PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS BILBERRY / 75

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Steroid saponins: including among others, trillin (disogenin

monoglucoside), trillarin (disogenin diglucoside), aglycones

including cryptogenic chlorogenin, nologenin

Tannins

EFFECTS

The drug has astringent and expectorant properties. It can

severely irritate the area to which it has been applied; the

irritation can cause vomiting.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Internally, Beth Root is used internally for

long and heavy menstruation and externally, it is used for

varicose veins, ulcers, hematoma, and hemorrhoidal

bleeding.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

The drug should not be used during pregnancy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. In higher dosages, the drug is said to be nauseant,

and to have the effect of promoting labor and menstruation.

Pregnancy: In high dosages, the drug promotes labor;

therefore, it should not be used during pregnancy.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The ground drug and liquid extract

are used for infusions and poultices.

Daily Dosage: The usual dose is 2 to 4 gm dissolved in

liquid as an infusion.

LITERATURE

Fukuda N et al., (1981) Chem Pharm Bull 29 (2):325.

Hegnauer R, Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11:

Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin 1962-1997.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8: Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Nakano K et al., (1982) J Chem Soc Chem Commun. 789.

Nakano K et al., (1982) Yakugaku Zasshi 102(11):1031.

Nakano K et al., (1983) Phytochemistry 22 (5):1249.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.

Wolters B, Zierpflanzen aus Nordamerika. In: DAZ
137(26):2253-2261. 1997.

Betonica officinalis

See Wood Betony

Betula species

See Birch

Bidens tripartita

See Burr Marigold

Bilberry

Vaccinium myrtillus

TRADE NAMES

Bilberry, Bilberry Extract, Bilberry Herb (available from

numerous manufacturers,) Time Release Bilberry Power,

Standardized Bilberry Extract, Super Bilberry Plus, Bilberry

Power, Bilberry Leaf

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried leaves,

the ripe, dried fruit and the ripe fresh fruit.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are axillary and solitary.

They are 4 to 7 mm long, short-pedicled, greenish and tinged

with pale pink. The calyx is fused to the ovary, persistent and

indistinctly 5-lobed. The corolla is globular-jug-shaped and

has 5 tips. There are 8 to 10 stamens, which are enclosed and

shorter than the styles. They have glabrous filaments that

widen toward the base and 2 horn-like yellow-brown anthers,

whose spurred appendage is erect. The fruit is a globular,

blue-black, frosted, many-seeded berry with purple pulp.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a deciduous, dwarf

shrub with sharp-edged, green branches 15 to 50 cm high.

The leaves are alternate, ovate or oblong-ovate, acuminate

and finely serrate.

Habitat: The plant is common to central and northern

Europe, Asia and North America.

Production: The leaves and fruit of Bilberry are collected in

the wild from July to August and dried in the shade.

Not to be Confused With: Myrtilli folium should not be

confused with the fruits of Vaccinium uliginosum.

Other Names: Whortleberry, Blueberry, Burren myrtle,

Dyeberry, Huckleberry, Hurtleberry, Wineberry, Black

Whortles, Hurts, Bleaberry, Airelle, Trackleberry