Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Villanueva-Bermejo, D., Vázquez, E., Villalva, M., Santoyo, S., Fornari, T., Reglero, G., & Rodriguez Garcia-Risco, M. (2019). Simultaneous supercritical fluid extraction of Heather (Calluna vulgaris L.) and Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) and anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts. Applied Sciences, 9(11), 2245.

Abstract. Heather (Calluna vulgaris L.) and marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) are two rich sources of bioactive pentacyclic triterpenes. The supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) extraction of these two plants was explored at a pressure range of 25–50 MPa, 50 °C, with or without fractionation, different extraction times (1.5–4.0 h) and using ethanol as a co-solvent (0 and 10% w/w). In order to determine potential synergisms, a combined extraction (heather + marigold 50:50) was also studied. In general, higher extraction yields were achieved when the co-solvent was added. Higher concentrations of total triterpenic acids were obtained in heather extracts, specially using ethanol. The co-solvent did not increase the terpene concentration in marigold extracts. For the combined extraction, an antagonist effect in the triterpene concentration was observed in absence of a co-solvent, whereas a synergistic effect was exhibited in its presence, especially for ursolic acid. In general, the extracts showed a certain anti-inflammatory effect, although a straight correlation with the analyzed triterpenic acids concentration was not exhibited. Moreover, the combined extraction exposed a similar anti-inflammatory activity in comparison with the individual plant extracts.

Kaunaite V, Vilkickyte G, Raudone L. Phytochemical Diversity and Antioxidant Potential of Wild Heather (Calluna vulgaris L.) Aboveground Parts. Plants (Basel). 2022 Aug 25;11(17):2207. doi: 10.3390/plants11172207.

Abstract. Calluna vulgaris L. (heather) is a traditional medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory and calming activities that are determined by the notable amounts of phytochemicals. The evaluation of different populations of plants that accumulate great amounts of bioactive compounds are requisite for the quality determination of plant materials and medicinal and nutritional products. The assessment of natural resources from a phytogeographic point of view is relevant. Phytochemical analysis of heather samples was carried out using spectrophotometric methods and HPLC-PDA techniques, while antioxidant activity was determined using ABTS and FRAP assays. A significant diversification of phenolic and triterpenic compounds and antioxidant activity was determined in the heather samples collected in distinct habitats. Natural habitats, due to their characteristic chemical heterogeneity, lead to the diversity of indicators characterizing the quality of plant raw materials. Chlorogenic acid and hyperoside were found to be predominant among the phenolic compounds, while ursolic, oleanolic acids, and uvaol prevailed among the triterpenic compounds. Thus, these compounds can be suggested as phytochemical markers, characteristic of the heather raw material from central Europe.

Mandim F , Barros L , Calhelha RC , Abreu RMV , Pinela J , Alves MJ , Heleno S , Santos PF , Ferreira ICFR . Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull: chemical characterization, evaluation of its bioactive properties and effect on the vaginal microbiota. Food Funct. 2019 Jan 22;10(1):78-89. doi: 10.1039/c8fo01910j. 

Abstract. The inflorescences of Calluna vulgaris were nutritionally and chemically characterized. Furthermore, different organic and aqueous extracts were prepared for the evaluation of their bioactive properties. From the obtained results, carbohydrates were the major compounds, followed by protein, lipid and ashes. It was possible to identify the sugars fructose and glucose, five organic acids, 26 individual fatty acids and the four tocopherol isoforms. Concerning the extract composition, 12 phenolic compounds were identified, with myricetin-3-O-glucoside and myricetin-O-rhamnoside predominating. Concerning the bioactive effects, the more polar extracts showed not only the highest amount in phenolic compounds, but also the strongest antioxidant and antibacterial activities. In contrast, for the anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic potential, the most effective extracts were the n-hexane and the ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. C. vulgaris presented a wide range of biological effects, highlighting their capacity to inhibit pathogenic bacteria without affecting beneficial microflora, corroborating their use in traditional medicine.

Saaby L, Rasmussen HB, Jäger AK. MAO-A inhibitory activity of quercetin from Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jan 12;121(1):178-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.10.012. 

