Antihypertensive efficacy and safety of Vaccinium arctostaphylos berry extract in overweight/obese hypertensive patients: A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of a standardized Vaccinium arctostaphylos (V. arctostaphylos) berry hydro-alcoholic extract in the overweight/obese hypertensive patients. DESIGN: Randomized placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Baqiyatallah hospital (Tehran, Iran). INTERVENTIONS: The antihypertensive efficacy and safety of 3-month intake of 400 mg extract capsule three times daily alongside standardized anti-hypertensive regimen in the treatment of 50 patients was compared with the placebo (n = 50). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SBP (systolic blood pressure), DBP (diastolic blood pressure), body mass index, waist circumference, CBC (complete blood count), blood levels of AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), ALP (alkaline phosphatase), BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine. RESULTS: SBP decreased from 152.1 ± 7.7 to 140.5 ± 10.7 in the V. arctostaphylos group and from 152.9 ± 8.1 to 150.8 ± 9.3 in the placebo group (P < 0.001). DBP decreased from 90.3±8 to 82.1±8.8 in the V. arctostaphylos group and from 89.6 ± 7.8 to 87.6 ± 7.9 in the placebo group (P < 0.001). The extract capsule had no significant effect on the other parameters (P > 0.05). Moreover, no drug side effect and adverse interaction with other antihypertensive drugs was observed in the patients. CONCLUSIONS: V. arctostaphylosberry extract improves blood pressure control and has safety and tolerability in the overweight/obese hypertensive patients taking standard antihypertensive drugs.

Bull's-eye maculopathy secondary to herbal toxicity from uva ursi.

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral bull's-eye maculopathy in a patient who ingested uva ursi, a known inhibitor of melanin synthesis, for 3 years before the onset of symptoms. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: Both eyes of a female patient were examined in the clinical practice setting. RESULTS: A 56-year-old woman who ingested uva ursi for 3 years noted a decrease in visual acuity within the past year. Ocular examination including fluorescein angiography revealed a typical bull's-eye maculopathy bilaterally. CONCLUSIONS: Uva ursi is a known inhibitor of melanin synthesis. It is necessary to broaden the list of potential retinal toxic drugs to include herbal adjuvants such as Uva Ursi and to elicit a history of their use in patients with unexplained ocular findings.