# _Vaccinium_ Species (Ericaceae): From Chemical Composition to Bio-Functional Activities
## 2 Traditional Uses of _Vaccinium_ Species  
_Vaccinium_ species are extensively used in traditional medicine. As reported in Table 1, the fruits of _V. myrtillus_ are used in Europe for the treatment of stomatitis, renal stones, intestinal and liver disorders, as a remedy for fevers and coughs, and for their asrtingent, tonic, and antiseptic properties [12; 13]. The decoction and infusion of leaves are used in south-eastern Europe to treat diabetes [14].  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l l l} \hline _Vaccinium_ & **Traditional Uses** & **Part Used** & **References** \\ \hline _V. myrtillus_ & Fevers and coughs & Fruits & [12] \\  & Antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory diabetic & Leaves & [13; 14] \\  & Respiratory inflammations & Leaves and fruits & [15] \\  & Stomatitis & Fruits & [12] \\  & Eye inflammation & Fruits & [15] \\  & Intestinal and liver disorders & Fruits & [12] \\  & Hepatitis & Fruits & [15] \\  & Digestive and urinary tract disorders & Fruits & [15] \\  & Renal stones & Leaves and fruits & [12; 15] \\  & Antiseptic, asrtingent, tonic & Fruits & [13] \\  & Anti-anemic & Leaves and fruits & [15] \\ \hline _V. vitis idaea_ & Antipyretic & Leaves and fruits & [15] \\  & Sore eyes, abscesses, toothache, thrush and snow blindness & Fruits & [16] \\  & Colds, coughs and sore throats & Fruits & [17] \\  & Anti-inflammatory properties in urinary tract & Leaves & [15] \\  & Respiratory system infections & Stems and leaves & [18] \\  & Frequent urination & Fruits & [16] \\  & Urinary tract infection properties & Fruits & [15] \\  & Kidney stones & Fruits & [15] \\  & Anti-inflammatory & Stems and leaves & [18] \\  & Wound healing, anti-rheumatic, anti-convulsant, diuretic and & Leaves and fruits & [15] \\  & anti-diabetic & Leaves and fruits & [19] \\ \hline _V. arctostaphylos_ & Anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory & Fruits & [20; 21] \\  & Gastrointestinal disorders & Fruits & [22] \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 1: Traditional uses of _Vaccinium_ species.  
In Macedonia and Kosovo, the juice of _V. myrtillus_ fruits are employed as anti-anemic agents, and to treat digestive and urinary tract infections, eye inflammations and hepatitis, while the infusions of leaves and fruits are used as lithontriptic and anti-anemic treatments, and for respiratory inflammations [15]. _V. vitis ideaa_ berries are effective in the traditional medicine of Cree Nation (Quebec) to treat frequent urination, sore eyes, abscesses, toothache, thrush and snow blindness [16]. Among the Alaska Natives, berries are also used to treat colds, coughs and sore throats [17]. From ancient times, stems and leaves have shown anti-inflammatory properties and are known for treating respiratory system infections in Chinese Traditional Medicine [18].  
In Macedonia and Kosovo, an infusion of the leaves was used for their anti-rheumatic properties, as well as anti-inflammatory effects in the urinary tract, while the fruit infusion was useful for treating urinary tract infections and the presence of kidney stones. Fruits and leaves are also used as diuretic, anti-rheumatic, antipyretic, anti-diabetic and anti-convulsant medicines, as well as for wound healing [15]. _V. arctostaphylos_ leaves and fruits have been utilized as anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic agents in Iranian folk medicine [19]. In Quebec, _V. corymbosum_ fruits have mainly been used to treat diabetes [20; 21; 22].