Bilberry fruit [Vaccinium myrtillus L]

Available brands

Indications

Bilberry fruit is indicated in Retinopathy (hypertensive and diabetic), Night blindness, Cataracts, Macular degeneration, Retinitis pigmentosa and Hemorrhagic retinopathy.

Description

Bilberry is the name of a small european blueberry. The standardized extract of bilberry has become popular in the United States as dietary supplements over the past decade. Bilberry preparations consist of the whole, dried, ripe, black or bluish- black fruit of Vaccinium myrtillus L. Some concentrated extracts are standardized to anthocyanosides, calculated as 25% anthocyanidins, but may actually contain about 37% by weight. The medicinal parts are the dried leaves, the ripe, dried fruit and the ripe fresh fruit. The plant is common to Central and Northern Europe, Asia and North America. The bilberry contains tannins, anthocyanins and avonoid glycosides.

Pharmacology

Bilberry extract is used to treat Retinopathy, Cataracts, Macular degeneration, Retinitis pigmentosa, Hemorrhagic retinopathy. Bilberry anthocyanins regenerate rhodopsin are indicated in the treatment of poor night vision and cataracts. Bilberry is also used to treat microcirculatory disorders which include varicose veins, atherosclerosis, venous insufficiency.

MECHANISM OF ACTION:

Inhibits enzymatic cleavage of collagen by the enzymes secreted by leucocytes during Inflammation.
By inhibiting retinal phosphoglucomutase and glucose-6-phosphatase it confers retinal protection.
Reduces microvascular impairments due to ischemic reperfusion injury, with preservation of endothelium, attenuation of leukocyte adhesion and improvement of capillary perfusion.
Produces dose dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation and clot retraction.
Decreases basement membrane collagen hydrolysis by significantly reducing permeability of the blood-brain barrier and increases recovery rate of the BBB caused by permeability-increasing agents.