Quality Assessment of Bilberry Fruits (Vaccinium myrtillus) and Bilberry-Containing Dietary Supplements. 2021

Dan Plecenik Gaspar, and Matthias Lechtenberg, and Andreas Hensel
Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany.

Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) are used to treat non-specific diarrhea and for symptoms related to varicose veins. Because they are quite expensive fruits, quality problems and compositional fraud might occur for dietary supplements. This study investigated fresh/dried bilberries and dietary supplements by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting against a quantified bilberry reference extract for identity testing and to test total anthocyanin content by HPLC and for quantification of hydrolyzable and condensed tannins. Protocols were detecting improper drying/storage and adulteration with other Vaccinium species or elderberries. The majority (91%) of dried bilberries from different sources proved to be of good overall quality. Investigation of dietary supplements revealed major problems, with 45% of unacceptable quality (e.g., bilberry-free products, nearly anthocyanin/tannin-free products, and samples being falsified with anthocyanins from other sources). Three representative samples of bilberry juices were shown to have good quality in all tested parameters. Increased analytical efforts must be implemented to improve product quality.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005638 Fruit The fleshy or dry ripened ovary of a plant, enclosing the seed or seeds. Berries,Legume Pod,Plant Aril,Plant Capsule,Aril, Plant,Arils, Plant,Berry,Capsule, Plant,Capsules, Plant,Fruits,Legume Pods,Plant Arils,Plant Capsules,Pod, Legume,Pods, Legume
D000872 Anthocyanins A group of FLAVONOIDS derived from FLAVONOLS, which lack the ketone oxygen at the 4-position. They are glycosylated versions of cyanidin, pelargonidin or delphinidin. The conjugated bonds result in blue, red, and purple colors in flowers of plants. Anthocyanidin,Anthocyanidins,Anthocyanin,Leucoanthocyanidins
D019587 Dietary Supplements Products in capsule, tablet or liquid form that provide dietary ingredients, and that are intended to be taken by mouth to increase the intake of nutrients. Dietary supplements can include macronutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; and/or MICRONUTRIENTS, such as VITAMINS; MINERALS; and PHYTOCHEMICALS. Food Supplements,Neutraceuticals,Dietary Supplementations,Food Supplementations,Herbal Supplements,Nutraceuticals,Nutriceuticals,Dietary Supplement,Food Supplement,Herbal Supplement,Neutraceutical,Nutraceutical,Nutriceutical,Supplement, Food,Supplement, Herbal,Supplementations, Dietary,Supplements, Dietary,Supplements, Food,Supplements, Herbal
D029796 Vaccinium A plant genus of the family ERICACEAE known for species with edible fruits. Vacciniums
D029800 Vaccinium myrtillus A plant species of the family VACCINIUM. Bilberry,Whortleberry,Sea Bilberry,Vaccinium bracteatum,Bilberries,Bilberries, Sea,Bilberry, Sea,Sea Bilberries,Vaccinium bracteatums,Whortleberries,bracteatum, Vaccinium,bracteatums, Vaccinium

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