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Dietary supplement

Black Cherry Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by GNC SuperFoods

Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Black Cherry is a dietary supplement by GNC SuperFoods with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for cough, bronchitis and respiratory irritation, sore throat.Based on those ingredients, 643 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Black Cherry concentrate. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Black Cherry by GNC SuperFoods

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: black cherry concentrate. Black cherry is a fruit supplement sometimes used in cough products and other formulations.

The concentrate is delivered in a vegetable cellulose capsule with inactive ingredients including cellulose, maltodextrin, and calcium carbonate, which serve as binders and fillers.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Wild Cherry product and its label doesn't state a use — see Wild Cherry's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

We don't hold effectiveness data for black cherry concentrate in our files. The evidence for what this product does isn't established in the information available to us.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Wild Cherry

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Black cherry is generally considered safe in the small amounts found in commercial cough products. However, wild cherry contains compounds that can form cyanide, and large amounts carry serious risk.

Taking very large quantities of wild cherry can cause cyanide toxicity, which may be fatal—symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness and loss of muscle tone. The product should not be used during pregnancy (rated likely unsafe) or while breastfeeding (not enough safety data).

If you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, talk with your pharmacist or doctor before taking this.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Wild Cherry

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Wild Cherry.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 644 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check whether you use any medications that are metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme system. These include cholesterol medications (like lovastatin), antifungal drugs (like ketoconazole and itraconazole), and many others—use the medication checker on this page to see your specific list.

While this interaction hasn't been documented in humans, the potential exists.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This single-ingredient black cherry supplement is generally well tolerated in typical doses. The main concern is a theoretical interaction with a large number of medications through CYP3A4—something not yet observed in humans.

If you take any prescription or over-the-counter medications, check them against the interaction tool before starting. Avoid this product if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jun 23, 2017.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Black Cherry, straight from the product label.

Brand GNC SuperFoods
Barcode (UPC) 048107129590
Net contents 240 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 23, 2017
DSLD ID 74656
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Black Cherry by GNC SuperFoods, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
048107129590
IngredientAmount% DV
Black Cherry concentrate500 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Vegetable Cellulose Capsule, Calcium Carbonate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Actual size

Value size

Conforms to USP <2091> for weight. Meets USP <2040> disintegration.

Formulation

Vegetarian formula

No sugar, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, sodium free, no wheat, gluten free, no soy, no dairy, yeast free.

Formula

Concentrate from ripe, wholesome cherries

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

General

CODE 420418 ARG

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: As a dietary supplement, take two capsules one to two times daily. For maximum support, take as directed every day.

Precautions

Warning: Consult your physician prior to using this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

Discontinue use two weeks prior to surgery.

Keep out of reach of children.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

See for yourself

Black Cherry by GNC SuperFoods label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Black Cherry by GNC SuperFoods

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Black Cherry concentrate

Interacts with
643 drugs
500 mg per serving

Wild cherry bark is a traditional cough remedy found in many old-fashioned cough syrups and lozenges, but there is little modern scientific evidence p...

Black Cherry concentrate monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Vegetable Cellulose Capsule, Calcium Carbonate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Black Cherry by GNC SuperFoods Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Black Cherry?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
643Drugs
643 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Black Cherry with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Black Cherry concentrate1 drug type · 643 drugs

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

In vitro research suggests that wild cherry can inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes. Theoretically, wild cherry might increase levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4. However, so far, this interaction has not been reported in humans.
Some drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 include lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Black Cherry, from the product label.

GNC SuperFoods

See all GNC SuperFoods products
Name
General Nutrition Corporation
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
ZipCode
15222
Phone Number
1-888-462-2548
Web Address
www.gnc.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Black Cherry by GNC SuperFoods: Common Questions

Does Black Cherry by GNC SuperFoods interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Black Cherry has a known interaction with 643 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Black Cherry contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is black cherry safe if I take other medications?
Laboratory research suggests black cherry might affect how your liver breaks down certain medications (through CYP3A4), but this hasn't been reported in actual people. Use the medication checker on this page to see if any of your drugs are in that category. If they are, talk with your pharmacist before starting.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No—black cherry is rated likely unsafe in pregnancy. There isn't enough safety information for breastfeeding, so it should be avoided then too. If you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it.
What's the risk of taking large amounts?
Large doses of wild cherry can cause cyanide toxicity, which can be serious or even fatal. Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and severe difficulty breathing. This product should be used only in normal amounts, never in large quantities.
Is this product proven to work?
We don't have effectiveness data on file for black cherry concentrate. The evidence for what it does isn't established in the information available to us.
Are there any inactive ingredients I should know about?
The capsule contains cellulose, maltodextrin, and calcium carbonate as inactive ingredients. These are common binders and fillers in supplements.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Black Cherry is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Black Cherry label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Black Cherry's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 4 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Wild Cherry 4 references
  1. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. PubMed
  4. Pentore, R., Venneri, A., and Nichelli, P. Accidental choke-cherry poisoning: early symptoms and neurological sequelae of an unusual case of cyanide intoxication. Ital.J Neurol.Sci. 1996;17(3):233-235. PubMed

See these in context on the Wild Cherry monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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