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Bearberry Details & Specifications |
| Useful
Link |
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| Botanical Name |
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Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Linn. |
| English Name |
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Bearberry |
| Hindi Name |
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Bearberry |
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| CATEGORY |
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Astringent |
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| SOURCE |
| Part used |
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State of the part used |
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Leaves |
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N/A |
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N/A |
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| FAMILY |
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Ericaceae |
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| GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE |
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The plant is indigenous to Greek and is found in following countries:-
America
Asia
Britain
Canada
England
Europe
Greek
Highlands
Scotland
The Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Sprengel) is distributed over the greater part of the Northern Hemisphere. It is found in the northern latitudes and high mountains of Europe, Asia and America. In the British Isles, it is common in Scotland, on heaths and barren places in hilly districts, especially in the Highlands, and extends south as far as Yorkshire. It grows also on the hills of the north-west of Ireland. In America it is distributed throughout Canada and the United States.
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| IDENTIFICATION |
| Organoleptic characteristics |
| Colour |
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| Odour |
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Odourless |
| Taste |
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Astringent and bitter |
| Size |
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Stems are short and woody, covered with a pale brown bark, scaling off in patches, and form thick masses 1 to 2 feet long. The long shoots rise obliquely upward from the stems for a few inches and are covered with soft hairs |
| Physical
Standards |
| Total Ash |
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N/A |
| Moisture |
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Not more than 8.0% |
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| CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS |
| Major |
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Major chemical constituents responsible for physicochemical and therapeutic action of the herb are :-
Crystallizable glucoside - Arbutin.
Methyl-arbutin
Gallic acid
Myricetin
/p>
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| Minor |
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Minor chemical constituents of this herb are :-
Ericolin
Ursone
Ellagic acid
Quercetin
Myricetin
Tannin
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| CULTIVATION |
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Drying may be done in warm, sunny weather out-of-doors, but in half-shade, as leaves dried in the shade retain their color better than those dried in direct sun. The leaves should be spread in a single layer, preferably not touching, and may be turned during drying. They may be placed on wire sieves, or frames covered with wire or garden netting, at a height of 3 or 4 feet from the ground to ensure a current of air, and must be taken indoors to a dry room or shed before there is any risk of damp from dew or showers. Leaves must be gathered only in fine weather, in the morning, after the dew has dried.
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| STORAGE |
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To maintain physicochemical properties and medicinal values of the herb it is recommended to maintain following storage conditions :-
Air tight containers
Protection from light
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