HERBAL
MEDICINAL
PLANT
----------------------------------------------------------
BURDOCK
Arctium lappa L. +++
BY
RETTODWIKART THENU
BURDOCK
(buhr’dahk)
Arctium
lappa L. +++
SUMMARY AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMMENT
The chemistry of
burdock and related Arctium species is well documented. Various
pharmacological activities have been reported in animals, although none support
the reputed herbal uses and there is a lack of rigorous clinical research assessing
the effects of burdock. Documented bitter constituents, however, may explain
the traditional use of burdock as an orexigenic. In view of the lack of
toxicity data, excessive use of burdock should be avoided.
TRADE NAMES
Burdock
Root (available from numerous manufacturers).
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Bardane, beggar’s buttons,
clotbur, cockle buttons, cuckold, edible burdock, fox’s clote, gobo, great bur,
great burdock, happy major, hardock, lappa, love leaves, personata,
philanthropium, thorny burr, wild gobo
DESCRIPTION
MEDICINAL PARTS: The medicinal parts
of the plant are the ripe seed and the fresh or dried roots.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: The crimson
flowers grow in longpeduncled, loose cymes. The heads are fairly large, globose
and almost glabrous. All flowers are funnel-shaped and androgynous. The bracts are
green and coriaceous with a barb shaped inward-curving tip. The fruit is
compressed arid has a bristly tuft, which falls off easily. The fruits separate
from their stems on ripening.
LEAVES, STEM AND ROOT: The plant grows
to a height of 80 to 150 cm. The stem is erect, rigid, grooved, branched and downy
to wooly. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, broad to ovate-cordate. They are
blunt and slightly wooly to hairy on the underside. The lowest leaves are very
large and have a latex-filled stem.
HABITAT: Burdock grows in
Europe, northern Asia and North America.
PRODUCTION: Burdock root
consists of the fresh or dried underground parts of Arctium lappa, Arctium
minus and/or Arctium tomentosum. Roots are gathered in the autumn of the
plant's first year or the early part of the second year.
SPECIES (FAMILY)
Arctium lappa L. Arctium minus
SYNONYM(S)
A.
edule (Siebold
ex Miq.) Nakai, Lappa edulis Siebold ex Miq., L. major Gaertn., L.
officinalis All.
Arctium majus Bernh.,
Bardanae Radix, Greater Burdock
ORIGIN
Burdock is a perennial found in
China, Europe, and the United States.
PHARMACOPODIAL AND OTHER MONOGRAPHS
BHC
1992(G6)
BHP
1996(G9)
Martindale
35th edition(G85)
LEGAL CATEGORY (LICENSED PRODUCTS)
GSL(G37)
CONSTITUENTS
The following is
compiled from several sources, including General References G6 and G75.
Acids Acetic acid, butyric acid, caffeic
acid, chlorogenic acid, gamma-guanidino-n-butyric acid, a-guanidino-n-isovaleric
acid, trans-2-hexenoic acid, isovaleric acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid, linolenic
acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, propionic acid, stearic acid
and tiglic acid.(1–3)
Aldehydes Acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, butyraldehyde,
caproicaldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, propionaldehyde and valeraldehyde.(1)
Carbohydrates Inulin (up to 45–50%), mucilage, pectin
and sugars.
Polyacetylenes 0.001–0.002% dry weight.
Fourteen identified compounds include 1,11-tridecadiene-3,5,7,9-tetrayne (50%),
1,3,11-tridecatriene-5,7,9-triyne (30%) and 1-tridecen-3,5,7,9,11- pentayne as
the major components.(4)
Terpenoids Sesquiterpenes arctiol, b-eudesmol,
fukinone, costus acid, dehydrocostus lactone, arctiopicrin.(5)
Thiophenes Arctinone-a, arctinone-b, arctinol-a,
arctinol-b, arctinal, arctic acid-b, arctic acid-c, methyl arctate-b and arctinone-a
acetate (sulfur-containing acetylenic compounds).(6, 7)
Other constituents
Fats (0.4–0.8%), fixed and volatile oils (0.07– 0.18%), bitters (lappatin),
resin, phytosterols (sitosterol and stigmasterol), tannin(8) and arctiin,
arctigenin and other lignans.( 9–12)
Other species
Flavonol (kaempferol, quercetin) glycosides are present in Arctium minus (Hill)
Bernh.(3)
ACTIONS AND
PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Volatile oil
(small amounts) of very complex make-up: including, among others,
phenylacetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, 2-alkyl-3-methoxy-pyrazines
Lignans: neoarchtiin A
Sesquiterpene
lactones
Polyynes: chief components
are trideca-l, ll-dien-3, 5,7,9- tetrain, as well as sulfur derivatives
Caffeic acid
derivatives: including
chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid
Polysaccharides:
insulin
(fructose), mucilage's (xyloglucans,acidic xylans)
Triterpenes: including alpha-amyrin,
omega-taraxasterol, present to some extent as acetic acid ester
Phytosterols: beta-sitosterol,
stigmasterol, campesterol and their esters
Tannins
USES
USES
Burdock seeds are used for their hypotensive,
myodepressant, and renotropic properties. Burdock roots are used for their
hypoglycemic, antiseptic, toxicopectic, and antitumor actions. Burdock is used
for skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema, poison ivy, boils, and canker
sores. Burdock compresses can soothe the swelling of arthritis, rheumatism, and
hemorrhoids. It is also commonly used in food, especially in Chinese
populations (Jellin et al, 2008).
