Bilberry

This fact sheet provides basic information about bilberry--common names, uses, and potential side effects. Bilberry is a relative of the blueberry, and its fruit is commonly used to make pies and jams. Bilberry grows in North America, Europe, and northern Asia.

Common Names: European blueberry, whortleberry, huckleberry

Latin Names: Vaccinium myrtillus

What It Is Used For

Bilberry has been used for nearly 1,000 years in traditional European medicine.

Historically, bilberry fruit was used to treat diarrhea, scurvy, and other conditions.

Today, the fruit is used to treat diarrhea, menstrual cramps, eye problems, varicose veins, venous insufficiency (poor blood flow to the heart), and other circulatory problems.

Bilberry leaf is used for entirely different conditions, including diabetes.

How It Is Used

The fruit of the bilberry plant can be eaten or made into extracts. Similarly, the leaves of the bilberry plant can be made into extracts or used to make teas.

Scientific Research

Some claim that bilberry fruit improves night vision, but clinical studies have not shown this to be true.

There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of bilberry fruit or leaf for any other health conditions.

Side Effects and Cautions

Bilberry fruit is considered safe. However, high doses of bilberry leaf or leaf extract are considered unsafe; animal studies have shown high doses to be toxic.

Tell your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including bilberry. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Source:
National Institutes of Health

St. John's Wort, or Hypericum

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb St. John's wort--common names, uses, and potential side effects. St. John's wort is a plant with yellow flowers.

Common Names: St. John's wort, hypericum, Klamath weed, goat weed

Latin Name: Hypericum perforatum

What It Is Used For

St. John's wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders and nerve pain.

In ancient times, herbalists wrote about its use as a sedative and a treatment for malaria, as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites.

Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders.

How It Is Used

The flowering tops of St. John's wort are used to prepare teas and tablets containing concentrated extracts.

Scientific Research

There is some scientific evidence that St. John's wort is useful for treating mild to moderate depression. However, two large studies, one sponsored by NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), showed that the herb was no more effective than placebo in treating major depression of moderate severity.

NCCAM is studying the use of St. John's wort in a wider spectrum of mood disorders, including minor depression.

Side Effects and Cautions

St. John's wort may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. Other side effects can include anxiety, dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, headache, or sexual dysfunction.

Research shows that St. John's wort interacts with some drugs. The herb affects the way the body processes or breaks down many drugs; in some cases, it may speed or slow a drug's breakdown. Drugs that can be affected include:

o Indinavir and possibly other drugs used to control HIV infection
o Irinotecan and possibly other drugs used to treat cancer
o Cyclosporine, which prevents the body from rejecting transplanted organs
o Digoxin, which strengthens heart muscle contractions
o Warfarin and related anticoagulants
o Birth control pills
o Antidepressants

When combined with certain antidepressants, St. John's wort may increase side effects such as nausea, anxiety, headache, and confusion.

St. John's wort is not a proven therapy for depression. If depression is not adequately treated, it can become severe. Anyone who may have depression should see a health care provider. There are effective proven therapies available.

It is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including St. John's wort. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Source:
National Institutes of Health

Aloe Vera

This fact sheet provides basic information about aloe vera--common names, uses, and potential side effects. Aloe vera's use can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egyptian civilization, where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the "plant of immortality," aloe was presented as a burial gift to deceased pharaohs.

Common Names: aloe vera, aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant's gall

Latin Names: Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis

Uses of Aloe Vera

Traditionally, aloe was used topically to heal wounds and for various skin conditions, and orally as a laxative.

Today, in addition to traditional uses, people take aloe orally to treat a variety of conditions, including diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, and osteoarthritis. People use aloe topically for osteoarthritis, burns, and sunburns.

Aloe vera gel can be found in hundreds of skin products, including lotions and sunblocks.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved aloe vera as a natural food flavoring.

How It Is Used

Aloe leaves contain a clear gel that is often used as a topical ointment.

The green part of the leaf that surrounds the gel can be used to produce a juice or a dried substance (called latex) that is taken by mouth.

Scientific Research on Aloe Vera

Aloe latex contains strong laxative compounds. Products made with various components of aloe (aloin, aloe-emodin, and barbaloin) were at one time regulated by the FDA as oral over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives. In 2002, the FDA required that all OTC aloe laxative products be removed from the U.S. market or reformulated because the companies that manufactured them did not provide the necessary safety data.

Early studies show that topical aloe gel may help heal burns and abrasions. One study, however, showed that aloe gel inhibits healing of deep surgical wounds. Aloe gel does not prevent burns from radiation therapy.

