One of the most known species of the genus Vaccinium (Ericaceae) is Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. or lingonberry. Leaves are included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation (XIV-th edition) and the State Pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Belarus (II-nd edition). The aim of this review is an analysis of data about a chemical content and types of pharmacological activities of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. to discuss the tendency of future investigations on this plant. The main parts of works describe researches of chemical contents of fruits as medicinal and edible plant material. The majority of researches describe results of in vitro experiments. A significant interest is the study of the neuroprotective activity of the Vaccinium vitis-idaea extracts as well as their anti-cytokine and antiapoptotic properties and metabolic effects. The main biologically active compounds are phenologlycosides, tannins, proanthocyanes, saponins etc. These results will be of great significance for the development of new drugs from this plant and use along with the fruits of other parts of the plant...

Reports have shown the antioxidant, hypotensive, hypolipidemic and vasodilatory effects of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seed extract. We have recently shown the relaxatory effect of grape leaf extract on rat uterus and reduction of frog heart rate and contractility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relaxant effect of Vitis vinifera leaf hydroalcoholic extract (VLHE) on rat thoracic aorta contractions induced by phenylephrine and KCl and the role of aorta endothelium on this action. Rat aorta was removed and placed in an organ bath containing Krebs-Henseleit solution and aorta contractions were recorded isometrically. The results demonstrate that VLHE (0.125-2 mg/ml) reduces the endothelial intact aorta reconstructed by phenylephrine (1mM) dose-dependently (P<0.0001). Extract induced the same response in endothelial denuded aorta, but in a much lesser extent. The IC50 for both groups were 0.45±0.08 and 1.73±0.23 mg/ml, respectively. However, the contractile responses of these groups were similar. VLHE (0.125-2 mg/ml) reduced the contractions induced by KCl (80 mM) dose-dependently (P<0.0001). The relaxatory effect of VHLE on KCl–induced contractions was less than those evoked by Phenylephrine. Vasorelaxatory effect of VHLE on intact aorta was attenuated by nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME, 100mM) and gaunyl cyclase inhibitor (methylene blue, 10mM) significantly, but was unaffected by atropine (1mM). The results suggest that the greatest vasorelaxant effect of VHLE on rat aorta is endothelium-dependent and nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP are mostly responsible but cholinergic receptors are not involved.

Vitis vinifera (grape) leaf has been used traditionally to treat diarrhea and its extract induces  elaxation in rat aorta and uterus. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of grape leaf hydroalcoholic extract (GLHE) on rat colon contractions induced by some spasmogens. A piece of  istal colon from male adult Wistar rats were dissected and mounted in an organ bath containing Tyrode solution and colon contractions recorded by an isotonic transducer under 1g resting tension. The GLHE (0.5- 4 mg/ml) reduced the contractions induced by KCl (60 mM), BaCl2 (4 mM), acetylcholine (1 μM) dose-dependently (P<0.001). The spasmolytic effect of GLHE on ACh-induced contraction was unaffected by propranolol (1 μM), phentolamine (1 μM), L-NAME (300 μM), and  aloxone (1μM). In Ca2+-free but rich in KCl (120 mM) Tyrode solution, cumulative concentrations of CaCl2 induced colon contractions which, were inhibited by the extract. Glibenclamide (3 μM) had no effect on the extract spasmolytic activity, but tetraethylammonium (5 mM) contracted the pre-relaxed colon induced by the extract. Results suggest that the grape leaf hydroalcoholic extract spasmolytic effect is due to the blockade of the voltage dependent calcium channels and activation of Ca2+-operated potassium channels.

Several reports have shown the various effects of grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract such as antioxidant, hypotensive, hypolipidemic and vasodilatory effects. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of grape leaf hydroalcoholic extract on isolated rat tracheal contractions induced by KCl and acetylcholine. The trachea was removed from male adult Sprague-Dawley rat and placed in an organ bath containing Krebs-Henseleit solution and contractions were recorded isometrically. The results demonstrate that the grape leaf extract at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 mg/ml significantly reduces the tracheal contractions induced by KCl (60 mM) dose-dependently (P<0.0001). Acetylcholine (55 μM)-induced tracheal contractions were also attenuated at the same concentration of the extract (P<0.0001). The grape leaf extract induced relaxation in the KCl-induced contraction in trachea was  unaffected neither by nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor (L-NAME, 100 μM) nor by beta-adrenoceptor antagonist (propranolol 1 μM). Our results suggest that the bronchodilatory effect of grape leaf extract is mediated via the voltage dependent calcium channels. Furthermore, the beta-adrenergic and NO are not involved.