(Bearberry.)

Origin. - The dried leaves of Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi (L.) Sprengel, a trailing-evergreen plant distributed throughout the northern portion of North America, extending as far south as New Jersey and westward to Colorado. The plant is also found in most parts of Europe and in Northern Asia.

Description and Properties. - Leaves very short-stalked, obovate or oblong-spatulate, coriaceous, about 4/5 inch (2 Cm.) long and 1/4 to 1/3 inch (6 to 8 Mm.) wide, obtuse, with slightly revolute edges, upper surface with depressed veins, lower surface distinctly reticulate; odor faint, hay-like; taste strongly astringent and somewhat bitter.

Uva ursi contains three glycosides, arbutin, methylarbutin, and ericolin, and a tasteless principle, urzone, besides tannic and gallic acids.

Dose. - 15-60 grains (1.0-4.0 Gm.) (30 grains [2 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Official Preparation

Fluidextractum Uva Ursi - Fluidextracti Uvae Ursi - Fluidextract of Uva Ursi. - Dose, 15-60 minims (1.0-4.0 Cc.) [30 minims (2 Cc), U. S. P.].

The physiological action and therapeutics of uva ursi are analogous to those of buchu. The arbutin and methylarbutin are capable of being split into glucose and hydrochinon or methyl-hydrochinon, to which latter substances the antiseptic action of this drug is due. Hence uva ursi is particularly valuable as a urinary antiseptic. It is of service in cystitis especially and is a useful drug in prostatic hypertrophy to limit urinary infection.