet fruit”
Ktunaxa (Kutenai, isolate): fruit: sq̓umu, skʷ’úmuʔ; shrub: sq’umuʔ-wuʔk, ʔak’wuʔk (“arrow bush/wood”), syaʔya (variety growing on high cliffs or rocky ground with larger seeds)ecwepemctšín (Shuswap, Salish): shrub: speqpeqełp, fruit: speqpeqʔúw’i, spəqpəq (regular variety, western and eastern dialects), stsíqʷem (Western dialect), stsíqʷu (Eastern dialect) (“red” variety)
The fact that we have a record of the indigenous name for this amazing plant in almost every extant language in the native range of this plant attests to its value!
Greek (Modern) Common Name: Αμελάγχιον το κληθρόφυλλον
Current correct Latin binomial: Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt:
Amelanchier carrii Rydb
Amelanchier cuneata Piper
Amelanchier glabra Greene
Amelanchier leptodendron Lunell
Amelanchier macrocarpa Lunell
Amelanchier polycarpa Greene
Amelanchier siskiyouensis CK Schneid
Amelanchier subintegra Greene
Aronia alnifolia Nutt
Pyrus alnifolia Lindl
Amelanchier alnifolia Farw (status uncertain, treated here as a synonym)
English Common Names: saskatoon (see Nēhiyawēwin below for origin of this word), serviceberry, Pacific serviceberry, western serviceberry, alder-leaf shadbush, dwarf shadbush, chuckley pear, western juneberry, pigeon berry
Native American Common Names (grouped linguistically and geographically):
Nēhiyawēwin ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ (Cree, Algonquian): ᒥᓵᐢᐠᐘᑑᒥᐣ misâskwatômin (singular), ᒥᓵᐢᐠᐘᑑᒥᓇ misâskwatômina (plural), referring to the fruit (the English common name "saskatoon" is a corruption of this name)
Dena’ina Qenaga, Dena'inaq' (Tanaina, Athabascan): kentł’ech’ (“flat blue”)
Dakeł ᑕᗸᒡ (Carrier, Athabascan): shrub: k’emai, k’en (Stuart/Trembleur Lake dialect), mai dənəłgəs, k’en, k’enmaiʔ (Stoney Creek dialect), fruit: k’en mai, k’e mai, mai dənəłgəs (Ulkatcho dialect)
Dënesųłiné (Chipeqyan, Atahbascan): kinjíé
Dene Zágéʼ (Kaska, Athabascan): k’e jíjé’ dihcho dzídzé’ (“blue grouse berry”), jíje choʔ (“big berry”)
Tse'khene (Sekani, Athabascan): k’ehmi-ehe
Tałtan ẕāke (Tahltan, Athabascan): shrub: dechitł’ejé; fruit: detłlideja, detłideje
dAXunhyuuga’ (Eyak, Athabascan): i-démštiw
Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin, Athabascan): shrub: dɨgichen, fruit: dɨg, possibly contracted from dînsh-gige (“blue grouse berry”)
Witsuwit’en (Northern Carrier, Athabascan): lhighah, łighah, łəghəx̌ (“together”)
Łingít (Tlingit, Na-Dené [related to Athabascan languages]): gaawáq, gawāk
Nisg̱a’a (Tsimshian, language and family): shrub: sq’an gam, fruit: gam
Gitxsanimaax (Tsimshian, language and family): shrub: sgangem (Western dialect), sgangam (Eastern dialect); fruit: gyam, gem (Western dialect), gam (Eastern dialect)
Sm’álgyax (Sm’algyax, Tsimshian): shrub: sgən gyem, fruit: gyem
Sgüüx̣s (Kitasoo, Tsimshian): ga m’aʔi
nuxalk (Bella Coola, Salish): shrub: sq’sk-łp, fruit: sq’sk
siʔneməš (Samish [a North Straits dialect], Salish): steitčsan
SENĆOŦEN (Saanich [a North Straits dialect], Salish): shrub: sčiʔsəníłč, fruit: sčíʔsəŋ, sčíčsən
W̱LEMI,ĆOSEN (Lummi [a North Straits dialect], Salish): s’tcī’tsen
halq̓eméylem (Halkomelem, Salish): fruit, dried: sk’ak’áxwe, fruit, fresh: ts’esláts (“turns black”), shrub: ts’eslátselhp; fruit: tushnéc ~ shtushnéc; shrub tushnéculhp (Island dialect); fruit: təshnéts (Quw'utsun dialect); shrub: ts’əslétsəłp, fruit, fresh: tspəsléts, fruit, dry: sk’ək’éxwə (Upriver dialect)
