Self Help

Bilberry or European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a member of the genus Vaccinium, which comprises nearly 200 species of berries including cranberry cowberry, and American blueberry. Bilberry is a shrubby perennial plant that grows in the woods and forest meadows of Europe. The angular, green, branched stem grows from a creeping rootstock to a height of 1 to 1.5 feet. The 0.5 to 1.0-inch long leaves are oval and bright green, while the flowers are reddish or greenish-pink and bell-shaped.

The flowering season is April to June. The fruit is a blue-black or purple berry. Bilberry differs from the American blueberry in that the meat of the fruit is also purple, while the American variety has a cream or white-colored interior.

The pharmacologically active constituents of bilberries include flavonoid compounds known as anthocyanosides. An anthocyanoside consists of a back-bone molecule known as anthocyanidin bound to one of three sugars (arabinose, glucose, or galactose). More than fifteen different anthocyanosides originate from the five different anthocyanidins found in bilberry.

Other members such as black currant and grape contain similar anthocyanosides. Extracts of
these fruit are also used for medicinal purposes in Europe. The concentration of anthocyanosides in the fresh fruit is approximately 0.1 to 0.25%, whereas concentrated extracts of bilberry yield an anthocyanidin content of 25%. An extract with an anthocyanidin content of 25% actually contains about 38 percent anthocyanosides. For analytical purposes, the anthocyanoside content should always be expressed in terms of anthocyanidin. Only very small amounts of free anthocyanidins exist in nature and in bilberry extracts.

Bilberries have, of course, been used as food and for their high nutritive value. Medicinally, they have been utilized in the treatment of scurvy and urinary complaints (including infection and stones).The dried berries have been used primarily for their astringent qualities in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery. Decoctions of the leaves have been used in the treatment of diabetes.

Renewed interest in the medicinal use of bilberry was first aroused when it was observed during World War II that British Royal Air Force pilots reported improved nighttime visual acuity on bombing raids after consuming bilberries. Subsequent studies showed that administration of bilberry extracts to healthy subjects resulted in improved nighttime visual acuity, quicker adjustment to darkness, and faster restoration of visual acuity after exposure to glare.

In Europe, bilberry extracts are now part of the conventional medical treatment of many eye disorders including cataracts and macular degeneration, as well as retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, and night blindness. This use is supported by positive results in controlled clinical trials.