Bilberry extract
Description
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a little shrub from the Ericaceae family, which also includes the North American blueberries as well as cranberry. Bilberry is rich in anthocyanosides, which have potent antioxidant properties.
Function
Bilberry seems to have the capacity to reinforce small blood vessels (or capillaries), including those in the eyes. Bilberry, due to the action of its anthocyanosides, also helps improve blood delivery and oxygenation to the eye. It has been used for the prevention and treatment of degenerative diseases of the retina (macular degeneration and mild diabetic retinopathy) as well as cataracts.
Toxicity
Bilberry extract appears to be safe although it is advised to be prudent if you are:
- diabetics (bilberry leaves are know to interfere with blood sugar levels)
- pregnant or breast-feeding (the effect of bilberry on the foetus or breastfed babies are not known well enough)
- taking diabetic or blood thinning medication
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Scientific References
[Anthocyanosides in the treatment of retinopathies]. [Article in German Scharrer A, Ober M.]. Kiln Monastbl Augenheilkd 1981;178:386-9.
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[Diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy therapy with Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides (Tegens). Double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial]. [Article in Italian]. Perossini M, Guidi G, Chiellini S, Siravo D. Ann Ottalmol Clin Ocul 1987;113:1173-7.
[Polyphenolic composition of the leaf of bilberry]. [Article in French]. Fraisse D, Carnat A, Lamaison JL. Ann Pharm Fr 1996;54:280-3.
[Abstract]
Activity of Myrtocyan, an anthosyanoside complex from Vaccinium myrtillus (VMA), on platelet aggregation and adhesiveness. [Article in Italian]Morazzoni P, Magistretti MJ. Fitoterapia 1990;61:13-21.
Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision--a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials. Canter PH, Ernst E. Surv Ophthalmol 2004;49:38-50.
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Antiulcer activity of an anthocyanidin from Vaccinium myrtillus. Magistretti MJ, Conti M, Cristoni A. Arzneimittelforschung 1988;38:686-90.
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Bioavailability and tissue distribution of anthocyanins in bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract in rats. Ichiyanagi T, Shida Y, Rahman MM, et al. J Agric Food Chem 2006;54:6578-87.
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Consumption of black currants, lingonberries and bilberries increases serum quercetin concentrations. Erlund I, Marniemi J, Hakala P, et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 2003;57:37-42.
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Novel lipid-lowering properties of Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaves, a traditional antidiabetic treatment, in several models of rat dyslipidaemia: a comparison with ciprofibrate. Cignarella A, Nastasi M, Cavalli E, Puglisi L. Thromb Res 1996;84:311-22.
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Protectice effects of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract on KBrO3-induced kidney damage in mice. Bao L, Yao XS, Tsi D, et al. J Agric Food Chem 2008;56:420-5.
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Protective effects of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract on restraint stress-induced liver damage in mice. Bao L, Yao XS, Yau CC, et al. J Agric Food Chem 2008;56:7803-7.
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Resveratrol in raw and baked blueberries and bilberries. Lyons MM, Yu C, Toma RB, et al. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51:5867-70.
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Studies on Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides. I. Vasoprotective and antiinflammatory activity. Lietti A, Cristoni A, Picci M. Arzneimittelforschung 1976;26:829-32.
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Studies on Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides. II. Aspects of anthocyanins pharmacokinetics in the rat. Lietti A, Forni G. Arzneimittelforschung 1976;26:832-5.
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Study of diversity of anthocyanin composition in bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits. Burdulis D, Ivanauskas L, Dirse V, et al. Medicina (Kaunas) 2007;43:971-7.
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The effect of anthocyanosides in a multiple oral dose on night vision.
Zadok D, Levy Y, Glovinsky Y. Eye (Lond). 1999 Dec;13 ( Pt 6):734-6.
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The effect of anthocyanosides on night vision. Levy Y, Glovinsky Y. Eye 1998;12:967-9.
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The effect of bilberry nutritional supplementation on night visual acuity andcontrast sensitivity. Muth ER, Laurent JM, Jasper P. Altern Med Rev 2000;5:164-73.
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Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry) Extracts Reduce Angiogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo. Matsunaga N, Chikaraishi Y, Shimazawa M, et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2007 Oct 27
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