Abstract. Aim of the study: This study investigated MAO-A inhibitory activity of methanol extract of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull., which traditionally has been used as a nerve calming remedy....Conclusion: The content of quercetin in Calluna vulgaris might explain the reported nerve calming effect of the plant.

Filip A, Clichici S, Daicoviciu D, Catoi C, Bolfa P, Postescu ID, Gal A, Baldea I, Gherman C, Muresan A. Chemopreventive effects of Calluna vulgaris and Vitis vinifera extracts on UVB-induced skin damage in SKH-1 hairless mice. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2011 Jun;62(3):385-92. 

Abstract. Solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a major cause of non-melanoma skin cancer in humans. Photochemoprevention with natural products represents a simple but very effective strategy in the management of cutaneous neoplasia. The study investigated the protective activity of Calluna vulgaris (Cv) and red grape seeds (Vitis vinifera L, Burgund Mare variety) (BM) extracts in vivo on UVB-induced deleterious effects in SKH-1 mice skin. Forty SKH-1 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10): control, UVB irradiated, Cv + UVB irradiated, BM+UVB irradiated. Both extracts were applied topically on the skin in a dose of 4 mg/40 μl/cm(2) before UVB exposure - single dose. The effects were evaluated in skin 24 hours after irradiation through the presence of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and sunburn cells, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 levels. The antioxidant activity of BM extract was higher than those of Cv extract as determined using stable free radical DPPH assay and ABTS test. One single dose of UVB generated formation of CPDs (p<0.0001) and sunburn cells (p<0.0002) and increased the cytokine levels in skin (p<0.0001). Twenty hours following irradiation BM extract inhibited UVB-induced sunburn cells (p<0.02) and CPDs formation (p<0.0001). Pretreatment with Cv and BM extracts resulted in significantly reduced levels of IL-6 and TNF-α compared with UVB alone (p<0.0001). Our results suggest that BM extracts might be a potential candidate in preventing the damages induced by UV in skin.

Starchenko G, Hrytsyk A, Raal A, Koshovyi О. Phytochemical Profile and Pharmacological Activities of Water and Hydroethanolic Dry Extracts of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. Herb. Plants (Basel). 2020 Jun 15;9(6):751. doi: 10.3390/plants9060751.

Abstract. According to the WHO data (2017), depression is the most predominant disease worldwide, with about 300 million people suffering from it, and bipolar disorder is the second most common. Therefore, it is relevant to research new medicines based on medicinal herbal raw materials with anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects. Common heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull.), a flowering plant of the Ericaceae family, is a promising species for research in this area. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical profile and several biological activities of hydroethanolic dry extracts from the C. vulgaris herb. Nineteen phenolic substances were identified and quantified in the extracts by HPLC. The quantitative content of the basic groups of biologically active compounds was determined by spectrophotometry. Arbutin was dominant among the hydroquinone derivatives; chlorogenic acid among the hydroxycinnamic acids; rutin, hyperoside and quercetin-3-D-glucoside among the flavonoids; and (+)-gallocatechin and (-)-epigallocatechin among the tannin metabolites. The water and hydroethanolic extract were compared, the extract of C. vulgaris herb obtained with 70% hydroethanolic had the most pronounced anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anxiolytic, stress-protective, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects, and it is a promising substance for the development of new drugs or food supplements.

Dróżdż P, Sentkowska A, Pyrzyńska K. Biophenols and antioxidant activity in wild and cultivated heather. Nat Prod Res. 2017 May;31(10):1181-1184. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2016.1222389. 

Abstract. Over the last decade, there has been an increasing interest to study the antioxidants from natural sources which can be applied to replace the synthetic compounds commonly used in food or as cosmetic ingredients. Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull (heather), a plant grown in most parts of Europe and Northern America, has been used in ethnopharmacology. The content of selected biophenols and the antioxidant capacity of the extracts of wild heather collected from natural environmental localities of central Poland were assessed in this study and compared with cultivated plant. Chlorogenic acid was the major biophenolic compound present in the extracts, followed by a high amount of catechins. The reducing power of the extracts evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteau assay was in the range of 75.7-89.1 mg GA/g dry flowers. The cultivated plant extract showed the largest radical scavenging on 1,1-diphenyl-2-pirylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals.