PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE WILD CORNFLOWERS
(Vaccinium augustifolium).

Wild blueberry extracts (Vaccinium augustifolium) have antioxydant properties which will protect the cells against free radicals attack (11-25). These properties are explained mainly by the presence of powerful antioxydant composite called anthocyanosides (26-34). Several studies done on the human body show that the anthocyanosides extracted from blueberries are absorbed by the body and are partly distributed in the blood serum (35-40). These studies also show that the anthocyanosides found in blueberries increase the antioxydant capacity of the serum (35-40). The pharmacological properties allotted to the blueberry extracts are numerous. Researches done on rats indicate that blueberry extracts have beneficial effects on the brain (41-48). They protect the neurons against the toxicity of free radicals. The authors also report that blueberries significantly improve the moving capacities of old animals (42). Other works completed on an Alzheimer model of mouse show that blueberries can prevent the appearance of the disease in spite of the genetic predispositions of these rodents (45). Moreover, other studies undertaken by this group of research report that blueberries increase the memory and the cognitive behavior of the rats (46-48). In addition, the blueberry extracts have anticarcinogenic properties i.e. they prevent the cancerisation of the cells and the appearance of tumors (49-53). They also block the tumors growth by inhibiting the formation of the blood vessels which feed the tumor (angiogenesis) (53-55). Blueberries contain a large quantity of resveratrol (56-57). This compound inhibits the aggregation of the blood plates and the oxidation of the LDL (basic lipoproteins density) (58-59). The resveratrol has protective effects on the cardiovascular system and makes it possible to prevent arteriosclerosis (58-59). All the studies carried out to date indicate that the antioxidants extracted from blueberries are beneficial for human health. A regular consumption of extract of wild blueberries could slow down ageing and prevent several serious illnesses as cancer, Alzheimer and arteriosclerosis.

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE COWBERRIES
(Vaccinium vitis-idaea).

Cowberries are small woody plants found along the banks of the St-Lawrence Gulf (60). Cowberries produce red bays very rich in antioxydant compounds, mainly phenolic compounds such as flavonols, anthocyanidins, catechines, caffeoyl and ferulic acid (62). The cowberry fruit has very interesting pharmacological properties. The antioxydant activity of the fruit was reported by several groups of research (62-67) suggesting that the juice of this fruit could protect from several serious illnesses as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. Amongst other things, the red bay extract inhibits the oxidation of proteins and in vitro lipids suggesting that the antioxydant compounds present in this extract could have a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases (65). In addition, Ho & al. propose that certain antioxydant tannins present in the fruit could be effective to treat parodontale (gingivitis) diseases responsible for the loss of teeth (67). These compounds strongly inhibit the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia, two bacteria implied in gingivitis (68). It is interesting to note that recent studies seem to show that parodontale diseases are an important risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (69). The antibiotic activity of the fruit extract was also highlighted by a Finnish research group (70). These showed that the extracts inhibited the growth of several human bacteria and pathogenic yeast like Helicobacter pylori, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The authors suggest that the ellagitannin is partly responsible for the antibiotic activity (71). Swedish traditional medicine uses cowberry to treat fever, pain and inflammation. Indeed, the fruit seems effective since Tunon & al. (72) showed that the red bay extract inhibited certain processes related to inflammation.

Cloudberries or Rubus chamaemorus, are subarctic herbaceous plants found in the North of Canada and along the St-Lawrence Gulf (60). The fruit of this plant was also studied for its pharmacological properties. Cloudberries are recognized as being an important source of vitamin C and ellagic acid. The ellagic acid has anticarcinogenic, antimutagen and antioxidant properties (73-84). Indeed, the ellagic acid inhibits in vivo the chemical induction of several cancers in rodents as the esophagus, skin, liver and lung cancers (81). All the researches suggest that cloudberry juice could prevent the formation of cancer.