PDR for Herbal Medicines

112/BOG BILBERRY PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are arranged in axils of small

leaves at the end of short lateral branches. They are hanging

and white or reddish in color. The pedicle is encircled at the

base with a light brown bud husk. The calyx is fused with the

ovary. The fruit is a round or pear-shaped, blue-frosted, 7 to

10 cm long, multi-seeded berry. The light brown seeds are

sickle-shaped with sharp ends, and have a punctate-reticulate

skin.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an angular shrub up to

80 cm high with round, gray-brown, glabrous branches and a

creeping rhizome. The leaves are deciduous, obovate or

oblong, entire, tough and short-petioled. The undersurface

has a protruding, reticulate vein system and is blue-green.

The upper surface of the leaves is light matte-green to almost

white.

Habitat: The plant is common throughout the Northern

Hemisphere.

Production: Bog Bilberries and leaves are the ripe fruit and

leaves of Vaccinium uliginosum. The collection or picking

occurs in uncultivated regions. The drug is either air-dried in

the shade or dried artificially.

Not to be Confused With: The Bog Bilberry has smaller

flowers and berries than the common Bilberry (Vaccinium

myrtillus; see separate entry).

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: IN THE LEAVES

Tannins: catechin tannins

Triterpenes: alpha-amyrin, friedelin, ursolic acid

Sterols: beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosteroI-3-O-beta-glucoside

Flavonoids: including hyperoside

COMPOUNDS: IN THE FRUITS

Anthocyans: including chief components: malvidin-3-O-glu-

coside, delphinidine-3-O-glucoside, delphinidine-3-O-ara-

binoside

Organic acids: including benzoic acid

Flavonoids: including hyperoside, myricetin, myricetin-5'-

methyl ether

EFFECTS

No information is available.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Bog Bilberry is used for gastric and

intestinal catarrh, diarrhea and bladder complaints.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.

OVERDOSAGE

Signs of poisoning following consumption of large quantities

of the fruits have occurred very rarely. Signs include

queasiness, vomiting, states of intoxication, feelings of

weakness and visual disorders. Presumably, these poisonmgs

can be traced back to the plant being infested with the lower

fungus Sclerotinia megalospora.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug is used internally as a

liquid extract (tea).

Preparation: To prepare a tea, pour 250 ml of cold water

over 2 heaping teaspoons of drug; steep for 10 to 12 hours

and strain.

Daily Dosage: Drink 1 cup of the prepared tea, unsweetened,

once or twice a day.

LITERATURE

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges. Stuttgart 1997.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

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

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Giftstoffe mikrobieller Endo- und
   Epiphyten. Gefahren fur Mensch und Tier. In: DAZ
   I32(42):2231. 1992.

Boldo

Peumus boldo

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the leaves.

Flower and Fruit: The inflorescences are racemes of whitish

or pinkish campanulate flowers. The berries are small,

yellowish-green and edible.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a strongly aromatic,

heavily branched evergreen shrub 5 to 6 m tall. The leaves

are sessile, opposite, oval, about 5 cm long with an entire

and slightly revolute margin. They are rather thick and

coriaceous with a protruding midrib and a row of small

glands on the upper surface. Both surfaces are slightly

pubescent.