Folk and Alternative Medicine

Melnyk H. I.

SHEI “Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University”

Possibilities of Veratrum species use in medicine and pharmacy

Veratrum species of the Melantiaceae family are widely distributed in temperate latitudes of Eurasia and North America. 3 species are native to Atlantic North America, 35 species are distributed in Europe and North America, 9 species grow in East Asia. The most investigated species of the genus are: Veratrum (V.) sabadilla, V. lobelianum, V. album, V. dahuricum, V. calyciflorum, V. nigrum, V. oxysepalum, V. maackii, V. misae, V. grandiflorum, V. viride, V. californicum [1, 2].

Three Veratrum species (V. album, V. lobelianum, V. nigrum) grow in Ukraine. These plants are very abundant in the areas known as Roztochia, Opillia, and Polissia, in the forest and steppe region, in the Precarpathian region and the Carpathian Mountains. They are less distributed in the north steppe and on the left bank area. The species grow in humid and boggy soil, in deciduous and temperate forests, in thick bushes, on wet meadows, along river banks, in forests and on the alpine meadows of the Carpathians.

All plants are poisonous. Steroidal alkaloids are the main active substances of the plant parts. They are contained in plants in the form of free alkamines, glucosides of alkamines, esters of alkamines accumulating in different amounts: in roots – up to 2.4 %, rhizomes – up to 1.3 %, and leaves – up to 1.55 %. Triterpenoids, aminoacids, resins, gums, fat oils, starch, sugars, mineral salts, dye and tanning substances have been found in the underground part of the plants [3].

Exploration of the chemical composition of V. lobelianum showed that the plant underground part contains from 0.58 to 2.51 % of alkaloids. Carbohydrates, sugars, polysaccharides and organic acids have been also found in rhizomes with roots (rhizoma cum radicibus). The plant top contains different amounts of alkaloids: stems – up to 1.41 %, leaves – up to 1.4 %, flowers – up to 0.1 %, seeds – up to 0.008%. Besides alkaloids leaves contain flavonoids and organic acids, and flowers contain carotinoids (violaxanthin, lutein) [3, 4]. Using paper chromatography in the systems of chlorophorm and chlophorm-benzol (7:3) 5 alkaloids have been separated from V. lobelianum. Their anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity has been established [3].

It has been estimated that the underground part of V. nigrum contains 0.28 – 1.59 % of alkaloids, including 0.07 – 0.11 % of alkaloids in stems, 0.07 – 0.96 % in leaves, about 1.25 % in seeds. It has been found out that stems and leaves contain flavonoids (luteolin, rutin, quercetine, hyperoside, apigenin) and seeds contain up to 1.25 % of alkaloids and up to 35.1% of fat oil and higher fatty acids (oleinic, linoleic) [3, 4].

It has been estimated that leaves of V. album contain 0.1 – 1.49 % of alkaloids; flavonoids: luteolin, apigenin, rutin, quercetine; macroelements: K, Na, Mg, Fe; trace elements: Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr, Al, Ba, V, Se, Ni, Sr, Pb, I, Li, B. The plant accumulate such elements as Cu, Br, Se, Al, Li, Ba [3, 4].

Long ago Veratrum rhizomes with roots were used in Tibetan, Chinese medicine as well as in European folk medicine to treat paralysis, arthragra, helminthic infection, and pediculosis. The dried powdered leaves were added to snuffing tobacco and recommended in rhinitis, headaches, and hypertension. Tinctures and decoctions made from rhizomes with roots of all Veratrum species were recommended in rheumatism, hemorrhoid, neuralgia, eczema. In China decoctions and ointments made from rhizomes with roots of V. dahuricum were used as an insecticide and for treatment of eczema and seborrhea; the tincture was recommended in the dose of 1 drop to relieve the stomachache. V. lobelianum was used in Mongolian medicine in traumas of bones and soft tissues, burns, and injuries; in Korean medicine – as emetic and pain medication. In the medieval Armenia the tincture made from rhizomes with roots of V. lobelianum was used internally in epilepsy and externally in dermatitis, eczema, and radiculitis. In European countries the tincture made from the underground part of V. album was used in myasthenia, and myopathy; 3 – 5 % ointment was used in trigeminal neuralgia, arthragra, and rheumatism. In the conventional and folk medicine of Bulgaria the tincture made from rhizomes with roots of V. album was used as antidandruff and hair growth preparation; it was also used in rheumatism as anti-inflammatory and pain medication. In the veterinary medicine the decoction made from rhizomes with roots is used internally for better digestion and as emetic; externally – in cattle hypodermosis, and as anti-parasite medication [1, 3].

It has been investigated experimentally that alkaloids of V. lobelianum decrease arterial pressure increasing simultaneously the heartbeat range, stimulate sensitive nerve endings, cause severe sneezing, cough, and gag reflex. It has been established that the fluid extract made from the underground part possesses greater anti-parasite effect than the officinal tincture [3]. Pharmacologic investigation of Veratrum alkaloids has shown their diverse activity e.g. veralosinin decreases arterial pressure, veralosin in addition to this effect possesses anti-inflammatory action, and germinaline has simultaneous antihypertensive and sedative effect. While decreasing systolic and diastolic pressure protoveratrine has been found out to possess prolonged hypotensive and some hypothermic effect, provokes bradycardia and vessels dilatation, decreases cardiac minute output, decreases diuresis. Protoveratrine has been proved to be effective in eclampsia and acute pre-eclampsia states, and stage I – II hypertension. Before the 1970s medicinal drugs prepared from the raw material of different Veratrum species had been used in hypertension treatment. But their use was limited by high toxicity (acute decrease of the cardiac activity, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) [3, 5].

Nowadays drugs named “Rhizoma cum radicibus V. lobelianum” and “Veratrum Water (Aqua Veratri)” are used externally as anti-parasite medications.

Homeopathic tincture made from V. album is used in bronchial asthma, whooping cough, paralysis, cramps, etc. Such medications as “Stress-Gran”, “Avia-More”, “Momordica Compositum”, “Mucosa Compositum”, “Hepar Compositum”, etc. containing the tincture in dilution D₆ – D₁₂ have proved to be effective in medical practice [3, 5].

The plants of Veratrum species are widely distributed and have been used for a long time in folk medicine and veterinary, and due to the complex of biologically active substances they show diverse pharmacological effect. Phytochemical data show that the leaves of V. lobelianum and V. album can be used as the medicinal plant raw material. Investigation of the leaves of V. lobelianum, V. album, and V. nigrum being similar as to their chemical composition is rather promising to develop new pharmaceutical drugs.

References

1. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicin al Plants / J. Bruneton – Paris, France : Lavoisier Publishing, 1995. – Р. 872 – 875.

2. Мельник Г. І. Розповсюдження рослин роду Чемериця / Г. І. Мельник, А. Р. Грицик // Український журнал клінічної та лабораторної медицини.– 2009. – Том 4. – № 2. – С. 45 – 48.

3. Растительные ресурсы России и сопредельных государств : Цветковые растения, их химический состав и использование; Семейства Butomaceae – Typhaceae. – СПб. : Наука, 1994. – Т. 8. –1994. – 271 с.

4. Мельник Г. І. Фармакогностичне та хіміко-токсикологічне дослідження видів роду Чемериця флори України : автореф. дис. на здобуття вченого ступеня кандидата фармацевтичних наук / Г. І. Мельник. – Запоріжжя. – 2011. – 20 с.

5. Компендиум 2009 – лекарственные препараты [у 2 т.] / под ред. В. Н. Коваленко, А. П. Викторова. – К. : МОРИОН, 2009. – Т 2. – С. 1645.