FOOD USE
Burdock is
listed by the Council of Europe as a natural source of food flavouring
(category N2). This category indicates that burdock can be added to foodstuffs
in small quantities, with a possible limitation of an active principle (as yet
unspecified) in the final product.(G16)
HERBAL USE
Burdock is
stated to possess diuretic and orexigenic properties. It has been used for
cutaneous eruptions, rheumatism, cystitis, gout, anorexia nervosa, and
specifically for eczema and psoriasis.(G2,
Figure 1. Burdock (Arctium lappa).
Figure 2. Burdock – dried
drug substance (root).
ACTIONS
Burdock’s actions include a depurative, mild laxative,
and mild diuretic (Mills, Bone, 2005).
Hypoglycemic Action
The
inulin content of burdock root makes up approximately 60% of its weight. When used
to treat diabetes in rats, Arctium lappa extract caused a long-lasting
reduction in blood glucose and an increased tolerance of carbohydrate (Lapinina
et al, 1964).
Antimicrobial Action
The
roots of Arctium spp. have demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus
spp., and two compounds present in the fresh root have been found to
possess antifungal and antibacterial properties. Arctium was active in vitro
against the gram-negative organisms Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa; against the gram-positive organism Staphylococcus aureus; and
against the fungi Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton spp., and Epidermophyton
fl occosum (Reisch et al, 1967; Pereira et al, 2005; Gentil et al, 2006).
These actions were lost when the roots were dried.
Antitumor Action
A
polymer from burdock root may assist in the prevention of cancer by decreasing mutagens,
possibly by adsorption (Morita et al, 1984, 1985). An extract of A. lappa
root also decreased tumor growth (Foldeak et al, 1964). Burdock showed
antiproliferative and apoptotic effects by action of arctigenin, one of the
compounds in this herb (Matsumoto, 2006).
Other Actions
One
study identifi ed a hepatoprotective effect of burdock. Mice were injected with
carbon tetrachloride or acetaminophen. A. lappa was able to reverse
hepatic effects (Lin et al, 2000, 2002).
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS
IN VITRO AND ANIMAL STUDIES
The
roots and leaves of burdock plants not yet flowering are stated to possess
diuretic, hypoglycaemic and antifurunculous properties.(7) A burdock extract
(plant part not stated) was reported to cause a sharp, long-lasting reduction
in the blood sugar concentration in rats, together with an increase in
carbohydrate tolerance and a reduction in toxicity.(13)
The
antimicrobial activity documented for burdock has been attributed to the
polyacetylene constituents,(4) although only traces of these compounds are
found in the dried commercial herb.(G62) Furthermore, arctiopicrin is stated to
be a bitter with antibiotic activity against Gram-positive bacteria.(7, 14) Antibacterial
activity against Gram-positive (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium
smegmatis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Shigella
sonnei) bacteria has been documented for burdock leaf and flower, whereas the
root was only found to be active towards Gram-negative strains.(15)
In
vivo uterine stimulant activity has been reported.(G30) Protection against
mutagenic activity has also been documented for burdock.(9, 16, 17) Burdock
reduced the mutagenicity to Salmonella typhimurium (TA98, TA100) of mutagens
both requiring and not requiring S9 metabolic activation.(10) A lignan-like
structure was proposed for the desmutagenic factor.(9) In vivo studies have
shown that fresh or boiled plant juice from burdock may cause a significant
reduction in DMBA-induced chromosome aberrations.(17) Burdock has been reported
to exhibit antitumour activity.(18) The addition of dietary fibre (5%) from
burdock roots to the diet of rats has been documented to provide protection
against the toxicity of various artificial food colours.(19)
CLINICAL STUDIES
There is a lack
of clinical research assessing the effects of burdock and rigorous randomised
controlled clinical trials are required.
