The blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), is native to Europe and northern Asia. There are also some varieties in North America. The parts used are mainly the fruits and leaves. Being two distinct parts of the plant, they possess actives with different chemical structures. Although they share some properties, others are very different.

Within the active principles found in the Fruit, we can mention as the main ones, the chemical compounds called anthocyanidins and anthocyanosides such as neomirtilin-delfinidol, cyanidol, malvidol, petunidol. Also flavonoids such as rutoside, catechic tannins, organic acids, sugars, inositol, pectin, carotenes, etc.

As pharmacological action of the fruits we can indicate that they have antioxidant activity due to the action of anthocyanidins and their glucosides, they have activity in the microcirculation of the retina, contribute to the regeneration of the vascular layer increasing visual acuity, antiplatelet aggregation action, general microcirculation, and venous insufficiency also due to the presence of anthocyanidin. In addition metabolic activity in fats and carbohydrates, anti-inflammatory, antihemorrhagic and vitamin P, improving venous microcirculation, increasing capillary resistance and controlling capillary permeability. The tannins confer an astringent action, used as antidiarrheal, local hemostatic and antiseptic.

The main properties of Blueberry Fruit extracts are:

– Antioxidant
– Anti-inflammatory
– Astringent
– Vitamin P
– Antiseptic

Among the most frequent indications are treatments for varicose veins, hemorrhoids, capillary fragility, arteriopathies, edema due to venous insufficiency, pigmentary retinitis, myopia. Externally in anti-aging, anti-radical, nutritive and demulcent treatments.

On the other hand, the chemical composition of blueberry Leaves extracts differs substantially from that of the fruits.

The presence of abundant catechic tannins is observed, which exert a more potent astringent action than fruit extracts, being used to a greater extent as antidiarrheal and local hemostatic. The tannins are also responsible together with neomirtilin and chromium salts for the hypoglycemic action. Arbutin acts as a specific antiseptic of the urinary tract, an action shared with Uva Ursi extracts since it also has arbutin among its active principles. These extracts also show antifungal activity.

The main properties of blueberry leaf extracts are:

– Antiseptic of the urinary tract
– Astringent
– Antidiarrheal
– Hemostatic
– Healing
– Hypoglycemic
– Antifungal

The internal indications for products containing blueberry (leaf) extracts are the following: diarrhea, diabetes, cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, vulvovaginitis and for external use: dermatomycosis, eczema, wounds and dermal ulcers.