Overview
Bearberry leaf is harvested from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, a small shrub native to North America and Europe. Historically used by indigenous cultures for urinary tract remedies, it is now commercially valued for its high arbutin content—a natural skin-brightening compound. The leaves are typically dried and processed into extracts or powders for industrial use. The plant thrives in arctic and subarctic climates, with wild-harvested and cultivated varieties available. Sustainable sourcing is critical due to its slow growth rate. In B2B markets, bearberry is traded as whole leaves, standardized extracts, or pre-formulated ingredients for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Bearberry leaves contain 5–15% arbutin (hydroquinone-β-D-glucoside), which metabolizes into hydroquinone—a known depigmenting agent. Other active compounds include tannins (up to 20%), flavonoids, and ursolic acid, contributing to its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. The leaves exhibit a bitter taste and faint aromatic odor. Extracts are typically brownish liquids or powders with pH levels around 5–6. Solubility varies by preparation: water-based extracts dissolve readily in aqueous solutions, while ethanol extracts are better suited for alcohol-based formulations. Stability testing indicates degradation of arbutin under prolonged UV exposure, necessitating opaque packaging.
Main Applications
In cosmetics, bearberry extracts are formulated into whitening creams, serums, and spot treatments due to arbutin’s ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity. Pharmaceutical applications include urinary antiseptic preparations, often combined with other herbs like juniper or dandelion root. The dietary supplement market utilizes encapsulated leaf powder for purported detoxification benefits, though clinical evidence remains limited. Emerging applications include natural preservatives in organic products, leveraging its antimicrobial tannins. Industrial buyers should note regional regulations—for example, hydroquinone derivatives face restrictions in some countries when used above certain concentrations.
Safety and Storage
While generally recognized as safe in topical applications, oral consumption should be limited to short-term use due to potential liver toxicity from hydroquinone metabolites. The recommended maximum dermal concentration is 2–4% arbutin in cosmetic formulations. Proper storage involves temperature-controlled environments (15–25°C) with relative humidity below 60%. Bulk leaf material requires protection from pests and mold via food-grade desiccants. Extracts in liquid form may require refrigeration to prevent fermentation. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) should be obtained from suppliers for workplace handling guidelines.
