Owoc borówki czernicy (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) jako farmakopealny surowiec antocyjanowy

Bilberry, the most commonly collected fruit of Polish forests, has not only culinary values, but also proven therapeutic and preventive effects. It is a valuable forest raw material for herbal, pharmaceutical and food companies producing dietary supplements and drugs. The range of applications for bilberry is very wide, and the most important feature of this raw material is the high antioxidant potential associated with anthocyanins content. The aim of the study was to analyze the anthocyanins content in bilberry fruit, determine the time−related variability of this feature and relate the obtained results to pharmacopoeial standards. On selected sample plot, ripe bilberry fruits were collected at five−day intervals. As a preliminary test, dry matter and refractometric index measurement were carried out. Moreover, spectrophotometric determination of anthocyanins content expressed as chrysanthemin (cyanidin 3−O−glucoside chloride) was examined, both in fresh and dried fruits. We found that regardless of the harvesting time, the bilberry fruits with 0.3035−0.7403% anthocyanins content meet the pharmacopoeial norm (0.3%). Furthermore, dried bilberry fruits, containing from 1.0151 to 2.0164% anthocyanins, can also be considered as a valuable anthocyanin raw material, however, the loss in anthocyanins content is 48.956% on average. The period of full usefulness of bilberry fruit in the context of anthocyanins content coincides with the period of their consumption attractiveness, so there is no need to apply separate recommendations for obtaining fruits of this species for medicinal purposes. We found however, that in the second half of the harvesting period, this raw material has a much more stable anthocyanins content than in the first, when it increases significantly.