“Uva ursi” means “bear's grape” in Latin, probably because bears are fond of the fruit. Uva ursi was first documented in a 13th century Welsh herbal. Teas and extracts of the leaves have been used as urinary tract antiseptics and diuretics for centuries. The plant has been used as a laxative and the leaves have been smoked. Bearberry teas and extracts have been used as vehicles for pharmaceutical preparations. In homeopathy, a tincture of the leaves is believed to be effective in the treatment of cystitis, urethritis, and urinary tract inflammations. The berries are not used medicinally. They are juicy but have an insipid flavor that improves upon cooking.

Uva ursi is a low-growing evergreen shrub with creeping stems that form a dark green carpet of leaves. It can grow to 20 inches in height. The plant has small, dark, fleshy, leathery leaves and clusters of small white or pink bell-shaped flowers. It blooms from April to May and produces a dull orange berry. The plant grows abundantly throughout the northern hemisphere from Asia to the United States.

History

“Uva ursi” means “bear's grape” in Latin, probably because bears are fond of the fruit. Uva ursi was first documented in a 13th century Welsh herbal. Teas and extracts of the leaves have been used as urinary tract antiseptics and diuretics for centuries. The plant has been used as a laxative and the leaves have been smoked. Bearberry teas and extracts have been used as vehicles for pharmaceutical preparations. In homeopathy, a tincture of the leaves is believed to be effective in the treatment of cystitis, urethritis, and urinary tract inflammations. The berries are not used medicinally. They are juicy but have an insipid flavor that improves upon cooking.

Chemistry

The leaves contain hydroquinone derivatives, mainly arbutin and methyl-arbutin in concentrations ranging from 5% to 15%. HPLC determination of these substances has been evaluated. Tannins are also present (6% to 40%) including hydrolysable, ellagic and gallic acid tannins. Because of this high concentration of tannin, teas prepared from this plant are generally made by soaking the leaves in cold water overnight. This minimizes extraction of the bitter tannins. A report on tannin isolation from uva ursi leaves is available.

Flavonoids including hyperoside, myricetin, quercetin, and glycosides such as hyperin, isoquercitrin, myricitrin, and quercitrin are also found.

Triterpenes, monotropein, piceoside, phenol-carboxylic acids such as gallic, p-coumaric, and syringic acids can be found. Terpenoids such as alpha-amyrin and ursolic acids are present in the plant, as malic acid, allantoin, resin, volatile oil, and wax.

Other chemistry includes the identification of 14 phenolic acids from uva ursi leaves using GLC; isolation of 8 triterpenoids from uva ursi roots; isolation and identification of free and bonded saccharides in the plant leaves; and differentiation of adulterated uva ursi leaf samples.

Uva Ursi Uses and Pharmacology

Arbutin is hydrolyzed in gastric fluid to hydroquinone. In alkaline urine, hydroquinone is mildly astringent and is an effective antimicrobial agent. Despite this activity, in practice, large amounts of uva ursi must be consumed for any significant effect to occur and the urine must be alkalinized. Evidence suggests that arbutin itself may contribute to the antiseptic activity of the plant, because both arbutin and crude leaf extracts have been shown to possess mild antimicrobial activity in vitro. A report discusses liquid concentration of uva ursi possessing antiseptic and diuretic properties. Uva ursi aerial part extracts were found to be most active against Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris .

Dosage

While there is no recently published clinical evidence to support specific dosage, uva ursi has been used for urinary tract infections at doses of up to 10 g of leaf daily, equivalent to 400 to 840 mg arbutin. 1

Pregnancy/Lactation

The published report of the Expert Advisory Committee in Herbs and Botanical Preparations to the Canadian Health Protection Branch (January 1986) recommended that food preparations containing uva ursi provide labeling contraindicating their use during pregnancy and lactation because large doses of uva ursi are oxytocic. Avoid use.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Products containing uva ursi may turn urine green. The plant's astringent tannin content may cause gastric discomfort and usually limits the dose ingested.

Do not use uva ursi if suffering from kidney disease. Do not take the plant for more than 7 to 10 days at a time.

UVA URSI - IN STOCK

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