COMPARISON OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF LEAF ALCOHOLIC EXTRACTS OF VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA AND VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS: PRELIMINARY STUDIES

Introduction: Antioxidants, especially polyphenols, are essential for defending the body against oxidative damage brought on by reactive oxygen species and free radicals, which can result in tissue and cellular dysfunction. Vaccinium plants, such as bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), are useful in the prevention and supportive treatment of infections, inflammatory diseases, and vascular disorders because of their high polyphenol content and potent antioxidant qualities.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of leaf extracts from bilberry and lingonberry obtained using ultrasound-assisted extraction.Methods: Four aliphatic alcohols — methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, and propan-2-ol — were used at three concentrations (40%, 70%, and undiluted). Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH and ABTS assays.Results: The results demonstrated high antioxidant potential in both plants, with methanol and ethanol extracts showing the strongest activity. Lingonberry leaf extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity than bilberry extracts.Conclusions: The alcoholic leaf extracts of both plants are valuable components that have the potential to be used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.