B2B Procurement Guide
Buyers should prioritize suppliers providing HPLC-verified arbutin content reports, preferably with third-party lab certifications. Organic and wildcrafted grades command 20–30% price premiums but appeal to niche markets. Key due diligence points include pesticide residue testing (especially for EU-bound shipments) and sustainable harvesting certificates like FairWild. Minimum order quantities (MOQs) for extracts commonly start at 5–10 kg, with lead times of 4–8 weeks for custom formulations. Contract manufacturing options are available for pre-mixed actives combining bearberry with complementary ingredients like licorice root or vitamin C derivatives.
Related Manufacturers
- 主营：植物提取物、浸膏粉、果粉、蔬菜粉、化妆品类提取物、饲料类提取物原料、食品饮料原料、固体饮料原料、植物原料、提取物加工、果蔬粉厂家、水溶粉、提取物定制、菌类提取物、植物浓缩粉、浓缩粉厂家、浓缩粉原料、果蔬粉定制、植物加工品、浓缩粉、果汁粉、水溶植物原料、藤茶提取物/藤茶粉
- 主营：枸杞多糖、葛根提取物、猴头菇提取物、桑叶提取物、荷叶提取物、黑枸杞提取物、芒果粉、苹果粉、桑椹粉、火龙果粉、板蓝根提取物、酸枣仁肽、燕麦肽、丁香提取物、金银花提取物、百合提取物、茯苓提取物、赤小豆提取物、砂仁提取物、蔓越莓提取物、白桦茸提取物、樱桃粉
- 主营：醉茄提取物、二氢杨梅素、一水肌酸、叶黄素、硫辛酸、姜黄素、曲酸、大黄素、白藜芦醇、传明酸、脂质体NMN、木犀草素、葛根素、积雪草甙、L-谷胱甘肽、水溶醉茄提取物
- 主营：人参粉、桑葚粉、陈皮提取物、辣木叶提取物、藜麦肽、蓝莓粉、白芸豆提取物、甘草粉、枸杞提取物、沙棘粉、牡蛎肽、当归提取物、雪莲培养物、苹果粉、柑橘膳食纤维、淫羊藿提取物、肉苁蓉提取物、覆盆子粉、山药提取物、便秘果提取物、可水溶萃取粉、半边苏浓缩粉、半边苏提取物、甜石莲水提浸膏粉、淫羊藿双甙10%
- 主营：水果果粉、饲料原料、植物浓缩粉、甜叶菊提取物、植物提取物、花青素系列、原花青素提取物、鸡内金提取物、黄精提取物、白芸豆提取物、大麦芽提取物、黄芪提取物、三七提取物、肉苁蓉提取物、金银花提取物、桑椹提取物、杜仲提取物、山药提取物、甘草提取物、肉桂提取物、葡萄皮提取物、麦芽提取物、枸杞提取物
- 主营：丁香油、水精油、中药油、香叶油、桉叶素、桉叶油、茴香油、香精油、能量油、洋甘菊、茶树油、皮傲宁、乙基醚、基础油、抗菌剂、蜂草油、护肤品、己二醇、当归油、鼠尾草、增补剂、玉米油、丝柏油、香薰油、提取液
- 主营：油莎豆提取物、黄精多糖、山药粉、银杏叶提取物、胡萝卜提取物、人参提取物、百合提取物、绿豆提取物、蚕蛹蛋白粉、蒲公英多糖、粉葛提取物、五指毛桃粉、覆盆子提取物、三七提取物、绣球菌速溶粉、枸杞提取物、甘草提取物、青苹果果粉、牛骨胶原蛋白肽、葛根提取物、胖大海浸膏粉、海参多肽、绞股蓝浓缩粉、酸枣仁提取物、牛骨髓粉
- 主营：植物提取物、提取物、固体饮料、含熊果酸、果蔬粉、蔬菜粉、果汁粉、化妆品类提取物、食品原料、饮料原料、固体饮料原料、植物原料、提取物工厂、提取物加工、果蔬粉厂家、水溶粉、提取物定制、菌类提取物、植物浓缩粉、浓缩粉厂家、浓缩粉原料、果蔬粉定制、植物加工品、浓缩粉、人参提取物
- 主营：植物提取物、玉竹提取物/玉竹粉、决明子提取物/决明子、淡竹叶提取物 淡竹叶、蔬菜粉、金银花提取物/金银花、黄精提取物/黄精粉、沙棘果汁粉/沙棘粉、桑椹果粉/桑葚粉、人参提取物/人参粉、余甘子提取物/余甘子、压缩糖果原料、固体饮料原料、芒果粉/芒果、白柳皮提取物/白柳皮、马齿苋提取物/马齿苋、肉桂提取物 肉桂、果粉、果蔬粉、沙棘粉、菌菇粉、水溶浓缩粉、茯苓粉
- 主营：植物提取物、玉米胚芽粉、甘草提取物、桑叶提取物、玉米低聚肽、山楂提取物、玉米胚芽浓缩粉、牡蛎肽粉、山药粉、枸杞子粉、蓝莓粉、黄精提取物、地龙蛋白、薏苡仁粉、仙人掌果粉、葛根提取物、酸枣仁提取物、沙棘提取物、人参提取物、黄芪提取物、决明子提取物、枳椇子提取物、桑葚果粉、沙棘粉、金银花提取物
- 主营：藤茶提取物、枳椇子提取物、二氢槲皮素、淡竹叶提取物、竹叶黄酮、荷叶提取物、桑叶提取物、槲皮素、地龙蛋白肽、马齿苋提取物、甘草提取物、黄芪粉、罗汉果粉、鱼腥草提取物、葛根提取物、玉米低聚肽、酸枣仁提取物、人参提取物、蒲公英提取物、益智仁提取物、阿胶粉、麦芽提取物
- 主营：乳酸链球菌素、甜菜碱、富铬酵母、熊果苷厂家、富硒酵母、富锌酵母、肉桂酸钾、茶多酚、植酸钠、富马酸、单宁酸、甘露寡糖、低聚半乳糖、魔芋粉、结冷胶、卡拉胶、海藻酸钠、果胶、黄原胶、酪蛋白酸钠、低聚果糖、低聚木糖、水苏糖、三氯蔗糖、维生素B1、肉桂酸
- 主营：烟酰胺、泛酸钙、生物素、熊果苷厂家、黄原胶、瓜尔胶、L-半胱氨酸盐酸盐、海藻酸钠、海藻糖、谷氨酸、卡拉胶、乳清粉、赤藓糖醇、结晶果糖、木糖醇、甜菜碱、螺旋藻、乳清蛋白粉、氯化胆碱、酪蛋白、肌酸、色氨酸、赖氨酸、鱼油粉、刺槐豆胶、阿拉伯胶
- 主营：酪蛋白酸钠 酪朊酸钠、氯化胆碱、甜菜碱、熊果苷厂家、酵母浸粉、蛋白胨、低聚果糖、低聚木糖、甘露寡糖、菊粉、D-异抗坏血酸钠、ε-聚赖氨酸、ε-聚赖氨酸盐酸盐、乳酸链球菌素、BHA 丁基羟基茴香、茶多酚 绿茶提取物、阿拉伯胶、刺槐豆胶、瓜尔豆胶 瓜尔胶、果胶 高酯果胶 低酯、海藻酸钠、黄原胶、结冷胶 低酰基结冷胶、聚丙烯酸钠
- 主营：黄芩素、大蒜素、南非醉茄提取物、锯叶棕脂肪酸、喜来芝提取物、芦荟甙、红车轴异黄酮、水溶白藜芦醇、弗斯可林、武靴藤酸、乳香酸、洋蓟酸、刺梨SOD、岩藻黄质、松果菊苷