The 31 studies reviewed collectively covered 25 different herbs, two Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and one Ayurvedic formulae, and four isolates from herbs (berberine, curcumin, soy isoflavone and quercetin).
Of the 25 herbs in the studies, 9 are native to the area of interest of this blog, the Mediterranean and Near East: aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), anise (Pimpinella anisum), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), flax seed (Linum usitatissimum), hazelnut (Corylus avellana), liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), nettle and pomegranate (Punica granatum).
Of the studies done with these herbs, three were done with human subjects, the other with animal models. Two were done with women with PCOS. Some of the studies showed clinical benefits for PCOS, others showed improved hormone profiles consistent with better potential PCOS outcomes, others still improved secondary complications of PCOS such as metabolic syndrome.
The table below summarises in very basic form some data from the review.
Herb
Clinical benefits for PCOS
Improved hormone profile
Improved complications of PCOS
Human/ Animal
Aloe vera
*
*
A
Anise
*
*
A
Fennel
*
A
Fenugreek
*
*
H
Flax seed
*
*
H
Hazlenut
*
*
A
Liquorice
*
*
A, H
Nettle
*
A
Pomegranate
*
*
A
Citation:
Azin F. & Khazali H. (2021). Phytotherapy of polycystic ovary syndrome: A review. International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine Volume 20, Issue no. 1, https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v20i1.10404
Fenugreek flower (Trigonella foenum-graecum – L.). One of the plants discussed in this review, for which there is scientific evidence indicating antidiabetic effects. Public domain photo from Pxfuel.com.
This open access 2018 review by Paolo Governa and co-workers from the University of Siena and the Italian Society of Phytotherapy provides an overview of the use of medicinal plants in the management of diabetes, with particular regard to evidence of clinical effectiveness of medicinal plants in controlling diabetes-related symptoms.
The authors emphasise the following species enlisted in WHO monographs with indication of use for diabetes:
Holy basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum L., leaves.
Fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum L., seeds.
Onion, Allium cepa L., bulb.
Neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., leaves.
Bitter melon, Momordica charantia L., fruit.
Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, roots.
American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius L., roots.
Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC., roots.
Many of these are used of diabetes in traditional medical systems or described in pharmacopoeias for this use. The authors consider that for the first two, holy basil and fenugreek, their use in diabetes is supported by clinical data.
The authors also discuss some other species which are attracting the interest of the scientific community for their promise in treating diabetes.
The authors comment that there is a crucial need for stronger evidence-based data.
Citation
Governa P, Baini G, Borgonetti V, Cettolin G, Giachetti D, Magnano AR, Miraldi E, Biagi M. Phytotherapy in the Management of Diabetes: A Review. Molecules. 2018; 23(1):105. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23010105
This intriguing double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial appears to indicate that propolis as an adjunct to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant medication, improves depressive symptoms over and above SSRIs alone.
Caveat: I have only been able to access the abstract of this study, so have not been able to assess the methodology. The abstract may be accessed here.
Citation
Varzaghani, V., Sharifi, M., Hajiaghaee, R., Bagheri, S., Momtaz, S., Tarassoli, Z., & Razmi, A. (2022). Propolis add-on therapy alleviates depressive symptoms; A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 1– 10. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7380.
Medour et al. (2002)[1] carried out an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant use in two rural municipalities in the province of Bouira, Northern Algeria. This is a biodiverse, mountainous, Berber-speaking region with a rich ethnobotanical knowledge system.
Bouira is a province of Northern Algeria. Image taken from the cited paper [1].
Data were compiled from 69 informants among the local population and on 136 plant species. Data were gathered and data analyses were provided on:
Socio-demographic profile of the informants.
Diversity of medicinal plants.
Toxic plants.
Plant parts used, mode of preparation and administration.
Diseases groups, treated diseases and number of use reports.
Relative frequency of citation of the plant species recorded.
Frequency of use of the plant species recorded.
The percentage of informants claiming the use of a certain plant species for the same major purpose.
Consensus among informants for plant use for the different disease categories recorded.
Among the many interesting data provided in this quantitative survey, the most interesting for me were those on the most used medicinal plants for various types of symptoms or conditions. These are summarised in the table below, taken from the cited paper [1].
Medicinal plants used for various types of symptoms or conditions. Table taken from the cited paper [1].
Of particular interest to me personally are the reported uses of several plants commonly found in my own bio-region of Ibiza, Balearic islands, Spain, namely:
[1] Meddour, R., Sahar, O., Abdoune, N., & Dermouche, M. (2022). Quantitative ethnobotanical investigation of medicinal plants used by local population in the rural municipalities of Haizer and El Asnam, province of Bouira, Northern Algeria. Mediterranean Botany, 43, e71190. https://doi.org/10.5209/mbot.71190
This interesting paper presents an overview of the existing literature published since the year 2000, seeks to identify some repeatedly found seasonal trends and discusses some possible explanations for these trends.
Coriandrum sativum L.: Image from Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Original book source: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany.
Simple Summary
The following is a simple summary of this recent review paper:
Mahleyuddin, N.N.; Moshawih, S.; Ming, L.C.; Zulkifly, H.H.; Kifli, N.; Loy, M.J.; Sarker, M.M.R.; Al-Worafi, Y.M.; Goh, B.H.; Thuraisingam, S.; et al. Coriandrum sativum L.: A Review on Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Cardiovascular Benefits. Molecules 2022, 27, 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27010209.