ACTIVITIES
Alterative (f;
CRC; PED); Antibacterial (1; APA; CAN; PED); Antidiabetic (1; FNF);
Antifuruncular (1; CAN); Anti-HIV (f; APA); Antileukemic (1; FNF); Antilymphomic
(1; FNF); Antimutagenic (1; APA; CAN); Antiphlegmatic (f; CRC); Antipyretic (f;
CRC; FNF); Antirheumatic (f; PNC); Antiseptic (1; CRC; PNC; SKY); Antitumor (1;
APA; CRC; SKY); Aperitif (f; CAN); Astringent (f; PED); Bifidogenic (1; AKT;
FNF); Bitter (1; CAN); Carminative (f; CRC); Choleretic (1; APA; FAD); Cytoprotective
(1; CAN); Demulcent (1; SKY); Depurative (f; APA; FAD; PHR); Desmutagenic (1;
PNC); Detoxicant (1; CAN); Diaphoretic (f; APA; PHR; WAM); Digestive (1; SKY);
Diuretic (1; APA;CAN;WAM); Fungicide (1; APA; PED); Gastrostimulant (1; FNF);
Hepatotonic (1; WAM); Hypocholesterolemic (1; FNF); Hypoglycemic (1; APA; PNC;
SKY); Immunomodulator (1; FNF); Immunostimulant (1; FNF); Lipolytic (1; FNF);
Lymphotonic (1; WAM); Prebiotic (1; AKT; FNF); Stomachic (f; CRC); Uterotonic
(1; CAN).
INDICATIONS
Abscess (f;
CRC); Acne (f; CRC; SKY); Adenopathy (1; CRC; FNF; JLH); Alopecia (f; APA);
Anorexia (f; CAN); Arthrosis (f; APA; CRC; PNC); Backache (f; APA); Bacteria
(1; APA; CAN; PED); Bladder Stone (1; APA; CRC); Boil (1; CAN; WAM); Bruise (f;
CRC; FAD); Bunion (f; CRC); Burn (f; FAD); Cancer (1; APA; CAN; FNF); Cancer, breast
(1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, colon (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, knee (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer,
lip (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, liver (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, sinus (1; FNF; JLH);
Cancer, stomach (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, tongue (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, uterus (1;
FNF; JLH); Canker Sore (f; APA; CRC); Chancre (f; DEM); Childbirth (f; CRC);
Cold (f; APA); Constipation (f; APA; FAD); Corn (f; JLH); Cystosis (f; CAN);
Dermatosis (1; APA; CAN; WAM); Diabetes (1; CAN; CRC); Dropsy (f; CRC);
Dyspepsia (f; APA); Eczema (f; APA; CAN; WAM); Enterosis (f; APA); Eruption (f;
CRC); Fever (f; APA; CRC; FNF; PHR; WAM); Flu (f; APA; FAD); Fungus (1; APA;
PED); Furuncle (1; CAN); Gas (f; CRC); Gastrosis (f; APA); Gonorrhea (f; CRC);
Gout (f; APA; CAN; FAD); Gravel (f; DEM); Hepatosis (f; FAD); High Cholesterol
(1; FNF); HIV (f; APA); Hives (f; FAD); Hyperglycemia (1; APA; CAN; PNC; SKY);
Hysteria (f; CRC); Ichthyosis (f; PHR); Immunodepression (1; FNF); Impotence
(f; CRC); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (1; APA; CRC; PED; PNC); Inflammation (f;
JLH); Itch (f; CRC); Kidney Stone (1; APA; X7860196); Leukemia (1; FNF);
Leukorrhea (f; CRC); Lumbago (1; CRC); Lymphoma (1; FNF; JAD); Measles (f; CRC;
FAD); Mycosis (1; APA; PED); Nephrosis (f; CRC; FAD); Pain (f; APA);
Parturition (f; APA); Pharyngosis (f; APA); Phosphaturia (f; CRC); Psoriasis
(1; APA; CAN; WAM); Rheumatism (1; APA; CAN; CRC; PNC); Ringworm (f; CRC);
Scarlet Fever (f; FAD); Sciatica (1; APA; CRC); Scirrhus (f; JLH); Scrofula (f;
CRC; FAD); Shigella (1; FNF); Smallpox (f; CRC; FAD); Snakebite (f; CRC); Sore
(f; APA; CRC; FAD); Staphylococcus (1; FNF); Sterility (f; CRC); Swelling (f;
CRC); Syphilis (f; APA; CRC); Tumor (1; APA; CAN; CRC; JLH; SKY); Ulcer (f; APA;
JLH); Urethrosis (Unapproved KOM); UTI (f; APA); VD (f; CRC); Vertigo (f; CRC;
FAD); Wart (f; APA; JLH); Water
Retention (1;
APA; CAN; WAM); Wound (f; APA).
