molecules Review Phenolic Compounds from Five Ericaceae Species Leaves and Their Related Bioavailability and Health Benefits 1,2 2, 1,3 1, Bianca Eugenia S, tefănescu , Katalin Szabo * , Andrei Mocan and Gianina Cri¸san * 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, “Iuliu Hat, ieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23, Ghe. Marinescu Street, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
[email protected] (B.E.S, .);
[email protected] (A.M.) 2 Institute of Life Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, CaleaMănă¸stur3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania 3 Laboratory of Chromatography, Institute of Advanced Horticulture Research of Transylvania, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania * Correspondence:
[email protected] (K.S.);
[email protected] (G.C.) Received: 13 April 2019; Accepted: 22 May 2019; Published: 29 May 2019 Abstract: Some species of the Ericaceae family have been intensively studied because of the beneficial health impact, known since ancient times, of their chemical components. Since most studies focus on the effects of fruit consumption, this review aims to highlight the phenolic components present in the leaves. For this purpose, five species from Ericaceae family (bilberry—Vaccinium myrtillus L., lingonberry—V. vitis-idaea L., bog bilberry—V. uliginosum L., blueberry—V. corymbosum L. and bearberry—Arctostapylos uva-ursi L.) were considered, four of which can be found in spontaneous flora. The chemical composition of the leaves revealed three major phenolic compounds: chlorogenic acid, quercetin and arbutin. The health promoting functions of these compounds, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could have preventive effects for cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and obesity, have been exemplified by both in vitro and in vivo studies in this review.