Deciduous, dwarf shrub, Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae, bearing edible blue-black berries. Medicinal parts include the leaves and fruit. Habit. Northern and central Europe. Constit. Berries: anthocyanins, particularly glycosides of delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, malvidin; quercetin, catechin, epicatechin, tannins, pectins, vitamin C. Leaves: Catechol tannins (0.8-6.7%); leucoanthocyans; flavonoids esp. quercetin glycosides; phenolic acids incl. caffeic, p-coumaric, p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, melilotic; iridoids; manganese; chromium. Berries have been used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhea and mouth and throat inflammations; leaves used in antidiabetic teas. Comprehensive description and medicinal uses: J. Barnes et al., Herbal Medicines (Pharmaceutical Press, London, 2nd Ed., 2002) pp 73-77. Anthocyanin content and radical scavenging activity: J. Nakajima et al., J. Biomed. Biotechnol. 5, 241-247 (2004). Phenolic profile and antioxidant activity: S. Ehala et al., J. Agric. Food Chem. 53, 6484 (2005). Review of clinical trials in impaired night vision: P. H. Carter, E. Ernst, Surv. Ophthalmol. 49, 38-50 (2004).
Anthocyanin enriched extract from the fruit.
In treatment of night blindness.