There are about 250 different species of flowering plants in the Rhus family that grow in subtropical and temperate regions, with a long history of use by indigenous peoples for medicinal and other uses. While many of the species have similar medicinal properties, sumac spice (Rhus coriaria) is what interests us here. With its tangy lemony flavor, it is an excellent souring agent in rich foods and is a main component in the popular Middle Eastern spice mix za’atar.
Many high-quality studies show that sumac spice health benefits include your body and brain. Staghorn sumac uses have been employed in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb. One popular sumac tea recipe is hailed worldwide for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The juice, the red seeds (known as drupes) and the leaves are used, with the seeds being ground into a reddish-purple powder widely used in cooking throughout the Middle East, the Levant and Central Asia. Sumac powder is also used to make a “lemonade” drink and was smoked with tobacco in traditional smoking mixtures. It also has a long history as an effective medicinal spice.
Healing Properties of Sumac
The phytochemicals in sumac include tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids (including luteolin, apigenin, and quercetin), organic acids, essential oils, and fatty acids. It also contains minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and boron, as well as vitamins, mainly B6, B1, and B2. The fruit of Rhus coriaria contains some vitamin C (39mg/kg), and the tart flavor comes from the high levels of malic acid.
Sumac Spice Benefits
Digestion
Sumac spice improves appetite, is a tonic for digestion, reduces symptoms of reflux, and reduces diarrhea, gastric ulcers, and hemorrhoids. It has also been shown to reduce the symptoms of nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Sumac’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity is effective in reducing the symptoms of a range of infective and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Staghorn sumac uses include conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as osteoarthritis. It is also used for hay fever, depression, high cholesterol, a type of liver disease, and itching. Staghorn sumac is best when paired with other spices and herbs. Think strong, warm spices with complimentary flavor profiles, like cinnamon, black pepper and ginger .
Antioxidant
In laboratory conditions, sumac fruit inhibits the free radicals xanthine oxidase and scavenges the lipid-based superoxide free radicals. This research shows the potential for sumac to improve human health and help protect against chronic disease.
Sumac lemonade health benefits improve appetite, and is a tonic for digestion, reduces symptoms of reflux, and reduces diarrhea, gastric ulcers, and hemorrhoids.
Anti-inflammatory
Traditionally, sumac berries were used topically as a paste to treat skin burns and eczemas and to improve wound healing. Research conducted to investigate these claims has found that sumac fruit extracts are useful as a preventative agent in the treatment of skin inflammation by inhibiting the production of the skin’s pro-inflammatory mediators. It also improves wound healing and reduces excess bleeding.
Antimicrobial and antiviral
Research on sumac tea benefits has shown it has broad antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, attributed largely to the activity of the tannins, with the ripe fruit having a significantly higher antimicrobial activity than the unripe fruit. Sumac has also shown antiviral and antifungal activity.
With its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, sumac has also been shown to be effective in the management of tooth infections and periodontitis. Sumac spice has also been used in dentistry against tooth decay by reducing bacteria and biofilm formation in the mouth. Sumac berries were used traditionally as a teeth-cleaning agent.
Anticancer
Sumac powder has potential uses in breast cancer as it suppresses angiogenesis, metastasis, and tumor growth. In vivo studies sumac powder has shown promising results in modulating triple-negative breast cancer growth. Sumac also has an antioxidant activity that is protective against genotoxic carcinogens, including DNA-protective activity.
Eyes
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of sumac herb have been shown to improve ischaemic optic neuropathy in rats. Sumac also reduces the symptoms of ophthalmia and conjunctivitis.
Cardioprotective
Sumac bran has powerful cardioprotective effects, particularly effective in patients with abnormal lipid profiles, increasing the HDL fraction as well as decreasing the more dangerous LDL cholesterol levels. When prescribed with lovastatin, the LDL levels are significantly lower than with lovastatin alone. The tannins in sumac bran have a significant effect in inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell migration, thus being very effective in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Sumac bran has also been shown to reduce high blood pressure.
Endocrine
Sumac berries have been shown to be hypoglycaemic and to reduce insulin resistance and CRP in type 2 diabetes. Oral administration of the plant extract causes a significant decrease in HbA1c and α-glucosidase. Three grams of sumac per day for three months has reduced the susceptibility of diabetic patients to cardiovascular disease. In rat studies, measurable weight loss also occurred, along with a significant decrease in blood glucose and lipid profiles.
Athletic muscle performance
A clinical trial was conducted studying the effect of sumac juice on pain during acute intense exercise of 30 days. Compared with placebo it was effective in reducing muscle pain. The protective activity of muscle may relate to the antioxidant activity of phenolic components in sumac juice, suggesting that sumac may have a beneficial effect on muscle performance in athletes.
Caution
Some species of Rhus are toxic and can cause severe allergic reactions; these poisonous sumacs are visually recognizable as they have white (not red) drupes.
This article was originally published by Wellbeing Magazine.