There is not enough scientific evidence to support aloe vera for any of its other uses.

Side Effects and Cautions

Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects.

Abdominal cramps and diarrhea have been reported with oral use of aloe vera.

Diarrhea, caused by the laxative effect of oral aloe vera, can decrease the absorption of many drugs.

People with diabetes who use glucose-lowering medication should be cautious if also taking aloe by mouth because preliminary studies suggest aloe may lower blood glucose levels.

Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Source:
National Institutes of Health

Valerian

Valeriana officinalis

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb valerian: common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Valerian is a plant native to Europe and Asia; it is also found in North America.

Common Names: valerian, all-heal, garden heliotrope

Latin Names: Valeriana officinalis

Uses:

• Valerian has long been used for sleep disorders and anxiety.
  
• Valerian has also been used for other conditions, such as headaches, depression, irregular heartbeat, and trembling.
  

The roots and rhizomes (underground stems) of valerian are typically used to make supplements, including capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts, as well as teas.

Scientific Research

Research suggests that valerian may be helpful for insomnia, but there is not enough evidence from well-designed studies to confirm this.

There is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether valerian works for anxiety or for other conditions, such as depression and headaches.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Studies suggest that valerian is generally safe to use for short periods of time (for example, 4 to 6 weeks).
  
• No information is available about the long-term safety of valerian.
  
• Valerian can cause mild side effects, such as headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, and tiredness the morning after its use.
  
• Tell your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including valerian. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.
  

Source:
U.S. National Institutes of Health

Orange Oil: Cholesterol Fighter?

Oil from orange peels contains compounds that lower blood levels of the "bad" LDL and VLDL cholesterols, studies with laboratory hamsters have revealed.

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Canada's KGK Synergize found the cholesterol-fighting effect in tests of peel-based natural chemicals called polymethoxylated flavones, or PMFs.

Hamster feed containing one percent PMFs lowered the animals' blood LDL and VLDL levels by 30 to 40 percent, the scientists report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (volume 52, pages 2879 to 2886). Followup studies will determine whether PMFs have the same effect in humans and, if so, may lead to a profitable new use of juice-processing leftovers.

Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Blackberry Compound May Inhibit Tumor Growth

A patent-pending compound isolated from fresh blackberries may inhibit the expression of genes that are associated with cancer-promoting agents. The purified compound, cyanidin-3- glucoside (C3G), inhibited tumors from growing and spreading when used in animal test models.

C3G may one day become a key natural ingredient in new products formulated for their anti- cancer properties. Cell biologist Min Ding, with NIOSH in Morgantown, W. Va., and plant physiologist Shiow Wang, with the ARS Fruit Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., conducted the research with colleagues at West Virginia University-Morgantown. The study appears in a recent issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

C3G is among a series of plant chemicals that are a subclass of flavonoids: water-soluble plant pigments known for their antioxidative and antimicrobial effects.

For the study, the researchers tested mice that had skin tumors. In one group, they found a significant reduction in the number and size of skin tumors among the mice that had been supplemented with C3G, when compared to those that had not been supplemented.

In another experimental model with immune-system-suppressed mice, the researchers studied lung cancer cells because of their relatively high tendency to spread to other organs. They found that the purified blackberry compound not only significantly reduced the amount of cancer cell growth in the mice, but also inhibited the spread of the cancer cells to other organs.

C3G exhibited anti-cancer activity in this animal model, according to the researchers. The preventive effect of the extract may be due to the compound’s ability to control free radicals known as reactive oxygen species, which activate molecular signals involved in initiating, promoting and progressing cancer.

The findings indicate a promising direction for understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of plant chemicals on human health.

Source:
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Author: Rosalie Marion Bliss
First published: September 20, 2006

Discovering Medicinal Plants

Goldenseal, ginseng, echinacea, ginkgo - visit your local drug store or supermarket and you'll find large quantities of these products on the shelves, intermingled with old favorites like aspirin. Medicinal plants are used commercially, thanks to contributions of traditional cultures worldwide, modern medicine, and pharmacognosy (the study of the biochemistry and pharmacology of plants).

Without plants, most medicines you take would not exist. Over 40% of medicines now prescribed in the United States contain chemicals derived from plants. And most synthetic drugs were based on compounds from the plants originally providing the medicine. Historically, plant medicines were discovered by trial and error. Our ancestors noticed that aches and pains went away when they drank tea made from the bark of a willow tree. Later, scientists found that willow bark contains salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin.

This process continues today. Throughout the world, botanists and chemists search the plant kingdom for new medicines. They sometimes find treasures in other people's trash. In 1975, researchers found a substance in the bark of the native Pacific yew tree, taxol, that reduces the production of cancerous tumors.

