Bearberry Leaf Extract is a concentrated botanical extract derived from the dried leaves of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, a low-growing shrub widely used in European herbal medicine for urinary tract health and skin lightening applications. The primary bioactive compound in bearberry is arbutin — a natural glycoside that hydrolyses to hydroquinone in the body, acting as a potent antimicrobial agent in the urinary tract and a tyrosinase inhibitor for skin brightening.
Bearberry Leaf Extract is a dual-purpose ingredient valued both in urinary health nutraceuticals and in cosmeceutical skin brightening formulations, where its natural arbutin content provides effective depigmentation activity.
Applications:
- Nutraceuticals (urinary tract health supplements, UTI prevention, kidney support formulations)
- Beauty Supplements (oral skin brightening, ingestible whitening blends)
- Cosmeceuticals (skin brightening serums, hyperpigmentation treatment formulations)
- Traditional Herbal Medicine (European urinary tract tonic formulations)
Key Features & Benefits:
- Natural arbutin source for skin brightening and urinary tract antimicrobial activity
- Dual-purpose ingredient for both urinary health and skin care
- Established European herbal medicine tradition for UTI support
- Halal-certified & food-grade quality
- Suitable for capsule, tablet, and topical formulations
Arbutin is the marker
Bearberry (uva-ursi, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) leaf contains arbutin, a glucoside of hydroquinone, together with methylarbutin and a high level of tannins. The European Pharmacopoeia monograph for the leaf sets a minimum content of hydroquinone derivatives, expressed as arbutin. Ask for arbutin by HPLC, not a generic “extract ratio”, and for the free hydroquinone content.
Natural arbutin versus alpha-arbutin
The arbutin in bearberry is beta-arbutin. Arbutin sold for skin care is often alpha-arbutin, made by an enzymatic process. They are different substances with different regulatory limits in cosmetics, so do not swap one for the other without checking. Hydroquinone itself is not permitted in skin-care cosmetics under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, so free hydroquinone in a bearberry extract used in skin care must be tested and kept as low as possible.
Food supplement use
Bearberry leaf has a long history in European herbal medicine for the urinary tract, but medicinal products made from it are restricted to short-term use. Claims about treating or preventing urinary infections are medical claims. For urinary-care supplements, Cranberry Extract is the more common food ingredient. Check the rules in your market before using bearberry in a supplement, or WhatsApp us if you are unsure.
Halal certification
This ingredient is listed as “Bearberry Extract” on FC Materials’ Halal certificate (Sijil Pengesahan Halal, MS 1500:2019), issued through the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM). Reference JAKIM.700-2/3/1 105-07/2022, valid until 15 October 2028. Ask us for a copy.
What to ask for on the certificate of analysis
- Botanical name and plant part (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaf)
- Arbutin content by HPLC, with the method
- Free hydroquinone content
- Extraction ratio, solvent and carrier with its percentage
- Identity test (TLC or HPLC fingerprint)
- Loss on drying, heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury) and pesticide residues
- Microbiology: total plate count, yeast and mould, E. coli, Salmonella
- Batch number, manufacture and retest dates
