Bearberry

BEARBERRY, bear's ear, bear's grape, Folia Uvae Ursi (Ph. VII), leaves of the small shrub Arctostaphylos uva ursi Sprengel (Arbutus u. u. L.), which grows in the northern and central regions of the USSR (including the Ukrainian SSR). The leaves are leathery, reverse-ovate, short-petioled, with entire margins (distinguishing feature from lingonberry), and dark green on the upper surface. They contain arbutin (a glycoside of hydroquinone, up to 8%) and methylarbutin (a glycoside of methyl ester of hydroquinone, up to 1%), gallic tannic acid (up to 30%), sugar, bitter and resinous substances. Therapeutic use: in the form of decoctions or infusions (Decoctum Uvae Ursi, usually 10.0-15.0:150.0) as a diuretic and (weak) antiseptic (due to arbutin and hydroquinone released from it during hydrolysis in the body), strongly astringent (gallic acid). T. is widely used in diseases of the lower urinary tract - in cystitis, urethritis. When preparing aqueous extracts, the leaves should be crushed as finely as possible and poured with alcohol, as resinous substances prevent water from penetrating into the leaf tissue.