Lesser known fruits or underutilized fruit species are recently of great research interest due to the presence of phytochemicals that manifest many biological effects. European cranberry, Vaccinium oxycoccos fruit, as an important representative of this group, is a valuable source of antioxidants and other biologically active substances, similar to American cranberry (V. macrocarpon) which is well known and studied. European cranberry fruit is rich especially in polyphenolic compounds anthocyanins (12.4⁻207.3 mg/100 g fw), proanthocyanins (1.5⁻5.3 mg/100 g fw), and flavonols, especially quercetin (0.52⁻15.4 mg/100 g fw), which mostly contribute to the antioxidant activity of the fruit. Small cranberry is also important due to its various biological effects such as urinary tract protection (proanthocyanidins), antibacterial and antifungal properties (quercetin, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins), cardioprotective (proanthocyanidins) and anticancer activities (proanthocyanidins), and utilization in food (juice drinks, jams, jellies, sauces, additive to meat products) and pharmacological industries, and in folk medicine.

• Keywords
• Vaccinium oxycoccos, antioxidant effect, biological activities, cranberry, polyphenols,
• MeSH
• Antioxidants chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Flavonoids chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Polyphenols chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Plant Extracts chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Vaccinium chemistry   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antioxidants MeSH
• Flavonoids MeSH
• Polyphenols MeSH
• Plant Extracts MeSH

Nowadays, much research attention is focused on underutilized berry crops due to the high antioxidant activity of fruits. Black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum L.) represents an important source of flavonols (quercetin, rutin, myricetin, naringenin, naringin, morin, and kaempferol) and anthocyanins. The fruit components could be utilised as natural colourants or as a part of functional foods and, because of the high antioxidant activity, the berries of black crowberry can be used in the treatment of diseases accompanied with inflammation, or as an effective antibacterial and antifungal remedy. Moreover, the reduction of lipid accumulation and total cholesterol as well as an improvement of postprandial hyperglycaemia have been proven. This review summarizes for the first time the main antioxidants (flavonoids) of black crowberry fruits, with a focus on their health promoting activity.

• Keywords
• anthocyanins, antioxidant activity, flavonoids, phenolic acids, polyphenols,
• MeSH
• Ericaceae chemistry   MeSH
• Flavonoids pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Fruit chemistry   MeSH
• Health Promotion MeSH
• Plant Extracts pharmacology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Flavonoids MeSH
• Plant Extracts MeSH