dxʷləšúcid (Northern Lushootseed, Salish): fruit: qʷ’əlastəb (“to cook”); wood: k’olástabats, qulástabats
nəxʷsƛ̓ay̓əmúcən (Klallam, Salish): čəčsinəč
ńseĺxčiń (Colville-Okanagan, Salish): shrub: siʔíłp, fruit: síyaʔ (general), shrub: słaq (regular variety with bigger fruit and darker leaves), shrub: siʔílp, fruit: siyíya (dry rocky habitat variety), fruit: sk’ek’sáłaʔq (“bad little fruit” variety), fruit: t’et’q’íłmel’x (“face/eye of basin” variety), fruit: łeq’ałpákst (“short bush” variety), fruit: lexʷús (“face/eye of basin” variety), fruit: wusxeníłeml’x (“tall bush” variety), fruit: skʷ’lkʷ’lqin (“high mountain top” variety), sqʷ’ets’qʷ’ets’wiʔháłaʔq (“chipmunk’s little fruit” variety), fruit: t’et’’íkʷt’ekʷt (“always bursting” variety) or kt’et’íkʷs (“burst eye” variety), fruit: sx̌ʷetł’x̌ʷítł’aʔst, new suckers: spep’aʕts’álaqʷ (This highlights that even when some words for a plant are remembered in other languages, a great deal of fine detail likely has been lost.)
nlaka'pamuctsin (Thompson, Salish): shrub: stsáqʷməłp (general), stseqʷmúy or y’húseʔ (real/original type), sqʷistm, sqʷistméłp (“tall” variety), spəqpáq or spəqpaqə́łp (white variety), siʔhúseʔ or y’húseʔ or siʔhuseʔéłp (“good-fruited” sweet tall variety), qʷuʔqʷuʔúseʔ, tək stsáqʷm, qʷuʔqʷuʔuseʔéłp (“watery fruit” variety), snk’y’epúpse (“little coyote” or small variety), təx̌təx̌óx̌seʔ (“little bitter” variety), tł’əxʷixʷúseʔ (“little sweet” variety), nəq’naq’óqʷ’seʔ (“little rotten” variety); fruit: stsáqʷəm, stsáqʷm
sƛ̓áƛ̓y̌əmx (Lillooet, Salish): s.cáqʷ-əm, s.cáqʷ-əm-ʔúl (ST1); shrub: stsáqʷmaz’, fruit: stsáqʷəm (Pemberton dialect); shrub: stsáqʷmaz̓, fruit: stsáqʷəm (general), stsaqʷəmʔúl (main/original type), spə́q́əq (white variety), swəłkʷaʔúʔsaʔ or swałkʷaʔúʔsaʔ (red variety), stł’əxl’ús (sweet variety), təx̌l’ús (bitter variety), nə̌’ně’úq’saʔ (“rotten” variety) (Fraser River dialect)
təw'ánəxʷ (Skokomish-Twana, Salish): fruit: qʷ’alástab (“to scorch”)
sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim (Squamish, Salish): shrub: nástam’ay, fruit: snástam
q̓ʷay̓áyiłq̉ (Upper Chehalis, Salish): fruit: tsə́šš, tsəšáš, qʷ’əlástm (“to cook”)
ʔayajuθəm (Comox, Salish): shrub: shíshisay, fruit: shíshis
šecwepemctšín (Shuswap, Salish): shrub: speqpeqełp, fruit: speqpeqʔúw’i, spəqpəq (regular variety, western and eastern dialects), stsíqʷem (Western dialect), stsíqʷu (Eastern dialect) (“red” variety)
séliš (Spokane-Kalispel-Pend d’Oreille, Salish): shrub: słqé, fruit: słáq, shrub: siy’ey’eʔ (“to become discouraged,” variety with redder fruit)
snchitsu’umshtsn (Couer d’Alene, Salish): fruit: słaq
ɦiɬtsʰaqʷ (Bella Bella, Wakashan): shrub: t’iłas, fruit: t’iłə́ṃ
Kwak̓wala (Kwakiutl, Wakashan): shrub: íxp’aʔèms, fruit: íxp’aʔà ("sweet")
T̓aat̓aaqsapa (Nootka, Wakashan): t’iʔiłtup
ʔuwíkʼala (Oowekyala, Wakashan): shrub: tiłàs, t’il’as, fruit: tiłṃ
X̄a’islak̓ala, X̌àh̓isl̩ak̓ala (Haisla, Wakashan): shrub: t’il’as, fruit: t’iłṃ
Ichishkíin Sɨ́nwit (Yakama, Sahaptin): shrub: kayáasuwaash ("arrow place"), kkáasu; fruit: chcháya, chchaa
Niimi'ipuutímt (Nez Perce, Sahaptin): kayapásx; kikéye (Amelanchier utahensis)
Sł'púlmš (Lower Cowlitz, Sahaptin): shrub: kasáax̌an’ł; fruit: kə́sx, kísx, qʷ’ál’ax̌ʷ (“to cook”)
X̱aat Kíl (Haida, isolate): gaan x̌aw’laa (Skidegate dialect), gaan x̌aw.ulaa (Massett dialect), gáan x̌áw’laa (Kaigani dialect), all mean “sweet fruit”
