Bilberry
Vaccinium myrtillus L.Ericaceae // fruit · leaf historically
Overview
Plant parts
fruit, leaf historically
Known constituents
anthocyanins, tannins
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include anthocyanins; tannins; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Bilberry has been used for vision; circulation; diarrhea; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (vision; circulation; diarrhea), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Limited/mixed trials for vascular and visual outcomes; insufficient for night-vision enhancement.
MODERATE · randomized controlled trial · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is fruit; leaf historically; traditional and modern forms include infusion/tea, tincture, powder/capsule, extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include Fruit generally safe; leaf long-term safety uncertain. Contraindications/cautions include Bleeding disorders caution.
MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Potential additive anticoagulant and glucose-lowering effects.
MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Food use common; medicinal extracts lack pregnancy/lactation data.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
- Possible adulterantBlack mulberry
Non-bilberry anthocyanins, including black-mulberry material, have been used to adulterate bilberry extracts.
Why it matters: Anthocyanin content alone does not establish bilberry identity.
HIGH · Chemical Authentication of Botanical Ingredients: A Review of Commercial Herbal Products
Botanical synonym
Myrtillus niger Gilib.
Taxonomic identity note
- Bilberry is treated here as Vaccinium myrtillus L. in the family Ericaceae; recorded older names include Myrtillus niger Gilib..
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
- NCCIH Herbs at a Glance3 claims
NCCIH fact sheet
NIH LiverTox monograph
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
EMA monograph
WHO monograph
peer-reviewed authentication review