2 Botanical Characteristics of Selected Vaccinium Species 2.1 Vaccinium myrtillus L. It aims to critically assess the origins and the level of scientific evidence behind the above-mentioned health claims with a special focus on clinical studies performed using bilberry fruits and leaves or extracts thereof. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the chemistry and bioactivities of the constituents of bilberry fruits and leaves. (2021), supplements found in pharmacies and health food stores are often adulterated with anthocyanins from other sources, with other cheaper berry extracts, or they do not contain any beneficial extracts at all. Indeed, as recently analyzed by Gaspar et al. Although the quality specifications for bilberries are regulated by three monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia (Bilberry fruit, fresh Bilberry fruit, dried Fresh bilberry fruit dry extract, refined and standardized) ( European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare 2019) herbal supplements do not have to comply to the pharmacopoeial requirements. Moreover, herbal supplements containing bilberry extracts are not subject to detailed quality control due to the generally lax legislation. Therefore, it is important to keep track of the recent findings in the field of ethnopharmacology. To promote an herbal supplement either not backed by research at all or with only superficial proof might offer no benefits to the consumer or, at worst, cause serious harm to the health. The popularity of bilberries is increasing along with the marketing claims of being “functional food” or “superfood” and various health claims that are not always substantiated. The extracts from the fruits and leaves have a long-standing tradition of use for vision-related ailments, elevated blood sugar levels and several different cardiovascular disorders. Picking the berries is a tedious and tiring work either using hands or small harvesting combs ( Zoratti et al., 2016 Vaneková et al., 2020).īilberries have also been used as a medicinal herb to treat various disorders. It is not possible to cultivate them due to very specific soil demands. Bilberry bushes only grow in wild, montane areas. Their high market value is caused by their relatively difficult availability. ![]() ![]() They are valued for their pleasant taste and are often processed into jams, preserves, pies, juices and alcoholic beverages. However, there is a general lack of double-blinded controlled research with larger sample sizes.īilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits are an important part of local diets in many countries. Beneficial clinical results have been attested for the treatment of dyslipidemia and chronic inflammatory disorders when applied as dietary supplementation of fresh bilberries or as anthocyanin-rich bilberry fruit extracts. ![]() Moreover, the indications for vision disorders and diabetes originate from unproven or false claims that have been repeated in research since the 20 th century without consistent fact-checking. Overall, the three most referenced indications, which are type 2 diabetes mellitus, vision disorders and circulatory diseases, all include contradictory results with no clear conclusion as to the benefits and recommended dosages. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge of the phytochemical contents of bilberry fruits and leaves and their bioactivities, critically summarizes origins of the health claims and the outcome of clinical trials, with special attention towards those published in the past 10 years. Extracts from fruits are often a part of eye health-promoting supplements, whereas extracts from leaves are advertised for type 2 diabetes mellitus and glycemic control. 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austriaīilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits are an important part of local diets in many countries and are used as a medicinal herb to treat various disorders.1Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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