Plant Profile

Bearberry

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 14, 2026

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Family: Ericaceae · Parts used: Leaf · Also known as: Uva-ursi, Kinnikinnick, Bear's grape

The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 4 pharmacological actions, 7 traditional / indicated uses, with 22 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Low, mat-forming evergreen shrub with trailing, woody stems that root as they spread. The leaves are small, leathery, spatula-shaped (spoon-shaped), glossy dark green above and paler beneath, with a smooth, untoothed margin and a rounded tip. Small, urn-shaped, pink-and-white flowers hang in short clusters in spring, followed by bright red, mealy berries.^[11]

Height: 5-30 cm (trailing/prostrate)

Habit: Low, mat-forming, trailing evergreen shrub

Leaves: Small, leathery, spatula-shaped, glossy dark green above, entire (untoothed) margin, rounded tip

Flowers: Small, urn-shaped, pink-and-white, in short drooping clusters

Stem: Trailing, woody, rooting as it spreads

Root: Woody, fibrous roots along trailing stems

Fruit: Bright red, mealy berry

Flowering Period: April-June

Habitat & Distribution

Grows on dry, acidic, sandy or rocky ground in open woodland, heath, moorland and mountain slopes across the northern hemisphere (Europe, Asia and North America), often in exposed, cold, upland or subarctic sites.^[11]

Harvesting

The leaves are gathered in autumn to early spring (outside the flowering and fruiting season), when arbutin content is at its highest, and dried carefully to preserve the glycoside.^[11]

Parts: Leaf

Season: Autumn to early spring

Key Constituents

Arbutin (and methylarbutin)^{[6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13]}

Hydroquinone glycoside; hydrolysed and excreted as antibacterial hydroquinone in the urine.

Glycosides

Tannins (gallotannins)^{[11, 14]}

Up to ~20%; responsible for the astringency and for gastric irritation at high doses.

Tannins

Flavonoids and phenolic acids^{[4, 5, 6, 14, 15]}

Antioxidant constituents of the leaf.

Phenolic acidsFlavonoids

Pharmacological Actions

Anticancer (preclinical)^{[17, 18]}

Arbutin, the hydroquinone glucoside characteristic of bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), shows antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity across multiple cancer types (preclinical).

Antimicrobial^{[1, 7, 10, 11, 19, 20]}

Antibacterial in the urinary tract (arbutin is converted to antibacterial hydroquinone, favoured by alkaline urine); Urinary antiseptic for mild, uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection / cystitis (short-term)

Astringent^{[11, 14]}

Astringent (tannins)

Urinary antiseptic^{[7, 11, 19, 20]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Cancer (anticancer research)^{[17, 18]}Preliminary · 2/10

The bearberry constituent arbutin suppresses osteosarcoma proliferation, migration and invasion via miR-338-3p/MTHFD1L and AKT/mTOR inactivation, and has documented anticancer potential against bladder, breast, colon, liver and other cancers (preclinical).

Evidence: 2

Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →

Diarrhoea^{[11, 14]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from astringent action

Evidence: 1

Label: Diarrhoea

more plants for diarrhoea →detailed sources →

Infection (general)^{[11, 19, 20]}Moderate · 6/10

Urinary antiseptic for mild, uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection / cystitis (short-term)

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0406, REF-2378

Evidence: 6

Label: Infection (general)

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[11, 14]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from astringent action

Evidence: 1

Label: Skin irritation

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Urinary support^{[8, 11, 19, 20]}Moderate · 6/10

inferred from urinary-antiseptic action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0406

Evidence: 6

Label: Urinary support

more plants for urinary support →detailed sources →

Urinary tract infection (UTI)^{[11, 19, 20]}Moderate · 6/10

Evidence: 6

Label: Urinary tract infection (UTI)

more plants for urinary tract infection (uti) →detailed sources →

Wounds^[11]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0406, REF-0700, REF-0701, REF-2378

Evidence: 1

Label: Wounds

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Traditional Use & History

Bearberry leaf is a long-established European folk and official (EU herbal monograph) remedy for mild, uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections and cystitis, used short-term as a urinary antiseptic; it has also been used traditionally as an astringent for mild diarrhoea.^[11]

Preparations

Cold infusion (maceration)^[11]

Dried leaf macerated in cold water for several hours, which extracts less tannin (reducing gastric irritation) than a hot infusion; the preferred traditional preparation.

Infusion/decoction^[11]

Dried leaf infused or lightly decocted in hot water; alkalinising the urine (e.g. with dietary measures) is traditionally recommended alongside use, since arbutin's antibacterial action requires alkaline urine.

Dosage

Infusion^[11]

The EU herbal monograph describes traditional use of about 3 g dried leaf per cup, up to four times daily, for no more than one week at a time and no more than about five times a year. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[11]Info

Short-term use only: not for more than 1 week at a time and not more than about 5 times per year. If symptoms persist beyond ~4 days, worsen, or are accompanied by fever, blood in the urine or pain, seek medical care.

