Page 58 - phytotherapy_ EBOOK_2025

 Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus):

Species (Family): Vaccinium oxycoccus. (Ericaceae)
Part(s) Used: Fruit (whole berries)
Constituents:
- Acids: Citric and other acids.
- Carbohydrates: Fructose and oligosaccharides.
- Phenolics: Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins.
- Other constituents: Trace glycoside and alkaloids
Uses:
- Herbal Use:
Effects on urinary tract: Cranberry juice and crushed cranberries are used
in the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections.
- Food use:
Cranberries are commonly used in foods
Pharmacological Actions (In-vitro& animal studies) and Clinical studies:
In in vitro studies using human urinary tract isolates of E. coli, cranberry
cocktail (contains fructose and vitamin C in addition to cranberry juice)
inhibited bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells.
Urine from mice fed cranberry juice inhibited E. coli adherence to
uroepithelial cells when compared with urine from control mice.
- Clinical studies
Clinical studies proved the effectiveness of cranberry in the prevention of
urinary tract infections.
There was no clear evidence to suggest that cranberries are effective in
treating urinary tract infections

Herbal adverse events:

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