What Health Benefits Is Rosehip Good for, and Are There Side Effect?

Rosehip, also called rose hep or rose haw, is the edible fruit of the rose bush. Rosehips reduce inflammation, improve skin health, and may help heart health.

Rosehips are a traditional remedy for kidney stones, coughs and colds, and other ailments. 

While there isn’t a lot of medical research on rosehip extracts or supplements, early studies show they might indeed have benefits.

Rosehip, also called rose hep or rose haw, is the edible fruit of the rose bush. There are many species of rose in the Rosa genus, but they all produce a small, berry-like fruit. These hips grow just below the flower and hold the plant seeds. They ripen in late summer or early fall after the roses have bloomed and have a red, orange-yellow, or burgundy color.

People have used rosehips as food and medicine for thousands of years, mainly for arthritis and gout. You can find lots of rosehip supplements and products today, including rosehip tea, seed oils, powdered dietary supplements, tinctures, and capsules. Rosehips are a popular ingredient in cosmetics, and their extracts and seed oils are often found in anti-aging products. 

There are lots of health claims about rosehip supplements. The fruit might have some benefits, but more research remains necessary.

Rich in vitamins and nutrients

The rosehip fruit is rich in vitamins and nutrients. In one cup, or about 100 grams, of rosehips, you will find:

• Vitamin C: 426 milligrams
• Potassium: 429 milligrams
• Calcium: 169 milligrams
• Vitamin E: 6 milligrams
• Carbs: 38 grams
• Fiber: 24 grams
• Calories: 162 

Rosehips are an excellent source of vitamin C, though its powders and dried products are not. The extraction and drying process removes most of the vitamin C content from rosehip supplements. If you’re looking for vitamin C content, it’s better to eat fresh fruit instead. 

The fresh hips are also rich in plant chemicals that help fight disease. These include quercetin, which lowers inflammation, and carotenoids like lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin that promote eye health. 

Lowers inflammation

Rosehips also contain a plant chemical called galactolipid. Studies report that this chemical can help lower inflammation. 

In one study, a standardized rosehip powder blocked pro-inflammation enzymes, lowered inflammatory chemical levels, and lowered C-reactive protein levels linked to inflammation. 

These fruits also contain a mixture of acids (including ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and betulinic acid) that reduce inflammatory chemicals in the body. Vitamin C and E, along with quercetin and carotenoids, also help neutralize unstable molecules that damage your cells and lead to inflammation. 

Promotes healthy skin

Lots of people claim that rosehip seed oil is good for skin health because of the vitamin C content, but these products often don’t contain any vitamin C. Instead, the seed oil contains a mix of fatty acids, fats, carotenoids, and vitamin E. Vitamin C is found in the fruit, not in the seeds.

Rosehips do still benefit your skin, though. Their oil is moisturizing, it has regenerative and anti-aging properties, and it might help treat skin conditions like acne, burns, and eczema. 

Rosehip powder supplements might also help with skin elasticity, hydration, and wrinkles. In one small study, patients took rosehip powder by mouth and were compared to a group who took astaxanthin. After 8 weeks, both groups had improved skin texture. While the astaxanthin group had a higher reduction in crow’s feet wrinkles, the rosehip group still saw a boost in skin elasticity and hydration.  

Rosehip oil might also help promote wound healing. Animal studies show that this oil speeds up the healing process where immune cells move on from inflammation to tissue regrowth and remodeling. Rosehips might also block some cell growth processes that otherwise lead to scars. 

Might help heart health

Rosehip extracts might help lower cholesterol and blood fat levels. Cholesterol and fats are essential for healthy cell structure and hormones. Too much cholesterol and fat in your blood, though, can cause a waxy buildup in your blood vessels called plaque, which can lead to heart disease. 

In animal studies, experts gave high doses of rosehip extract to rats with diabetes. After this treatment, the rats had significantly lower blood fat levels. Another animal study showed that rosehip extract could lower the release of cholesterol from the liver. 

There have been some notable results in human studies, too. Experts gave a rosehip powder drink to patients with obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. After 6 weeks, their blood pressure, total cholesterol, and cholesterol ratio were lowered significantly, leading to a lower risk of heart disease. 

Might help with fat loss

Daily rosehip supplements could also help with weight loss. In one small study, overweight patients with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30 took a rosehip extract tablet with no diet or lifestyle changes. After 12 weeks, those who took the rosehip had lower BMIs than those who didn’t. The rosehip group also had a lower body fat percentage. 

Experts believe a chemical in rosehip called tiliroside might help break down fat and suppress weight gain. 

Might treat arthritis pain

Rosehip is probably best known for easing joint pain and stiffness. There isn’t a lot of research on this, but a few studies show that rosehip can help lower osteoarthritis pain scores more than a placebo. The supplement manufacturer funded those studies, though, so further research is necessary. 

Rosehips are generally safe to eat. Most studies show rosehip supplements are also safe to take and have very few side effects.  

Eating high amounts of fresh rosehips, though, could lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and gas because of the high vitamin C content. While the supplements lose most of the vitamin C, they may still contain some. 

Taking high doses of vitamin C supplements, meanwhile, can cause digestive side effects and lead to kidney stones.  

While there isn’t a lot of research on rosehip supplements, this fruit could be a great addition to your diet. Rosehips can be quite tart, though, so they’re likely best cooked or steeped as tea. 

Talk to your doctor if you’re thinking about taking rosehip supplements, too.