Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.)

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) has a long history of use in human nutrition and in conjunction with products derived from plants.There are written sources indicating that preparations from its dried fruits have been prepared by boiling for use in folk medicine since the 1700s. Bilberry is widely known as “superfood” due to its richness in compounds with various biological properties that have quite positive effects on human health.

The cultivation of bilberries that began in America is nowined in many parts of the world with many varieties. In our country, wild forms (V. vitisidea, V. myrtillus, v. uliginosum and V. arctostaphyllos) grow in the flora of the Black Sea region (Artvin, Rize, Trabzon, Ardu, Giresun, Gümüşhane, Samsun, Sinop, Kastamonu, Zonguldak, Bolu, Bartın and Düzce), Marmara region (Kocaeli, Sakarya, Istanbul, Kırklareli, Bursa and Fisheries) and Eastern Anatolia (Erzurum-Senkaya and Ardahan).

The fruit contains flavonoid glycosides, anthocyanins (especially delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, malvidin), (1, 2) kercetin- 3-glucuronide and hyperoside, polyphenols (cathexin, epicatexin and tanens).

The leaves contain flavonoids (quercetin and glycosides (hyperocyte, kercitrine), phenolic acids (caffeic, p-cumaric, P-hydroxybenzoic, proto-catetic and melylotic) and additionally tanens and iridoids.

In particular, it has been found that the consumption of fruits improves vision and antioxidant potential, lowering blood sugar. Studies have anti-inflammatory, vasoprotective and antimicrobial properties. It has also been proven by various studies that it plays a role in the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular problems, hyperglycemia, cancer and age-related diseases.

In addition to its preparations that highlight the biological activities of the bilberry, it also appears to us as different products in the food sector. It is used as fruit (cake, frozen and dried) and also in the form of canned industrial products (cakes, fruit juices and concenters) or for the production of syrups, cakes, beverages and cakes and can be supplied commercially.