Technical Description

Bibliografic References

Refined and Standardized dry Extract produced from Bilberry Fruit Fresh

1. Monograph. Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry). Altern Med

Rev. Oct;6(5):500-4. (2001)
2. Anthocyanosides and microvessel walls: new findings on
the mechanism of action of their protective effect in syndromes
due to abnormal capillary fragility. Minerva Med;68(52):35653581 (1977). Mian E.
3. Anthocyanins in Cardiovascular Disease. Developing
Solutions, LLC, Washington, American Society for Nutrition.
Adv. Nutr. 2: 17 (2011). Taylor C. Wallace
4. Effects of Mirtogenol on ocular blood flow and
intraocular hypertension in asymptomatic subjects. Mol Vis
(2008);14:1288-1292. Steigerwalt, R. D., Gianni, B., Paolo, M.,
Bombardelli, E., Burki, C., and Schonlau, F.
5. Anthocyanosides in the treatment of retinopathies.
1981 May;178(5):386-9. Scharrer A, Ober M. Klin Monbl
Augenheilkd.
6. Monitoraggio perimetrico di soggetti miopi in trattamento
farmacologico a lungo termine con unassociazione tra
antocianosidi e vitamine. Boll. Ocul. 1990, 69 (1), 57-71.
Gandolfo E.Natural Therapies for Ocular Disorders Part Two:
7. Cataracts and Glaucoma. Altern Med Rev. 126: 1061910631. Kathleen Head, ND (2004).
8. Diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy therapy with
Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides (Tegens). Double blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ann Ottalmol Clin Ocul
1987;113:1173. Perossini M, et al.
9. Diabetic cataracts and flavonoids. Science 1977;195:8789. Varma SD, Mizuno A, Kinoshita JH.
10. Studies on Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides. I.
Vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity. Arzneim Forsch
1976;26:829-832. Lietti A, Cristoni A, Picci M.
11. Anthocyanin supplementation improves serum LDL- and

Appearance Dark reddish-violet, amorphous hygroscopic powder

Storage Preserve in tight container, protected from light, heat and humidity
BILBERRY FRUIT DRY EXTRACT

EP

USP

TLC Identification

Complies

Complies

ASSAY (HPLC)

32.4 % to 39.6% of Anthocyanins

36.0 % of Anthocyanins expressed

(dry basis)

expressed as cyanidin 3-O-

as cyanidin 3-O- glucoside chloride

Total anthocyanidins (HPLC)

NMT 1.0 %

NMT 1.0 %

Water content

NMT 4.5 % (LoD)

NMT 4.5 % (KF)

glucoside chloride

Ash

NMT 2.0 % (Total Ash)

NMT 3.0 % (Sulphated Ash)

Heavy metals

NMT 20 ppm

NMT 20 ppm

Microbiology

Complies with Harmonized

Complies with Harmonized

Pharmaceutical Method

Pharmaceutical Method

Residual solvents

Complies with ICH standard

Complies with ICH standard

Contaminants

According to current legislations

BILBERRY ETHANOL EXTRACT

HPLC 36%

UV 25%

TLC Identification

Complies

Complies

ASSAY

HPLC 36.0 % of Anthocyanins

UV 25.0 % of Anthocyanins

(dry basis)

expressed as cyanidin 3-O-

expressed as cyanidin 3-O-

glucoside chloride

glucoside chloride

Water content

NMT 4.5 %

NMT 4.5 %

Sulphated Ash

NMT 3.0 %

NMT 3.0 %

Heavy metals

NMT 20 ppm

NMT 20 ppm

Microbiology

Complies with Harmonized

Complies with Harmonized

Pharmaceutical Method

Pharmaceutical Method

Residual solvents

Complies with ICH standard

Complies with ICH standard

Contaminants

According to current legislations

HDL-cholesterol concentrations associated with the inhibition

of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in dyslipidemic subjects.
Am J Clin Nutr.; 90(3): 485-92. Epub 2009 Jul 29. Qin Y, Xia M,
Ma J, Hao Y, Liu J, Mou H, Cao L, Ling W (2009).
12. Effects of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on arterial
vasomotion. Arzneim Forsch 1991;41:905-909. Colantuoni A,
Bertuglia S, Magistretti MJ, Donato L.
13. Contributo al trattamento delle flebopatie da stasi in
gravidanza. Minerva Ginecol. 1980, 32, 1-10. Grismondi G.L.
14. Antiulcer and healing activity of Vaccinium myrtillus
anthocyanosides. 1987 Feb;42(2):29-43. Cristoni A, Magistretti
MJ. Farmaco Prat.
15. Gli antocianosidi da Vaccinium Myrtillus nella cura delle
flebopatie da stasi degli arti inferiori. Gaz. Med. It. 1980, 139,
217-224. Tori A.
16. Molecular Mechanisms Behind the Chemopreventive
Effects of Anthocyanidins. J Biomed Biotechnol. (5): 321325
(2004). De-Xing Hou, Makoto Fujii, Norihiko Terahara, and
Makoto Yoshimoto.
17. Antioxidant capacity as influenced by total phenolic
and anthocyanin content, maturity, and variety of Vaccinium
species. J Agric Food Chem. 46: 2686- 93. (1998) Prior RL,
Cao G, Martin A, Sofic E, McEwen J, OBrien C, Lischner N,
Ehlenfeldt M, Kalt W, Krewer G and others.
18. Bilberry juice modulates plasma concentration of NFkappaB related inflammatory markers in subjects at increased
risk of CVD. Eur J Nutr. 2010 Sep;49(6):345-55. Karlsen A, Paur
I, Bhn SK, Sakhi AK, Borge GI, Serafini M, Erlund I, Laake P,
Tonstad S, Blomhoff R