Safety note^[11]Caution

Contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding and not for use in children or adolescents under 18 years.

Safety note^{[7, 11, 12]}Serious

Works best when the urine is alkaline; avoid taking with substances that acidify the urine. The hydroquinone released can be irritant/potentially hepatotoxic, so prolonged or repeated use must be avoided.

Dangerous Lookalikes

Buxus Sempervirens^{[21, 22]}Dangerous

Confused Part: Small leathery evergreen leaves gathered as the medicinal 'uva-ursi'; the poisonous leaves of box look similar and have been used to adulterate bearberry.

Confusion Context: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) leaves are collected as a urinary herb. As documented in pharmacognosy, during collection bearberry is commonly confused with cowberry (edible) and with box (Buxus sempervirens), and poisonous box - which lacks bearberry's active arbutin - has occasionally been used to adulterate the drug. Box leaves are poisonous, containing steroidal alkaloids that cause vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness and, in quantity, convulsions and respiratory failure. Because the small leathery evergreen leaves are similar, box is a genuine toxic adulterant/look-alike of bearberry.

Distinguishing Features: Leaf apex (decisive): bearberry leaves are spatulate with an entire (untoothed) margin and a rounded apex. Box leaves have a small notch cut out at the tip (emarginate)., Leaf underside: box leaves have a loose, separable epidermis on the underside and lack the astringency of bearberry; bearberry leaves are firm and astringent with a net of sunken veins., Source: buy uva-ursi only from suppliers who authenticate the leaf, since adulteration with box cannot be judged casually.

Key Test: Check the leaf tip. Bearberry leaves are spoon-shaped with a smooth margin and a ROUNDED tip. A leaf with a notch cut out of the tip (and a loose skin on the underside) is box - poisonous, not bearberry. Use only authenticated uva-ursi.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

Harvest Readiness

^[16]

Part: leaf

Signals: Gather the leathery evergreen leaves in early autumn, selecting only the green (living) leaves, and dry in gentle heat., Confirm identity before gathering: bearberry is an evergreen sometimes confused with box (Buxus sempervirens) - see this plant's Dangerous Lookalikes.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: These leaves should be harvested in early autumn, only green leaves being selected, and then dried in gentle heat

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: Useful Temperate Plants (REF-3206) for Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Single source -> provisional.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

