Vaccinium Species (Ericaceae): From Chemical Composition to Bio-Functional Activities

The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) includes more than 450 species, which mainly grow in cooler areas of the northern hemisphere. Vaccinium species have been used in traditional medicine of different cultures and the berries are widely consumed as food. Indeed, Vaccinium supplement-based herbal medic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied sciences 2021-06, Vol.11 (12), p.5655
Main Authors: Tundis, Rosa, Tenuta, Maria C., Loizzo, Monica R., Bonesi, Marco, Finetti, Federica, Trabalzini, Lorenza, Deguin, Brigitte
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthocyanins
anti-inflammatory pathways
Antioxidants
Berries
berry
Biological activity
Chemical composition
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
endothelial dysfunction
Endothelium
Ericaceae
Flavonoids
Functional foods & nutraceuticals
Glucose
Herbal medicine
Inflammation
leaf
Medicine
Metabolites
Oxidative stress
Phytochemicals
Polyphenols
Public health
Urinary tract diseases
Urinary tract infections
Urogenital system
Vaccinium
Vaccinium species
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Summary:The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) includes more than 450 species, which mainly grow in cooler areas of the northern hemisphere. Vaccinium species have been used in traditional medicine of different cultures and the berries are widely consumed as food. Indeed, Vaccinium supplement-based herbal medicine and functional food, mainly from V. myrtillus and V. macrocarpon, are used in Europe and North America. Biological studies support traditional uses since, for many Vaccinium components, important biological functions have been described, including antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and endothelium protective activities. Vaccinium components, such as polyphenols, anthocyanins and flavonoids, are widely recognized as modulators of cellular pathways involved in pathological conditions, thus indicating that Vaccinium may be an important source of bioactive molecules. This review aims to better describe the bioactivity of Vaccinium species, focusing on anti-inflammatory and endothelial protective cellular pathways, modulated by their components, to better understand their importance for public health.
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app11125655