Bilberry Fruit Dry Extract (EP, USP)

Bilberry Ethanol Extract (36% HPLC, 25% UV)
Linnea SA
Via Cantonale
CH-6595 Riazzino (TI)
Switzerland
Tel:
+41 (0)91 850 5050
Fax:
+41 (0)91 850 5070
E-Mail: info@linnea.ch
Web: www.linnea.ch

Linnea Inc
435 McCartney Street Easton,
PA 18042
Tel: 888-253-0044 (US) or +1 610-253-7950
Fax: +1 610-253-7970
E-mail: dstanek@linnea.ch
Web: www.linnea-us.com

BILBERRY
Bilberry Fruit Dry Extract (EP, USP)
Bilberry Ethanol Extract (36% HPLC, 25% UV)
Part of the plant used Berries

Activity

Common Applications and Evidence

Vaccinium myrtillus is a small deciduous shrub belonging to the Ericaceae family. The genus Vaccinium comprises

Structural Formula

Eye health and vision improvement

Name of the plant

Vaccinium myrtillus

almost 200 species which are most commonly found in Europe, Asia and Northern America. European Bilberry grows

Taken orally, Bilberry extract improves visual acuity in healthy individuals and it is a valid support in the treatment of eye

wild to a height of six to twenty-four inches and often forms large, dominant colonies.

diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma and myopia. [4,5,6]
In severe eye diseases (retinopathy, glaucoma and toxic amblyoplia), anthocyanosides mitigate retinal vessel abnormalities

Cyanidin 3-O-glycoside

R=R1=OH; R2=H

Delphinidin 3-O-glycoside

R=R1= R2=OH

Malvidin 3-O-glycoside

R=R2=OMe; R1=OH

Peonidin 3-O-glycoside

R=OMe, R1=OH; R2=H

Petunidin 3-O-glycoside

R=R1=OH; R2= OMe

and help to prevent visual field disorders [6,7,8]. They are effective in preventing and inhibiting the development of
the early stages of diabetic retinopathy

. Significant improvements have been observed in ophthalmoscopic and

[8,9]

angiographic parameters of patients receiving Bilberry for one month [8,9].

Vasoprotective activity

R3= arabinose or glucose or galactose

Epidemiological investigations have indicated that anthocyanin consumption through the intake of products such as
bilberry juice, red wine or Bilberry extract reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases [10,11].

Bilberry extract contains anthocyanosides, tannins and flavonoids that have been largely studied for their antioxidant

Bilberry preparations are used in the prevention and as adjuvants in the treatment of vascular and blood disorders

effects protecting against free radical damage. [1]

such as varicose veins, thrombosis and angina. [12,15]

Anthocyanins and other phenolics from bilberry up-regulate defences against oxidative stress, influencing genes

effect, combating reduced capillary resistance symptoms such as petechiae, bruising and faecal occult blood [10, 11,12,13].

Clinical trials have shown improvements in patients with lower limb varicose veins, thocyanosides had a vasoprotective

controlled by the antioxidant response element [2], inhibiting the enzymes that cause the degradation of collagen fibres
and promoting biosynthesis. The resulting effect is the decrease in capillary permeability and fragility and the inhibition
of platelet aggregation. Bilberry constituents prevent the release and synthesis of pro-inflammatory compounds. [1,2,3]

Antiulcer and astringent activity

The documented effect on night vision is mainly related to the recovery of rhodopsin, which improves ocular blood

cyanidin chloride contained in Bilberry extract showed antiulcer activity. [14]

flow and lowers intraocular pressure, favourably modifying several enzymatic parameters involved in retina damage. [4]

For its content in Tannins, bilberry extract is used as astringent and to treat diarrhoea. In animal models of gastric ulcers,
Bilberry extract is used against haemorrhoid of pregnant women as totally natural product

, it is also used in

[13]

ENT surgery to reduce intra-and post-operative bleeding and to prevent the onset of haemorrhagic complications, by
reducing the idiopathic epistaxis caused by abnormal capillary fragility [14,15].

Bilberry fingerprint

Source

HPLC profile of Bilberry extract shows a typical fingerprint characterized by the 15 major constituents.

Linnea extract is obtained exclusively from the fruits of shrubs native to the wilds of Northern and Eastern European

Linnea Bilberry EP

EP Bilberry Standard

100

0.100

Free radical scavenging, antioxidant and chemopreventive activities

Anthocyanins have demonstrated an inhibitory effect on the growth of some cancer cells and, due to their global

Countries, which are recognized to have the most effective active substance composition.
Fruits are widely harvested and checked carefully prior to shipment. Bilberries fruits are soft and juicy and thus highly
susceptible to damage. Linnea staff is present on site to monitor all procedures involved in harvesting, cleaning,
refrigerating, storing and transporting the fruits and to guarantee raw material quality from harvest to delivery.

90

chemoprotective effect, they are recommended in the prevention of a range of diseases (atherosclerosis,
cardiovascular disease and chronic inflammation) [10, 16].

0.090

0.080

80

Bilberry extract plays an important role in protecting against restraint stress-induced liver damage by both scavenging

free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. [10,16]

0.070

70

60

0.060

8
7

40

15

0.030

12

11

0.020

13

11
9
10

10

16

14

17

18

19

12
13

10
9

0.010

20

exhibited the most potent antioxidant activity (44.6 2.3) among different berries species. [16, 17,18]

15

0.040

30

20

Free radical quenching activity has been determined by the ORAC test measuring the antioxidant capacity. Bilberry

0.050

50

14

17
16

18

35.00

40.00

19 20

0.000

0
10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50
5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

45.00

50.00