References & Sources

Dell'Annunziata, F. and Cometa, S. and Della Marca, R. and Busto, F. and Folliero, V. and Franci, G. and Galdiero, M. and De Giglio, E. and De Filippis, A (2022) 'In Vitro Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Leaf Extract against Cutibacterium acnes', Pharmaceutics, 14(9), pp. 1952. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics14091952 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14091952
de Arriba, S.G. and Naser, B. and Nolte, K.U (2013) 'Risk assessment of free hydroquinone derived from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi folium herbal preparations', International Journal of Toxicology, 32(6), pp. 442-453. doi:10.1177/1091581813507721 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1177/1091581813507721
Kravchenko, G. and Krasilnikova, O. and Raal, A. and Mazen, M. and Chaika, N. and Kireyev, I. and Grytsyk, A. and Koshovyi, O (2022) 'Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L. leaves extract and its modified cysteine preparation for the management of insulin resistance: chemical analysis and bioactivity', Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 12(1), pp. 30. doi:10.1007/s13659-022-00352-1 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-022-00352-1
Sugier, P. and Seczyk, L. and Sugier, D. and Krawczyk, R. and Wojcik, M. and Czarnecka, J. and Okon, S. and Plak, A (2021) 'Chemical Characteristics and Antioxidant Activity of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L. Spreng. at the Southern Border of the Geographical Range of the Species in Europe', Molecules, 26(24), pp. 7692. doi:10.3390/molecules26247692 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247692
Sugier, P. and Seczyk, L. and Sugier, D (2022) 'Variation in Population and Solvents as Factors Determining the Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. Leaf Extracts', Molecules, 27(7), pp. 2247. doi:10.3390/molecules27072247 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27072247
Panusa, A. and Petrucci, R. and Marrosu, G. and Multari, G. and Gallo, F.R (2015) 'UHPLC-PDA-ESI-TOF/MS metabolic profiling of Arctostaphylos pungens and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. A comparative study of phenolic compounds from leaf methanolic extracts', Phytochemistry, 115, pp. 79-88. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.01.002 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.01.002
Hudek Turkovic, A., Gunjaca, M., Marjanovic, M., Lovric, M., Butorac, A., Rasic, D., Peraica, M., Vujcic Bok, V., Sola, I., Rusak, G. and Durgo, K (2022) 'Proteome changes in human bladder T24 cells induced by hydroquinone derived from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi herbal preparation', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, pp. 2022. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2022.115092 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115092
Beaux, D. and Fleurentin, J. and Mortier, F (1999) 'Effect of extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth, Hieracium pilosella L., Sambucus nigra L. and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. in rats', Phytotherapy Research, 13(3), pp. 222-225. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(199905)13:3<222::AID-PTR447>3.0.CO;2-P Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(199905)13:3<222::AID-PTR447>3.0.CO;2-P
Seczyk, L. and Sugier, D. and Sugier, P (2024) 'Effect of the Type of Herbal Preparations (Powdered Plant Material vs. Dry Ethanolic Extracts) on the Bioaccessibility of Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.) Phytochemicals in Simulated Digestion Conditions', Molecules, 29(24), pp. 5968. doi:10.3390/molecules29245968 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29245968
Wrona, M. and Blasco, S. and Becerril, R. and Nerin, C. and Sales, E. and Asensio, E (2018) 'Antioxidant and antimicrobial markers by UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS of a new multilayer active packaging based on Arctostaphylos uva-ursi', Talanta, 196, pp. 498-509. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2018.12.057 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2018.12.057
European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2018) 'European Union herbal monograph on Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng., folium (Uvae ursi folium)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/uvae-ursi-folium Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/uvae-ursi-folium
Braga, V.C.C., Pianetti, G.A. and Cesar, I.C (2020) 'Comparative stability of arbutin in Arctostaphylos uva-ursi by a new comprehensive stability-indicating HPLC method', Phytochemical Analysis, 31(6), pp. 884--891. doi:10.1002/pca.2953 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.2953
Qin, D., Liu, J., Guo, W., Ju, T., Fu, S., Liu, D. and Hu, G (2024) 'Arbutin alleviates intestinal colitis by regulating neutrophil extracellular traps formation and microbiota composition', Phytomedicine. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155741 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155741
ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) (n.d.) 'Uvae ursi folium (Bearberry Leaf) monograph', pp. com. Available at: https://www.escop.com/downloads/bearberry-leaf/ Traditional / reference
https://www.escop.com/downloads/bearberry-leaf/
Zhang, B., Zeng, M., Li, B., Kan, Y., Wang, S., Cao, B. and others (2021) 'Arbutin attenuates LPS-induced acute kidney injury by inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway', Phytomedicine. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153466 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153466
Fern, Ken 'Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry) — Useful Temperate Plants'. Available at: https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Arctostaphylos+uva-ursi Traditional / reference
https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Arctostaphylos+uva-ursi
Nahar, L. and Al-Groshi, A. and Kumar, A. and Sarker, S.D (2022) 'Arbutin: Occurrence in Plants, and Its Potential as an Anticancer Agent', Molecules, 27(24), pp. 8786. doi:10.3390/molecules27248786 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248786
Wang, C.-Q. and Wang, X.-M. and Li, B.-L. and Zhang, Y.-M. and Wang, L (2020) 'Arbutin suppresses osteosarcoma progression via miR-338-3p/MTHFD1L and inactivation of the AKT/mTOR pathway', FEBS Open Bio, 11(1), pp. 289-299. doi:10.1002/2211-5463.13024 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.13024
Gagyor, I., Hummers, E., Schmiemann, G., Friede, T., Pfeiffer, S., Afshar, K. and Bleidorn, J (2021) 'Herbal treatment with uva ursi extract versus fosfomycin in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infection in primary care: a randomized controlled trial', Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 27(10), pp. 1441--1447. doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2021.05.032 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2021.05.032
Moore, M., Trill, J., Simpson, C., Webley, F., Radford, M., Stanton, L. and others (2019) 'Uva-ursi extract and ibuprofen as alternative treatments for uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women (ATAFUTI): a factorial randomized trial', Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 25(8), pp. 973--980. doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2019.01.011 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2019.01.011
ScienceDirect Topics (pharmacognosy) 'Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi - an overview'. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/arctostaphylos-uva-ursi Traditional / reference
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/arctostaphylos-uva-ursi
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox 'Buxus sempervirens (Common Boxwood)'. Available at: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/buxus-sempervirens/ Traditional / reference
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/buxus-sempervirens/

Selected studies & references

RctHerbal treatment with uva ursi extract versus fosfomycin in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infection in primary care: a randomized controlled trial source↗ (2021)

RctUva-ursi extract and ibuprofen as alternative treatments for uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women (ATAFUTI): a factorial randomized trial source↗ (2019)

PreclinicalArbutin alleviates intestinal colitis by regulating neutrophil extracellular traps formation and microbiota composition source↗ (2024)

PreclinicalEffect of the Type of Herbal Preparations (Powdered Plant Material vs. Dry Ethanolic Extracts) on the Bioaccessibility of Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.) Phytochemicals in Simulated Digestion Conditions source↗ (2024)

PreclinicalArbutin: Occurrence in Plants, and Its Potential as an Anticancer Agent source↗ (2022)

PreclinicalArctostaphylos uva-ursi L. leaves extract and its modified cysteine preparation for the management of insulin resistance: chemical analysis and bioactivity source↗ (2022)

PreclinicalIn Vitro Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Leaf Extract against Cutibacterium acnes source↗ (2022)

PreclinicalVariation in Population and Solvents as Factors Determining the Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. Leaf Extracts source↗ (2022)

All 19 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
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