Negin Kamkar
1 
, Faezeh Nemati
2* , Mohsen Farhadpour
3, Mansour Miran
4, Hadi Ghanbari
5,6 , Mozhgan Effat Panahi
7, Reza Zadali
1* 1 Department of Pharmacy, Da. C., Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
2 Department of Chemical Technologies, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Plant Bioproducts, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
5 Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
6 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
7 Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. (Ericaceae), is a medicinal shrub that commonly found in Caucasus and western Asia (Iran and Turkey). Traditionally, this plant has been employed for its antidiabetic and antihypertensive effects. Recent studies have indicated that V. arctostaphylos contains several important bioactive compounds, including terpenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, primarily found in its aerial parts. Although there is increasing evidence from laboratory and clinical studies supporting its beneficial effects on diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, a comprehensive review of its ethnobotany, dietary value, chemical composition, pharmacological properties, and clinical applications remains lacking. This article serves as the first detailed review summarizing the current knowledge about V. arctostaphylos, encompassing its chemical constituents, biological activities, and findings from clinical trials. The information presented has been gathered from major scientific databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed. Overall, V. arctostaphylos presents a multifaceted therapeutic potential as a nutraceutical, offering complementary benefits in the modulation and management of complex metabolic disorders.