Ktunaxa (Kutenai, isolate): fruit: sq̓umu, skʷ’úmuʔ; shrub: sq’umuʔ-wuʔk, ʔak’wuʔk (“arrow bush/wood”), syaʔya (variety growing on high cliffs or rocky ground with larger seeds)ecwepemctšín (Shuswap, Salish): shrub: speqpeqełp, fruit: speqpeqʔúw’i, spəqpəq (regular variety, western and eastern dialects), stsíqʷem (Western dialect), stsíqʷu (Eastern dialect) (“red” variety)
The fact that we have a record of the indigenous name for this amazing plant in almost every extant language in the native range of this plant attests to its value!
Greek (Modern) Common Name: Αμελάγχιον το κληθρόφυλλον
Interchangeability of Species
The fruit of many other of the approximately 20 species of Amelanchier are edible, and are likely interchangeable.
Advanced Clinical Information
Additional Actions:
Additional Indications:
- Antioxidant, which is hardly notable as all medicinal plants have this action, but just to document it is true (Rop, et al. 2012; Bakowska-Barczak and Kolodziejczyk 2008; Adhikari, et al. 2005; Hu, et al. 2005)
Additional Indications:
- Diarrhea, using crushed green fruit (Turner 1988)
Botanical Information
Botanical Description: Deciduous shrub, from 30 cm to 6 m tall. Young branch tips are reddish-brown; older stems with thin gray bark. Leaves are alternate, ovoid, up to 6 cm long, rounded tip, toothed margin. Winter bud scales have small whitish marginal hairs. It produces tiny (9–12 mm diameter) flowers with five white petals and 12–20 stamens in clusters of 5–11 flowers. Flowering occurs in a brief two-week window, and individual flowers last at most 5 days. The purple-blue to black fruits develop by early summer. The fruit is technically a pome, though it appears berry-like, and is 10–15 mm in diameter.
Native range: This beautiful shrub is native primarily in AK, western Canada, and the western USA extending as far east as Wisconsin. There are small areas where it grows further east, but it is only superabundant in the western parts of North America.
Native range: This beautiful shrub is native primarily in AK, western Canada, and the western USA extending as far east as Wisconsin. There are small areas where it grows further east, but it is only superabundant in the western parts of North America.
|
Native range of Amelanchier alnifolia
|
Harvest, Cultivation, and Ecology
Cultivation: Saskatoon is widely cultivated, but not on a large enough scale for any kind of significant export market. There are many cultivars and varieties. This could be a serious world food crop given how delicious and nutritious it is.
Wildcrafting: Despite its widespread cultivation, the fruit is still also gathered in large amounts from the wild, which is completely sustainable (as the fruit harvest doesn't harm the plants).
Ecological Status: There is no known widespread threat to this plant beyond the usual for most plants: habitat loss due to human encroachment and the global climate emergency.
Wildcrafting: Despite its widespread cultivation, the fruit is still also gathered in large amounts from the wild, which is completely sustainable (as the fruit harvest doesn't harm the plants).
Ecological Status: There is no known widespread threat to this plant beyond the usual for most plants: habitat loss due to human encroachment and the global climate emergency.
References
Adhikari DP, Francis JA, Schutzki RE, et al. (2005) "Quantification and characterisation of cyclo-oxygenase and lipid peroxidation inhibitory anthocyanins in fruits of Amelanchier" Phytochem Anal 16(3):175–80.
