Description

Full Potency European Bilberry Extract Eye Health Botanical Supplement. - PURE BILBERRY EXTRACT AuBrownHealth Bilberryextract is made from the fruit of the small European blueberry, Vacciniummyrtillus. Its highly concentrated extracts have been widely used in Europe andthe US for decades, for its benefits in addressing ocular, microcirculatory andvascular related disorders. Benefits of Bilberry Though studies have shownvascular and circulatory benefits, the main focus of Bilberry use has been forthe support of eye health. In the American Botanical Council Clinical Guide toHerbs, Mark Blumenthal et al outline 15 studies, ‘Clinical Studies on Bilberry’.All but one of these demonstrated positive effects for indications includingocular conditions (night/day vision and retinopathy), and vascular conditionsincluding venous insufficiency and micro- and macro peripheral circulation[1-2]. Quality Concerns Bilberry extracts aregenerally standardized to their anthocyanins, a group of water-soluble pigmentsthat are responsible for the red, purple, blue and violet colors in many fruitsand flowers. Because of the highconcentration required for Bilberry extracts (100:1), the tight supply of freshbilberry material, and the process involved in manufacturing a consistent gradeof material, Bilberry is one of the most expensive extracts in regular use forbotanical based supplements. For many years a UV test method was considered satisfactory toquantify the anthocyanin levels in Bilberry extracts. This method uses UltraViolet light to detect and quantify the range of color compounds that arepresent in the bilberry anthocyanins. However, it is not specific enough todetect the presence of anthocyanins from other plant sources or synthetic dyesthat are added to deceive the UV system. Thus, adulteration has been found in many Bilberry samplesapproved by the UV method. In these cases, adulterants had been added to eithermake poor quality bilberry look more potent, or to make fake bilberry lookpotent and real. The addition of only a small amount of adulterant can make theextract significantly less expensive to manufacture. The following typical methods of adulteration have beenidentified: · Azo dyes (synthetic) have been used to spike the results givenfor total anthocyanin content measured in Bilberry extract. The European Unionviews one of the illegal Azo dyes (Sudan I) as both genotoxic and carcinogenic.Mandatory testing for Azo dyes in spices and processed foods has passed intoEuropean law [3]. · Other adulterants used are from plant compounds that are high inanthocyanin levels include: mulberry (Morus nigra), black bean skins,blueberry, etc. Because UV does not distinguish between the different forms ofanthocyanins (but only determines a total), these spiked materials pass thetest for total anthocyanin or total anthocyanidin by UV. Qualitysolutions Because the UV spectrometer has proven unreliable for Bilberrytesting, Indena developed a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)method to verify the anthocyanin profile and the concentrations of variousAnthocyanins found in bilberry. This test can thus distinguish between genuineand adulterated Bilberry material. QualityValidation Bilberry extract is produced exclusively from European originbilberry. Customized identity testing, plus USP-HPLC analysis is conducted toverify the botanical identity and quantity of each anthocyanin andanthocyanidin in the extract. This USP-HPLC test is specific to eachanthocyanin and rules out potentially adulterated material. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), thorough supply chainmanagement, unique process and standardization of active principals in theproduct ensure that all batches of AuBrown Health Bilberry extract meetspecifications For complete information on quality concerns and testing ofBilberry extracts, please go to/click on: Myrtillex™Bilberry Extract PhytoReport References:: [1] Muth, E. R. et al. (2000) The effect of bilberry nutritionalsupplementation on night visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Altern Med Rev5(2), 164–73. [2] Neumann L. (1973). Long-term therapy of vascular permeability disordersusing anthocyanosides. Munch Med Wochenschr 115, 952–4. [3] Gafner, S. (2015). Bilberry Extract Adulteration Laboratory GuidanceDocument. ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program. Retrieved on 8/31/21fromhttps://www.herbalgram.org/resources/botanical-adulterants-prevention-program/adulterants-bulletins/bilberry-extract-bulletin-april-2016