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Other Names: Airelle, Arándano, Bilberry Fruit, Bilberry Leaf, Black Whortles, Bleaberry, Brimbelle, Burren Myrtle, Dwarf Bilberry, Dyeberry, European Bilberry, Feuille de Myrtille, Fruit de Myrtille, Gueule Noire, Huckleberry, Hurtleberry, Mauret, Myrtille, Myrtille Européenne, Myrtilli Fructus, Raisin des Bois, Swedish Bilberry, Trackleberry, Vaccinium myrtillus, Whortleberry, Wineberry, Blauwe bosbes,Heidelbeere, Blaubeere<br>Bilberry fruit is a close relative to the American blueberry. It's a common ingredient in pies, cakes and jams. The active constituents are thought to be antioxidants called anthocyanins.<br>See also : [[Pterostilbene]]

* [[Pterostilbene ]] is a powerful, natural antioxidant that is found in small amounts in, among other things, blueberries, grapes and cranberries. The polyphenol is a phyto-alexin, a substance that is part of the defense system of plants and protects them against pathogens such as bacteria and fungi. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, pterostilbene is known as a blood or cardiac tonic. Pterostilbene is structurally related to resveratrol (a phyto-alexin from grapes) and has similar health-promoting properties. Pterostilbene has a few advantages over resveratrol: bioavailability is higher (70-90% vs 20-30%), pterostilbene stays in the body longer (105 vs 14 minutes) and oral absorption, cellular uptake and metabolic stability is better than of resveratrol. Factors that play a role in this are better fat solubility and less rapid breakdown and excretion. Both resveratrol and pterostilbene improve mitochondrial function and activate the enzyme SIRT-1 (producing effects similar to calorie restriction).