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Botanical

Cherry Extract

Cherry extract is a concentrate made from the fruit of cherry trees (Prunus species), which is rich in red anthocyanin pigments.

Also listed as Wild Cherry extract, Sweet Cherry extract, Black Cherry Extract, organic Wild Cherry extract

FitnessSleepLongevityImmune SupportBone & Joint

What it is studied for

The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.

Muscle RecoveryFitnessModerateA3 studies
Sleep qualitySleepModerateBNo linked study
Oxidative stressLongevityModerateBNo linked study
Immune SupportModerateBNo linked study
Joint ComfortBone & JointSmallBNo linked study
Anti-aging SkinHair & SkinSmallCNo linked study
All 8 rated effectsGrouped by health goal, with the publications behind each rating

Which cherry products does this page cover?

The studies reviewed here concern tart or sour cherries, including juice and powders. Their findings do not establish the same effects for every product sold as cherry extract. 1 2

Why are cherries being studied?

Tart cherries contain melatonin and anthocyanins. These compounds offer a rationale for studying sleep and recovery, but their presence alone does not establish a useful clinical effect. 2 3

Key studies

The most recent publications linked to Cherry Extract's ratings.

Nutritional Compounds to Improve Post-Exercise Recovery2022Tart Cherry Supplement Enhances Skeletal Muscle Glutathione Peroxidase Expression and Functional Recovery after Muscle Damage2021Tart Cherry Supplementation and Recovery From Strenuous Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.2021

Why people take it

Immune Support20.2%
Essential Health17.3%
Energy14%
Detox8.2%
Gut Health6.6%
Bone & Joint6.3%

SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.

Questions people ask

Do these findings apply to any cherry extract?

No. The recovery evidence concerns tart-cherry preparations; product identity matters. 2

Does tart cherry remove all muscle-damage signals?

No. The meta-analysis found no significant change in creatine kinase despite improvements in some recovery outcomes. 2

Is cherry juice a proven insomnia treatment?

The sleep review found promising results in some studies, but the evidence was limited and heterogeneous. 3

Were long-term safety studies available?

The athletic safety evidence summarized by NIH was short term, up to two weeks. 1

Sources