Arctium
lappa.Burdock, BardaneFamily: Asteraceae PART USED:Root- Gathered during the first year of growth. ACTIONS GROUP: Alteratives, and Antineoplastics
1. Alterative.[3,5]
2. Diuretic.[1,2,3,5] Diaphoretic.[3,5]
3. Bitter tonic. Detoxifying.[5]
4. Orexigenic (Stimulating appetite).[1,3]
5. Antirheumatic.[3]
6. Antiseptic.[3] INDICATIONS
1. Eczema.[1,2,3] Skin eruptions.[1,2]
Hair loss. Psoriasis.[3]
2. Anorexia nervosa.[1,2]
3. Rheumatic disorders-[1,2] including
gout.[1,2]
4. Irritation of mucous membranes e.g. in cystitis,[1,2]
Syphilis. Gonorrhea.
External application as poultice for eczema or psoriasis.[3] SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Eczema, especially in dry and desquammatory
phase (shedding the edpidermis).[1]
Psoriasis.[1] COMBINATIONS
- Skin disease, use with Yellow dock or Red
clover. PREPARATIONS
3X /day
Dried Root 2-6 g,[1,2] or by decoction
or infusion 1:20.[2]
Fluid Extract 1:1 in 25% alcohol 2-8 ml.[1,2,3]
Fluid extract 1:2 in 25% alcohol.[4]
Tincture 1:10 in 45% alcohol 8-12 ml.[1,2]
Decoction 1:20 500 ml/day.[1]
Fluid extract of seed 0.5-2 ml.[3] PART USED: Aerial parts- Gathered in the first year of growth. ACTIONS: Similar to Burdock root. INDICATIONS: Similar to Burdock root
Particulary used as- Local use- Boils and abscess as a poultice.[1,2] ORIGIN:
Britain. DESCRIPTION: Biennial herb, forming a rosette in the first year. In the
second year grows to 130 cm tall. Roots; fleshy. Stem; multi-branching, height
1-2 m. Basal leaves; clustered. Stem leaves; opposite, up to 40 cm long, broad-ovate
or cordate, long pertioled, apexes rounded, bases cordate, leaf surfaces glossy,
undersides pubescent with fine greyish-white hairs, margins irregularly dentate
or slightly undulate. Flowers; in summer, purplish, in a capitulum inflorescence.
Fruit; achene, obovate, covered with stiff hairs. References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983
Published by the British Herbal Medicine Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[3] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations R.C.
Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in
Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company
Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound
by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.
[4] The Pharmaceutical Plant Company Pty Ltd ppcherbs.com.au
[5] Chinese Medicinal Herbs- Beatrice Bliss (1973) Compiled by Li Shi- Chen.
Translated and Researched by F. Porter Smith and G. A. Stuart. Geogetown Press,
San FranciscoISBN 0 914558005 Images
1. commons.wikimedia.org
by Christian Fischer CC BY-SA 3.0
2. 100thseed.org
3. Barefoot Doctor's Manual - 1977 Prepared by the Revolutionary Health Committee
of Hunan Province. Original Chinese manual- Victor W. Sidel. Originally published
by Dr Joseph Quin and the Fogarty International centre, Bethdesda (1974). Madrona
Publishers Seattle Washington ISBN 0-914842-52-8
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the
use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.Constituents
Root:
An antibiotic substance. Bitter principle.[1,2]
Fixed oil. Inulin.[1]
Glycoside- lappin. Minerals especially silica and iron. Mucilage. Tannin. Volatile
oil- bardanae.[1,2]
Lignans, including arcigenin, its glycoside arctiin, and matai-resinol.
Polyacetylenes mainly tridecadienetetraynes and tridecatrienetriynes,[6]
with the sulphur containing arctic acid.[7]
Amino acids such as g-guanidino-n-butyric
acid.[9] Inulin (up to 50%).
Miscellaneous organic acids, fatty acids and phenolic acids; including acetic,
butryric, isovaleric, lauric, myristic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids.[7] Aerial parts: Contains antibacterial substances. Flavonoids.
Fruits: A series of at least 8 sesqui- and dilignans known as
the lappaols A, B, C etc.[4,5] Leaves: Sequiterpenes- arctiol, b-eudesmol,
fukinone, fukinanolide and derivatives, petasiotolone and eremophilene.[8]
Burdock has also been used to treat tumours, and in fact arctigenin is a weak
inhibitor of experimental tumour growth.[10]
The antimicrobial properties are thought to be due to the polyacetylenes.[6] References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 Published by the British Herbal Medicine
Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[3] Yamanouchi, S. et al. (1976) Yakugaku Zasshi 96 (12), 1492
[4] Ichihara, A. et al. (1978) Tetrahedron Letters 33,
305
[5] Ichihara, A. et al. (1968) Tetrahedron 44, 3961
[6] Schulte, K. et al. (1967) Arzneim. Forsch. 17, 829
[7] Encylcopedia of Common Natural Ingredients used in Food Drugs and Cosmetics",
Albert Y Leung. Pub. John Wiley & Sons Inc (1980) NY
[8] Naya, K. et al. (1972) Chem. Lett. 3, 235
[9] Yamada, Y. et al. (1975) Phytochem. 14, 582
[10] Dombradi, G. (1970) Chemotherapy 15, 250
Research.