For years, the Pacific yew was burned as trash generated by logging operations in old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest. Now, the yew is part of the treasure trove of native plants saving thousands of lives each year. Taxol has been used effectively in treating a broad range of cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and leukemia. Like many other medicinal plant discoveries, taxol has not only saved lives but also boosted our economy. Already a multi-million dollar business, by the year 2000 taxol should produce over $1,000,000,000 in revenue and many associated jobs.

A comprehensive search of known plants for medicinal chemicals is an enormous task. Of the estimated 250,000 plant species on earth, only 2% have been thoroughly screened for chemicals with potential medicinal use. Because native plant habitats are destroyed almost daily, many medicinally valuable plants will be gone before scientists can even investigate them. How many medicines have we already lost? How many more remain to be found?

Related topic: US Botanic Garden Exhibits Medicinal Plants

Source:
U.S. National Park Service

US Botanic Garden Exhibits Medicinal Plants

There has long been debate about the benefits of modern versus traditional medicine, but there is growing acceptance in Western countries of the virtues of traditional medicine, including medicinal plants that are widely used in many parts of the world. An exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington showcases medicinal plants from around the world.

Herbal remedies have been used to treat illness and disease for thousands of years. In many cases, modern science has verified the healing powers of these plants. According to the World Health Organization, 25 percent of modern medicines are made from plants initially used in traditional medicine.

Medicinal plants and herbal preparations are widely used in China, Africa and many other parts of the world. In Europe and the United States, however, they have more often been considered a supplement to modern medicine, but even in these regions there is growing interest in the healing properties of plants.

Nathan Bartholomew is in charge of the medicinal plants exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden. He says many people, particularly in the United States, are not aware of the curative properties some plants provide.

"Medicinal plant knowledge is one of the most ancient fields on the planet," he said. "Pretty much every plant species around, [even] common weeds we see in the sidewalk, are medicinal plants."

More than 100 species of herbs and plants are on display at the U.S. Botanic Garden exhibit. The plants are grouped by regions of the world and labeled according to their countries of origin.

Mr. Bartholomew says there are over 20,000 species of medicinal plants in the world and half of them are endangered. He says many other species of plants have yet to be researched for their medicinal properties.

The Botanic Garden official says that one plant or tree can have thousands of different medicinal uses. Native Americans, for example, used five main medicinal plants, each of them having thousands of different uses for different ailments.

He says the exhibit aims to educate the public about the latest science regarding medicinal plants, and about how vulnerable some plants are.

"We're striving to provide the most up-to-date plants and the most clinical research that is going on with medicinal plants, as well as a lot of the plants that are threatened and endangered, and are very important for conservation efforts," he added.

Among the plants in the collection is one known as the sausage tree, because of its sausage-shaped fruit. The fruit is widely used throughout Africa for treating medical problems, such as epilepsy and respiratory ailments. And a plant known as the Chinese star tree is now being used in some countries to treat the bird flu virus. The garden also features southernwood, a herb which provides the active ingredient in the malaria medicine artemisinin.

Xiaoiui Zhang is coordinator of traditional medicine at the World Health Organization (WHO).

"According to the international research, we found two plants now make a great contribution to the health. For example, artemisinin, that is an anti-malaria drug," she noted. "It is effective for all of the [parasites], it doesn't matter if it is for the Asian one or the African one. And another one is tameflu, WHO recommends to use that for the anti-bird flu."

But Ms. Zhang says the World Health Organization (WHO) does not promote medicinal plants as being better than Western medicine, but does urge people to be careful in the use of either one.

"Each system, either traditional or Western medicine, they have their own advantages and disadvantages," she added. "So at WHO, our policy is to encourage integrating traditional medicine into the national health system where it's appropriate."

The Botanic Garden exhibit has attracted a variety of people. Washington resident Michelle Brunson says she came partly because she wants to be a botanical illustrator, an artist who draws plants.

"I'm studying to become a botanical illustrator, so I have an interest just in the plants themselves visually, but I also have an interest because, in my studies, I have learned how many of the species are being killed in deforestation, and the ones that need to be conserved are the ones I'm really interested in," she said.

Ms. Brunson also says she works for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, which advocates making the marijuana plant medically available to seriously ill people who have the approval of their doctors. Advocates say the drug, which is illegal in the United States, helps reduce pain. The plant is not among the collection at the U.S. Botanic Garden.

Related topic: Discovering Medicinal Plants

Source:
VOA News Service
First published: January 11, 2006
Author: Anthony Stokes