Tart cherries get their deep red color from anthocyanins. These natural plant pigments belong to a larger family called polyphenols, found in many colorful fruits.
Researchers study anthocyanins for antioxidant activity, meaning their ability to help neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals. They also study how these compounds interact with inflammatory processes, the body's natural responses to everyday stress and wear.
One detail matters: tart cherry products are not all alike. Juice, concentrate and extract are made differently, and their composition varies. Much of the published research used tart cherry juice or concentrate in small, short studies, so those findings do not automatically apply to any one capsule.