| General
Information |
Common Name: |
Bilberry |
|
Latin
Name:
|
Vacinium
myritillus L |
|
Family:
|
Ericaceae |
| Other
Names: |
 |
Huckleberry
|
|
Whortleberry
|
|
| Indications
& Historical Uses |
|
Historical
Use:
More than 40 years ago, British pilots reported that eating the
fruit of the bilberry bush helped to improve their night vision.
Since this time, the bilberry fruit has been shown to have multiple
beneficial effects which result from the ability of the plant
to help maintain healthy microcirculation in all parts of the
body. In Europe, the bilberry has been used to improve circulatory
health, relieve diarrhea and improve eyesight, particularly at
night.
Indications:
|
Diarrhea.
|
|
May help with visual acuity and provide protection against
macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. Those are
based on studies carried out on small animals and small
number of human subjects. More extensive clinical studies
on human beings are required to verify these claims.
|
|
More recently used to control cellulite.
|
|
Historically used in two major areas: ophthalmology and
vascular disorders.
|
|
| Contraindictions
& Precautions |
|
Contraindictions:
none knonw (see Caution).
Ophthamology:
|
Diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy
|
|
Myopia.
|
|
Dark adaptation.
|
|
Pigmentary retinitis.
|
|
Diabetes-induced cataracts.
|
Vascular
disorders:
|
Varicose
veins.
|
|
Anti-coagulation
problems.
|
|
Phlebitis
· Hypertension.
|
|
Advanced
diabetic complications.
|
|
Arteriosclerosis.
|
|
Hemorrhages.
|
|
Bleeding
gums.
|
|
| Dosage
Information |
|
How
Supplied:
|
80
mg. Capsules.
|
|
Dosage:
|
80
mg capsules - 1 capsule taken 2 times per day.
|
| Pharmacology
|
|
Anthocyanosides
help to maintain the integrity of capillaries and also help to
stabilize collagen. They are also potent anti-oxidants.Numerous
clinical studies have demonstrated that bilberry is effective
in the treatment of disorders of circulation, varicose veins and
other venous and arterial disorders.
Anthocyanosides
stabilize phospholipids of the endothelial cells and enhance synthesis
of collagen and mucopolysaccharides and therefore help maintain
the structural integrity of the arterial walls.
Anthocyanosides
also prevent the aggregation and adherence of platelets to the
endothelial surfaces. Some studies have shown that anthocyanosides
promote production of Rhodopsin and therefore improve night vision.
|
|
Active
Ingredients:
|
|
Anthocyanosides
|
|
Flavonoids
|
Anthocyanoside
- over 15 different anthocyanosides have been found in bilberry.
|
| Origin |
|
Originated
in Europe. It is a flowering perennial found in heaths and woods
and forest meadows across Europe and parts of North America. This
thickly branched ,deciduous shrub belongs to the same plant family
as cranberries and American blueberries .Its juicy, black ,coarsely
wrinkled berries ( fruit ) contain a purple meat and brownish-red
seeds.
|
| Processing |
|
Part
of the plant used medicinally is the fresh fruit.
Active ingredients are extracted with hydromethanolic solution.
Standard amount of active ingredient is 25% of anthocyanosides
calculated as anthocyanidin .
|
| Scientific
References |
|
Jonadet, M. et al (1983) Anthocyanosides extracted from
Vitis vinifera, Vaccinium myrtillus, and Pinus maritimus.
I. Elasstase-inhibiting activities in vitro. ll. Compared
angioprotective activities in vitro. J.Pharm. Belg. 38:41-46.
|
|
Detre,
A. et al. (1986) Studies on vascular permeability in hypertension:
actions of anthocyanosides. Clin. Physiol. Biochem. 4:143-9
|
|
Frohne.
D. Zeltschrift filr Phytotherapie 11:209-213 (1990)
|
|
Ronziere, M.D. et al. (1981) Influence of some flavonoids
on reticulation of collagen fibrils in vitro. Biochem
Pharmacol. 30:1771-6.
|
|
Main E. et al. (1977) Anthocyanosides and the walls of the
microvessels: further aspects of the mechanism of action
of their protective effect in syndromes due to abnormal
capillary fragility. Minerva Med. 58:3565-81.
|
|
Lietti,
A. and Forni, G. (1976) Studies on Vaccinium mytrillus anthocyanosides.
L. Vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity. Arzneim
Forsch. 26:829-32.
|
|
Bottecchia,
D. et al. (1987) Preliminary report on the inhibitory effect
of Vaccinium myrtillun anthocyanosides on platelet aggregation
and clot retraction. Fitoterapia 48:3-8.
|
|
Bettini,
V. et al. (1984) Effects of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides
on vascular smooth muscle. Fitoterapia 55:265.72.
|
|
 BILBERRY |