Omnia SanaCommon names in 14 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 3 pharmacological actions, 9 traditional / indicated uses, with 17 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Low, deciduous, much-branched shrub with sharply angled green stems and small, oval, finely toothed leaves. Small, pinkish-green, globe-shaped flowers are borne singly or in pairs, giving way to single, dark blue-black berries with a distinctive crowned top.[1]
Habitat & Distribution
Grows on acidic heaths, moorland and open coniferous woodland; native to Europe, northern Asia and North America.[1]
Harvesting
Berries are hand-picked or gathered with a berry rake when fully ripe in mid-to-late summer.
Key Constituents
The deep blue-purple pigments; the principal antioxidant constituents.
Contribute to antioxidant and astringent activity.
Minor nutritive constituents of the berry.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Supports cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, including blood lipids (high cholesterol)
more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →
Traditional support for eye strain and vision (note: rigorous trials do NOT support improved night vision in healthy eyes)
Supports cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, including blood lipids (high cholesterol)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from venotonic action
more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →
Supports capillary integrity and venous tone (traditional use for varicose veins / chronic venous insufficiency)
Traditional Use & History
Bilberry has a long European folk tradition as a food and remedy for diarrhoea, eye strain and circulatory complaints, with dried berry and standardized anthocyanin extracts studied for cardiovascular and metabolic support; claims of improved night vision in people with normal eyesight are not supported by rigorous clinical trials.[1, 14]
Preparations
Standardized anthocyanoside extract (commonly 25% anthocyanosides), used in circulatory and eye-health research.
Dosage
Clinical research commonly uses around 160-480 mg of standardized 25% anthocyanoside extract daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
The berry is a food and generally very safe; long-term safety of concentrated high-dose extracts is less well characterised.
May lower blood sugar and has mild antiplatelet potential, so use cautiously alongside antidiabetic or anticoagulant/antiplatelet medication.
Claims that bilberry improves night vision in people with normal sight are not supported by rigorous clinical trials.
Dangerous Lookalikes
Harvest Readiness
[15]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Canter, P.H. and Ernst, E (2004) 'Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision - a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials', Survey of Ophthalmology. doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2003.10.006 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2003.10.006 - Ulbricht, C., Basch, E., Basch, S., Bent, S. and others (2009) 'An evidence-based systematic review of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration', Journal of Dietary Supplements, 6(2), pp. 162-200. doi:10.1080/19390210902861858 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/19390210902861858 - Arevstrom, L., Bergh, C., Landberg, R., Wu, H. and others (2018) 'Freeze-dried bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) dietary supplement improves walking distance and lipids after myocardial infarction: an open-label randomized clinical trial', Nutrition Research, 62, pp. 13-22. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2018.11.008 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2018.11.008 - Haga, S., YiMin, Yamaki, H., Jin, S. and others (2019) 'Extracts of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits improve liver steatosis and injury in mice by preventing lipid accumulation and cell death', Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 83(11), pp. 2110-2120. doi:10.1080/09168451.2019.1634514 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/09168451.2019.1634514 - Neamtu, A.A., Szoke-Kovacs, R., Mihok, E., Georgescu, C. and others (2020) 'Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Extracts Comparative Analysis Regarding Their Phytonutrient Profiles, Antioxidant Capacity along with the In Vivo Rescue Effects Tested on a Drosophila melanogaster High-Sugar Diet Model', Antioxidants, 9(11), pp. 1067. doi:10.3390/antiox9111067 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9111067 - Gaspar, D.P., Lechtenberg, M. and Hensel, A (2021) 'Quality Assessment of Bilberry Fruits (Vaccinium myrtillus) and Bilberry-Containing Dietary Supplements', Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69(7), pp. 2213-2225. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.0c07784 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c07784 - Dare, A.P., Gunther, C.S., Grey, A.C., Guo, G. and others (2021) 'Resolving the developmental distribution patterns of polyphenols and related primary metabolites in bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) fruit', Food Chemistry, 374, pp. 131703. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131703 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131703 - Prokop, J., Lnenickova, K., Cibicek, N., Kosina, P. and others (2019) 'Effect of bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) on drug-metabolizing enzymes in rats', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 129, pp. 382-390. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2019.04.051 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.04.051 - Pires, T.C.S.P., Dias, M.I., Calhelha, R.C., Alves, M.J. and others (2020) 'Development of new bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) based snacks: Nutritional, chemical and bioactive features', Food Chemistry, 334, pp. 127511. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127511 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127511 - Sharma, A. and Lee, H.J (2022) 'Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.)', Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 44(10), pp. 4570-4583. doi:10.3390/cimb44100313 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb44100313 - Vanekova, Z. and Rollinger, J.M (2022) 'Bilberries: Curative and Miraculous - A Review on Bioactive Constituents and Clinical Research', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, pp. 909914. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.909914 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.909914 - Crespo, M.C. and Visioli, F (2017) 'A Brief Review of Blue- and Bilberries' Potential to Curb Cardio-Metabolic Perturbations: Focus on Diabetes', Current Pharmaceutical Design, 23(7), pp. 983-988. doi:10.2174/1381612822666161010120523 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666161010120523 - Kopystecka, A., Koziol, I., Radomska, D., Bielawski, K., Bielawska, A. and Wujec, M (2023) 'Vaccinium uliginosum and Vaccinium myrtillus - Two Species One Used as a Functional Food', Nutrients, 15(19), pp. 4119. doi:10.3390/nu15194119 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194119 - Chan, S.W. and Tomlinson, B (2020) 'Effects of Bilberry Supplementation on Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Risk', Molecules. doi:10.3390/molecules25071653 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25071653 - Plants For A Future 'Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Vaccinium+myrtillus Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Vaccinium+myrtillus - Kopcekova, J. and Mrazova, J (2022) 'Phytonutrients of bilberry fruit and saskatoon berry in the prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia', Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny, 73(3), pp. 265--274. doi:10.32394/rpzh.2022.0216 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.32394/rpzh.2022.0216 - Foraging Course Company 'Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Identification'. Available at: https://www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk/post/foraging-guide-bilberry Traditional / reference
https://www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk/post/foraging-guide-bilberry
Selected studies & references
All 15 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.