1. Traditional Uses in Various Old-World Regions
Fruits (seeds)
Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, and joint pain.
Some liver diseases (roasted seeds).
Dyspeptic complaints, as a digestive.
Loss of appetite, as an appetiser.
Convulsions.
Anxiety, insomnia.
As a diuretic.
“Melancholia”.
To lower blood glucose levels.
Influenza.
Bad breath.
Bad odour from genitalia.
Leaves
Mouth ulcer.
Eye redness.
“Melancholia”.
Digestive complaints, poor digestion.
To lower blood glucose levels.
Aerial parts
Viral infection.
Neurasthenia.
Whole plant
Measles.
Diabetes.
Aerophagy.
Gastroenteritis.
As a diaphoretic.
As a diuretic.
As a carminative.
As a stimulant.
Essential oil
Aa an aphrodisiac.
As an analgesic.
As an antimicrobial, mouth infections.
As a digestive stimulant.
Gastric ulcers.
Unspecified part(s)
As a diuretic, some renal diseases.
Anxiety; as a sedative and muscle relaxant.
2. Main Phytochemical Constituents
Fruits (seeds)
Carotenoids including β-carotene.
Tocols: α-, β-, γ- δ- tocopherols, and α-, γ-tocotrienols.
Fatty acids: Petroselinic linoleic, palmitic and oleic acids.
3. Physiological Effects of Phytochemicals from C. sativum
Flavonoids: A flavonoid-rich fraction was found to have hypotensive activity.
Quercetin (a flavonoid): A quercetin-rich aqueous ethanolic extract inhibits α-amylase, α-glucosidase and lipase, and thus potentially has antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects.
Polyphenols: A polyphenol-rich extract inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme thus potentially has a antihypertensive effect.
Isocoumarins: Isocoumarin aglycones and (to a lesser degree) isocoumarin glycosides (cilantroside A and B) have been found to have neurotrophic / neuroprotective effects by stimulation of nerve growth factor. The aglycones of isocoumarins also showed anti-inflammatory effects.
Phenolic glycosides: The phenolic glycosides daphnin and benzyl-O-β-d-glucoside have also been found to stimulate nerve growth factor.
Sterols: Plant sterols have hypocholesterolaemic effects.
Essential oil: Prominent activities against diabetes, microbial infections, and inhibitory to acetylcholinterase.
Other: A linalool, ascorbyl palmitate and petroselinic acid-rich petroleum ether extract of coriander seeds reduces oxidative stress, is hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic, and preventative against diabetic nephropathy.
4. Cardiovascular Benefits of C. sativum
A systematic review was carried out of studies investigating the potential cardiovascular benefits of C. sativum.
Studies have demonstrated the cardioprotective benefits of C. sativum. These include its effect as an antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-atherogenic, antiarrhythmic, as well as the improvement of other factors that may lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as altered lipid profile, hyperglycaemia and cardiac biomarkers or enzymes.
Most of the studies included in the review were in vivo studies carried out on laboratory animals. Only two were human studies. These latter demonstrated hypolipidaemic, hypocholesterolaemic, hypotensive and antioxidant effects of coriander seed powder. As to plant parts, the majority of the studies included investigated the effects of the seeds. The two studies on the leaves showed hypolipidaemic, hypotensive, normoglycaemic and antioxidant effects.
The authors comment that more in vitro studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms of action.
Capparis spinosa L. (caper). Royalty-free image from Pxfuel.com.
This study is an ethnobotanical review of herbs traditionally used to treat Cystitis in the Rif, Northern Morocco.
Mountain ranges of North Africa. From Wikimedia Commons.
Of the 60 plant species described, Capparis spinosa L. (caper) was the most commonly used – as a decoction of the leaves – followed by Apium graveolens L. (celery) – whole plant as an infusion – and Ziziphus vulgaris Lam. (jujube) – fruit, eaten.
Rif Mountains by Hamza.hayoun. From Wikimedia Commons.
Roses in a flower garden, Kerman Province, Iran. Photo from Pxfuel. Public Domain.
The authors of this study surveyed the use by herbal healers of plant species found in Kerman Province, south-east Iran. They note that traditional (folk) medicine is a major component of healthcare in south-east Iran.
The study findings suggest that plants in the Asteraceae and Apiaceae families are used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, Lamiaceae plants for respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments, and Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae plants for dermatological problems.
A full table of the medicinal plants identified and their uses by local herbal healers can be found here.
Hosseini, S.H., Bibak, H., Ghara, A.R. et al. Ethnobotany of the medicinal plants used by the ethnic communities of Kerman province, Southeast Iran. J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine17, 31 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00438-z .
In a previous post I presented a graphic about the Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) in Western Herbalism. This post complements that one, and deals with the use of the herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda.
If the image is too small for you to read the words, enlarge your window by holding down ‘Control’ and scrolling up with your mouse wheel.
Limonene is an abundant monoterpene in essential oils of citrus fruit peels (Rutaceae).
This systemic review highlights limonene as “an abundant natural molecule with low toxicity and pleiotropic pharmacological activity in cancer cells, targeting various cell‐signaling pathways critically involved in the initiation, growth, and chemoresistance of cancer cells“. (My italics.)
Gomes de Araújo-Filho H. et al. (2021). Anticancer activity of limonene: A systematic review of target signaling pathways. Phytotherapy Research. 17th April 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7125 .
Old World Medicinal Plants 