Vaccinium myrtillus, fructus recens

Fresh blueberry fruit. Fresh blueberries are used exclusively for the production of anthocyanin-rich extracts, which are processed into finished medicinal products.

Quality is defined in the European Pharmacopoeia.

HMPC monograph: traditional-use: extracts: Internal: Feeling of heaviness in the legs in mild venous circulatory disorders, to relieve the symptoms of skin capillary fragility, spider veins.
Anthocyanins from fresh bilberry fruits are traditionally used to prevent night blindness (registration as a traditional medicinal product).

ESCOP monograph: for varicose vein complaints, aching, heavy legs; for micro veins in the eye, peripheral vascular insufficiency.

Commission E: no monograph.

Empirical medicine: Diabetes, hyperlipidemia

Studies: Diabetes, Hyperlipidemia

Tannins, anthocyanosides, glycosides:delphinidin-3-O-arabinoside, delphinidin-3-O-galactoside, vitamins C, B1, B2, pantothenic acid and nicotinamide

Freshly pressed or as an extract in food supplements.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/heidelbeere.php
2. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-vaccinium-myrtillus-l-fructus-recens_en.pdf
3. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/vaccinium_myrtillus/heidelbeere.htm
4. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 445-447
5. Asgary S et al.(2016) Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Vaccinium myrtillus fruit in experimentally induced diabetes (antidiabetic effect of Vaccinium myrtillus fruit). J Sci Food Agric 96:764-768.