Bilberry Extract

Bilberry extract has shown tremendous anti aging potential due to it having a broad spectrum of anthocyanins, which belong to the flavonoid main group of compounds and act as powerful antioxidants.

So far, research has identified more than 600 anthocyanins, and every fruit and vegetable has a distinct anthocyanin profile with a specific pattern. Fruits that are richest in anthocyanins are strongly colored (dark blue, purple, or black) berries like the bilberry.

One way in which the extract's anthocyanins promote health is by fortifying blood vessel walls, resulting in improved blood flow throughout the body.

Furthermore, studies have suggested that phytochemicals such as anthocyanins strengthen collagen, a critical component for of the structure of skin, tendon, bone, cartilage, and other connective tissues.

Anthocyanins in the extract, as flavonoids, are powerful antioxidants that help defend the body against so-called "free-radical" damage occurring in the body, which is a main cause of aging.

Bilberry is also a major source of quercetin, a bioflavonoid, which has shown a wide range of anti aging effectiveness in studies, including strengthening of the capillaries.

The extract also has resveratrol, which has been suggested by research to be a powerful anti aging compound, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, and immunomodulatory actions.

Bilberry Extract - Studies

Macheix J, Fleuriet A, Billot J. Fruit Phenolics. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1990.

Lazze MC, Pizzala R, Savio M, et al. Anthocyanins protect against DNA damage induced by tert-butyl-hydroperoxide in rat smooth muscle and hepatoma cells. Mutat Res. 2003 Feb 5;535(1):103-15.

Bagchi D, Sen CK, Bagchi M, Atalay M. Anti-angiogenic, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic properties of a novel anthocyanin-rich berry extract formula. Biochemistry (Mosc.). 2004 Jan;69(1):75-80.

Hou DX. Potential mechanisms of cancer chemoprevention by anthocyanins. Curr Mol Med. 2003 Mar;3(2):149-59.

Chou EJ, Keevil JG, Aeschlimann S, et al. Effect of ingestion of purple grape juice on endothelial function in patients with coronary heart disease. Am J Cardiol. 2001 Sep 1;88(5):553-5.

Viljanen K, Kylli P, Kivikari R, Heinonen M. Inhibition of protein and lipid oxidation in liposomes by berry phenolics. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Dec 1;52(24):7419-24.

Middleton E Jr, Kandaswami C, Theoharides TC. The effects of plant flavonoids on mammalian cells: implications for inflammation, heart disease, and cancer. Pharmacol Rev. 2000 Dec;52(4):673-751.

Head KA. Natural therapies for ocular disorders, part two: cataracts and glaucoma. Altern Med Rev. 2001 Apr;6(2):141-66.

Martin AR, Villegas I, La Casa C, de la Lastra CA. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in grapes, suppresses oxidative damage and stimulates apoptosis during early colonic inflammation in rats. Biochem Pharmacol. 2004 Apr 1;67(7):1399-410.

Swan DK, Ford B. Chemoprevention of cancer: review of the literature. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1997 May;24(4):719-27.

Aggarwal BB, Bhardwaj A, Aggarwal RS, et al. Role of resveratrol in prevention and therapy of cancer: preclinical and clinical studies. Anticancer Res. 2004 Sep;24(5A):2783-840.

Levenson AS, Gehm BD, Pearce ST, et al. Resveratrol acts as an estrogen receptor (ER) agonist in breast cancer cells stably transfected with ER alpha. Int J Cancer. 2003 May 1;104(5):587-96.

Bhat KP, Pezzuto JM. Cancer chemopreventive activity of resveratrol. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2002 May;957:210-29.

Puupponen-Pimia R, Nohynek L, Alakomi HL, Oksman-Caldentey KM. Bioactive berry compounds–novel tools against human pathogens. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2005 Apr;67(1):8-18.

Howell AB. Cranberry proanthocyanidins and the maintenance of urinary tract health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2002;42(3 Suppl):273-8.

Kandra L, Gyemant G, Zajacz A, Batta G. Inhibitory effects of tannin on human salivary alpha-amylase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Jul 9;319(4):1265-71.

Morazzoni P, Bombardelli E. Vaccinium myrtillus. Fitoterapia. 1996;67:3.

Blumenthal M, ed. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. American Botanical Council; 2000.

Cignarella A, Nastasi M, Cavalli E, Puglisi L. Novel lipid-lowering properties of Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaves, a traditional antidiabetic treatment, in several models of rat dyslipidaemia: a comparison with ciprofibrate. Thromb Res. 1996 Dec 1;84(5):311-22.

Aso Y, Inukai T, Tayama K, Takemura Y. Serum concentrations of advanced glycation endproducts are associated with the development of atherosclerosis as well as diabetic microangiopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Acta Diabetol. 2000;37(2):87-92.

Suji G, Sivakami S. Glucose, glycation and aging. Biogerontology. 2004;5(6):365-73.

Roy S, Khanna S, Alessio HM, et al. Anti-angiogenic property of edible berries. Free Radic Res. 2002 Sep;36(9):1023-31.

Katsube N, Iwashita K, Tsushida T, Yamaki K, Kobori M. Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and the anthocyanins. J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Jan 1;51(1):68-75.

Bell D, Gochenaur K. Characterization of coronary arterial reactivity of berry anthocyancins. Findings presented during the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting. April 20-24, 2002.


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