Bakowska-Barczak AM, Kolodziejczyk P (2008) "Evaluation of saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt) cultivars for their polyphenol content, antioxidant properties, and storage stability" J Agric Food Chem 56(21):9933–40.
Boivin D, Blanchette M, Barrette S, et al. (2007) "Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and suppression of TNF-induced activation of NFkappaB by edible berry juice" Anticancer Res 27(2):937–48.
Hellstrom J, Sinkkonen J, Karonen M, Mattila P (2007) "Isolation and structure elucidation of procyanidin oligomers from saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia)" J Agric Food Chem 55(1):157–64.
Hosseinian BT (2007) "Saskatoon and wild blueberries have higher anthocyanin contents than other Manitoba berries" J Agric Food Chem 55(26):10832–8.
Hu C, Kwok BHL, Kitts DD (2005) "Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt) scavenge free radicals and inhibit intracellular oxidation" Food Res Int 38:1079–85.
Juríková T, Balla S, Sochor J, et al. (2013) "Flavonoid profile of Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt) and their health promoting effects" Molecules 18(10):12571–86.
Lavola A, Karjalainen R, Julkunen-Tiitto R (2012) "Bioactive polyphenols in leaves, stems, and berries of Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt) cultivars" J Agric Food Chem 60(4):1020–7.
Mazza G (2005) "Compositional and functional properties of saskatoon berry and blueberry" Int J Fruit Sci 5(3):101–20.
Panther M, Wolfe FH (1972) "Studies on the degradation of ascorbic acid by saskatoon berry juice" Can Inst Food Sci Technol 5:93–6.
Rop O, Reznicek V, Mlcek J, et al. (2012) "Nutritional values of new Czech cultivars of saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt)" Hortic Sci 39:123–8.
Turner NJ (1988) "Ethnobotany of coniferous trees in Thompson and Lillooet Interior Salish of British-Columbia" Econ Bot 42(2):177–94.
Wang J, Mazza G (2002a) "Inhibitory effects of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds on nitric oxide production in LPS/IFN-gamma-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages" J Agric Food Chem 50(4):850–7.
Wang J, Mazza G (2002b) "Effects of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds on the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha in LPS/IFN-gamma-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages" J Agric Food Chem 50(15):4183–9.
Bakowska-Barczak AM, Kolodziejczyk P (2008) "Evaluation of saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt) cultivars for their polyphenol content, antioxidant properties, and storage stability" J Agric Food Chem 56(21):9933–40.
Boivin D, Blanchette M, Barrette S, et al. (2007) "Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and suppression of TNF-induced activation of NFkappaB by edible berry juice" Anticancer Res 27(2):937–48.
Hellstrom J, Sinkkonen J, Karonen M, Mattila P (2007) "Isolation and structure elucidation of procyanidin oligomers from saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia)" J Agric Food Chem 55(1):157–64.
Hosseinian BT (2007) "Saskatoon and wild blueberries have higher anthocyanin contents than other Manitoba berries" J Agric Food Chem 55(26):10832–8.
Hu C, Kwok BHL, Kitts DD (2005) "Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt) scavenge free radicals and inhibit intracellular oxidation" Food Res Int 38:1079–85.
Juríková T, Balla S, Sochor J, et al. (2013) "Flavonoid profile of Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt) and their health promoting effects" Molecules 18(10):12571–86.
Lavola A, Karjalainen R, Julkunen-Tiitto R (2012) "Bioactive polyphenols in leaves, stems, and berries of Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt) cultivars" J Agric Food Chem 60(4):1020–7.
Mazza G (2005) "Compositional and functional properties of saskatoon berry and blueberry" Int J Fruit Sci 5(3):101–20.
Panther M, Wolfe FH (1972) "Studies on the degradation of ascorbic acid by saskatoon berry juice" Can Inst Food Sci Technol 5:93–6.
Rop O, Reznicek V, Mlcek J, et al. (2012) "Nutritional values of new Czech cultivars of saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt)" Hortic Sci 39:123–8.
Turner NJ (1988) "Ethnobotany of coniferous trees in Thompson and Lillooet Interior Salish of British-Columbia" Econ Bot 42(2):177–94.
Wang J, Mazza G (2002a) "Inhibitory effects of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds on nitric oxide production in LPS/IFN-gamma-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages" J Agric Food Chem 50(4):850–7.
Wang J, Mazza G (2002b) "Effects of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds on the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha in LPS/IFN-gamma-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages" J Agric Food Chem 50(15):4183–9.