Medveđe grožđe, Medvedtka Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Ericaceae)
EMA/HMPC/750266/2016; 30 January 2018
Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)
Assessment report on Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.)
Spreng., folium
Based on Article 16d(1), Article 16f and Article 16h of Directive 2001/83/EC (traditional use)
Arctostaphylos, a small evergreen shrub, which has been used in Native American traditional medicine for treatment of urinary tract symptoms and as a diuretic.
Uva ursi is an herbal product derived from the fresh or dried leaves of the plant Arctostaphylos uva-ursi or bearberry, named for the grape-like clusters of orange berries that are commonly eaten by bears.
Uva ursi leaves contain several phytochemicals, including ursolic acid, tannic acid, gallic acid, oils, resins, hydroquinone glycosides (mainly “arbutin”), and flavonoids. The active component of uva ursi is suspected to be hydroquinone, and particularly arbutin and methyl arbutin which may have antiinflammatory and antiseptic activities that are excreted in the urine.
Uva ursi has been used to treat dysuria, cystitis, urethritis, and kidney and bladder stones. It has also been recommended for inducing diuresis and to treat constipation. In addition, the leaves of Arctostaphylos have been dried and smoked as tobacco, while leaves and berries have also been used as food.
While uva ursi has been used extensively in traditional medicine, there is no convincing medical evidence that it is effective in treating urinary tract infections or urinary symptoms.
More recently, uva ursi has been included in multiingredient dietary supplements meant for a variety of conditions such as to induce weight loss, promote wellness, prevent the effects of aging and to increase energy and stamina.
Pedersen, M. 1987. Nutritional Herbology. Pederson Publishing. Bountiful, Utah. 377 pp.
List, P.H. and Horhammer, L., Hager’s Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, Vols. 2-6, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1969-1979.
GALLO-TANNIN 200;
ARBUTIN 186;
FIBER 121;
TANNIN 70;
HYPEROSIDE 13;
CALCIUM 10.9;
URSOLIC-ACID 7.5;
HYDROQUINONE 5;
POTASSIUM 3.83;
MAGNESIUM 1.21;
ALUMINUM 0.719; PHOSPHORUS 0.37; ASCORBIC-ACID 0.191; BETA-CAROTENE 0.172; IRON 0.105, SODIUM 0,06; MANGANESE 0.0165; NIACIN 0.012; SILICON 0.007; FLUORIDE 0.0032; COBALT; SELENIUM; CHROMIUM; THIAMIN; RIBOFLAVIN; GENTISIC-ACID; ELLAGIC-ACID;
P-HYDROXY-BENZOIC-ACID; SINAPIC-ACID; MYRICETIN; AVICULARIN; SALICYLIC-ACID; GALLIC-ACID; MONOTROPEIN; ASPERULOSIDE; CITRIC-ACID; RESORCINOL; BETA-AMYRIN; PROTOCATECHUIC-ACID; FERULIC-ACID; MALIC-ACID-; ALPHA-AMYRIN-ACETATE; OXALIC-ACID; QUINIC-ACID ; DELPHINIDIN; EPICATECHIN; ALPHA-AMYRIN; OLEANOLIC-ACID; QUERCITRIN; ISOQUERCITRIN; CYANIDIN; VANILLIC-ACID; ALLANTOIN; LUPEOL; QUERCETIN; P-COUMARIC-ACID; UVAOL; ZINC; HYPERIN;