Extracts of the fruit are reported to have hypoglycaemic activity in rats.[1]
The root is eaten as a food in parts of Asia, the fibre from it has been shown
to protect rats from the toxicity of food colours.[2] References
[1] Encylcopedia of Common Natural Ingredients used in Food Drugs and Cosmetics",
Albert Y Leung. Pub. John Wiley & Sons Inc (1980) NY
[2] Tsujita, J. et al. (1979) Nutr. Rep. Int. 20 (5),
635
Anti-inflammatory and radical scavenge effects of Arctium lappa. Lin CC, Lu JM, Yang JJ, Chuang SC, Ujiie T. Abstract
The effects of Arctium lappa L. (root) on anti-inflammatory and free radical
scavenger activity were investigated. Subcutaneous administration of A. lappa
crude extract significantly decreased carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. When
simultaneously treated with CCl4, it produced pronounced activities against
CCl4-induced acute liver damage. The free radical scavenging activity of its
crude extract was also examined by means of an electron spin resonance (ESR)
spectrometer. The IC50 of A. lappa extract on superoxide and hydroxyl radical
scavenger activity was 2.06 mg/ml and 11.8 mg/ml, respectively. These findings
suggest that Arctium lappa possess free radical scavenging activity. The inhibitory
effects on carrageenan-induced paw edema and CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity could
be due to the scavenging effect of A. lappa.
PMID: 8874669 DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X96000177 Am J Chin Med. 1996;24(2):127-37.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Observational study of Arctium lappa in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Miglani A, Manchanda RK. Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Arctium lappa (Lappa) is used in traditional Western and Chinese medicine for
acne. It is mentioned in homeopathic literature for acne, but its effect has
not previously been evaluated.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine Lappa in treatment of
acne vulgaris.
METHODS:
An uncontrolled observational interventional study was conducted on human subjects
who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and gave written informed consent. Lappa
was prescribed in potencies starting from 6c rising to 1M as required, over
a period of 6 months. Objective assessment was change in acne lesion counts
supplemented with Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and subjective assessment
by using Acne-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire (Acne-QoL).
RESULTS:
Out of 34 human subjects, 32 completed the follow-up. Statistical significant
results were seen in lesion counts, GAGS and Acne-QoL score (p value <0.001).
CONCLUSION:
Lappa has shown positive effects in the treatment of acne especially of inflammatory
type. Further controlled, randomized studies with larger sample size are desirable.
Trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01040390.
PMID: 24931753 DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.12.002
Homeopathy. 2014 Jul;103(3):203-7. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.12.002. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Protective effects of Arctium lappa L. roots against hydrogen peroxide-induced
cell injury and potential mechanisms in SH-SY5Y cells.
Tian X, Guo LP, Hu XL, Huang J, Fan YH, Ren TS, Zhao QC. Abstract
Accumulated evidence has shown that excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) have
been implicated in neuronal cell death related with various chronic neurodegenerative
disorders. This study was designed to explore neuroprotective effects of ethyl
acetate extract of Arctium lappa L. roots (EAL) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced
cell injury in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The cell viability was significantly
decreased after exposure to 200 µM H2O2, whereas pretreatment with different
concentrations of EAL attenuated the H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. Hoechst 33342
staining indicated that EAL reversed nuclear condensation in H2O2-treated cells.
Meanwhile, TUNEL assay with DAPI staining showed that EAL attenuated apoptosis
was induced by H2O2. Pretreatment with EAL also markedly elevated activities of
antioxidant enzyme (GSH-Px and SOD), reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA) production,
prevented ROS formation, and the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential.
In addition, EAL showed strong radical scavenging ability in 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic
acid) assays. Furthermore, EAL inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis by increases in
the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, decreases in cytochrome c release, and attenuation of caspase-3,
caspase-9 activities, and expressions. These findings suggest that EAL may be
regarded as a potential antioxidant agent and possess potent neuroprotective activity
against H2O2-induced injury.
PMID: 25352420 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-014-0129-7 Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2015 Apr;35(3):335-344.
doi: 10.1007/s10571-014-0129-7. Epub 2014 Oct 29. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov