Key Constituents

Arbutin (and methylarbutin)^{[1, 2, 3, 4]}

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

Glycosides

Tannins (gallotannins)^{[1, 5]}

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

Tannins

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

Antioxidant constituents of the leaf.

Phenolic acidsFlavonoids

Pharmacological Actions

Antimicrobial^{[1, 2, 3, 7, 8]}

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^{[1, 5]}

Astringent (tannins)

Urinary antiseptic^{[1, 2, 3, 7, 8]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Diarrhoea^{[1, 5]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from astringent action

more plants for diarrhoea →detailed sources →

Infection (general)^{[1, 2, 7, 8]}Moderate · 6/10

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

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[1, 5]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from astringent action

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Urinary support^{[1, 2, 3, 7, 8]}Moderate · 6/10

inferred from urinary-antiseptic action

more plants for urinary support →detailed sources →

Urinary tract infection (UTI)^{[1, 2, 3, 7, 8]}Moderate · 6/10

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

Wounds^{[1, 2, 3, 7, 8]}Moderate · 6/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[1]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^[1]Caution

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

Safety note^{[1, 2, 3]}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.

References & Sources

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
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
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
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

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