Caucasian Whortleberry

Scientific Name(s): Vaccinium arctostaphylos
Common Name(s): Caucasian blueberry, Cyah-gileh, Qaraqat

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 21, 2022.

Clinical Overview

Use

Fruit and leaves of Caucasian whortleberry have been used to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. Limited data from 3 small, short-duration, randomized, placebo-only, controlled trials showed some beneficial effects from the plant’s fruit extract in 2 trials on glycemic and lipid parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia. However, only 1 of the 3 trials measured A1c levels. Two small, short-duration, placebo-only controlled trials in patients without diabetes demonstrated favorable effects on lipid profiles.

Dosing

Fruit extract (standardized to 21% anthocyanins) has been used at dosages of 350 mg 3 times daily for up to 2 months.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not been identified; data are limited.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

No adverse events have been reported in clinical trials. Data are limited.

Toxicology

Due to the resemblance of Caucasian whortleberry (V. arctostaphylos) to Atropa belladonna, accidental poisonings have been reported after mistaken consumption.

Botany

Vaccinium species include cranberries, bilberries, blueberries, and whortleberries. V. arctostaphylos L. is 1 of approximately 200 species of the genus Vaccinium (Ericaceae). It is a compact deciduous shrub (1.5 to 2.5 m tall) with numerous ascending branches. It grows mainly along the Black Sea from southwestern Bulgaria, through European and Asiatic Turkey, to the Caucasus—a region between the Caspian and Black seas where Europe and Asia converge. The berries are purple-black to black. It is the only Vaccinium species endemic to Iran, where it grows in the northern forests between 1,600 to 1,800 m above sea level. In northeastern Anatolia, Turkey, it can be found at altitudes of 600 to 1,250 m near the cities of Artvin, Rize, Trabzon, Gumushane, and Ordu. In the Caucasian mountains in the northern region of the Republic of Georgia, it grows at elevations of approximately 900 to 1,500 m.Lätti 2009, Gvozdetsky 2015, Nickavar 2004, Abidov 2006

History

Traditionally, decoctions and infusions of Caucasian whortleberry leaves have been used as a hypoglycemic agent for treating diabetes and "prediabetes" (impaired glucose tolerance). Its dried berries have also been used to treat diabetes and high blood pressure at a dose of 5 g/day. The leaves and berries are harvested for both commercial sale as well as household consumption.Lätti 2009, Nickavar 2004, Abidov 2006, Kianbakht 2013, Zhu 2015

The polyphenols (ie, anthocyanins) in Vaccinium berries have been reported to have positive effects on degenerative diseases, diabetes, vision, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders.

Chemistry

The berries of Vaccinium species contain high levels of a variety of anthocyanins that contribute to their color. Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments comprised of an aglycone (anthocyanidin) and a sugar moiety that have a wide range of biological activity, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. All of the most common anthocyanidins (ie, delphinidin, cyaniding, petunidin, peonidin, pelargonidin, malvidin) are found in...