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Preparations of
Burdock Root are used for ailments and complaints of the gastrointestinal
tract, as a diaphoretic and diuretic, and for blood purifying. Externally, they
are used for ichthyosis, psoriasis and seborrhea of the scalp. The claimed
efficacies have not been documented.
Chinese
Medicine: Burdock
is used to treat carbuncles, ulcers and erythema of the skin as well as sore
throats. Efficacy has not been proven.
PRODUCT AVAILABILITY
Capsules: 425, 475 mg; cream;
salve; fl uid extract; root; tea; tincture
PLANT PARTS USED: Dried roots (most active, used part), leaves, seeds
DOSAGES
DOSAGES
·
Adult PO decoction: 1 cup
tid-qid
·
Adult PO fl uid extract: 1-3 ml
bid
·
Adult PO tincture of root: 3-5
ml bid-qid
·
Adult topical: apply as
compress or as a cream prn
DOSAGES
Dosages for oral administration (adults)
for traditional uses recommended in older and contemporary standard herbal reference
texts are given below.
·
Dried root 2–6 g by infusion three times daily.(G7)
·
Liquid extract
2–8mL (1 : 1 in 25% alcohol)
three times daily.(G7)
·
Tincture 8–12mL (1 : 10 in 45% alcohol) three times
daily.(G7)
·
Decoction 500 mL (1 : 20) per day.(G7)
DOSAGES
·
0.25–0.5 cup fresh root (PED); 1.25 tsp
chopped or powdered root/cup water (1 tsp = ~2 g) (APA; BIS);
·
2–6 g dry root as tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 6–12 g dry root (PED); 9 g dry root:45 ml alcohol/45
ml water (PED);
·
2–8 ml liquid root extract (1:1 in 25%
ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 8–12 ml root tincture (1:10 in 45% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 0.5–1 tsp tincture up to 3 ×/day (APA);
·
3 (475 mg) capsules 3 ×/day (APA; NH); 3 (470 mg) capsules 3 ×/day (NH); 0.5–2 ml liquid seed extract (PNC).
DOSAGES
MODE OF
ADMINISTRATION: Administered
as a drug and, for external use, in the form of burdock oil (extract with fat
oil).
HOW SUPPLIED:
Capsules — 460 mg and 475 mg
Fluid Extract — l:l
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards
or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of
designated therapeutic dosages. There is a slight potential for sensitization
via skin contact with the drug.
CONTRAINDICATIONS, INTERACTIONS, AND SIDE EFFECTS
CLASS 1 (AHP). CAN notes that it may conflict with other hypoglycemic
medications. Physicians in Burgos, Spain, in 1995, reported three cases of
contact dermatosis caused by burdock root poultices. Herbs for Health (November/ December)
page 68, reviewing Rodriguez, P. et al., 1995. Allergic contact dermatitis due
to burdock. Contact Dermatitis 33(2):134–5. (However, a letter from Alvaro Palacios in Spain
tells me this is based on contamination with belladonna). Should be avoided
during pregnancy due to a slight estrogenic effect (WAM). CAN also cautions
that because it is a uterine stimulant, in vivo, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN).
CONTRA-INDICATIONS, WARNINGS
Drug
interactions
None documented. However, the potential for burdock to interact with other
medicines administered concurrently, particularly those with similar or opposing
effects, should be considered. For example, there is limited evidence from preclinical
studies that burdock (not further specified) has hypoglycaemic activity.
Pregnancy and lactation In vivo uterine stimulant
action has been reported.(G30)
In
view of this, and the lack of toxicity data, the use of burdock during pregnancy
and lactation should beavoided.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Pregnancy category is 2;
Breastfeeding category is 2A.
Burdock may be used in children. It should not be used
by persons who are hypersensitive to this plant. Burdock should be used
cautiously by persons with diabetes or cardiac disorders.
SIDE EFFECTS/ADVERSE REACTIONS
CV: Hypotension
ENDO: Hypoglycemia
INTERACTIONS
Drug
Antidiabetics (glyburide,
insulin, miglitol): An increased hypoglycemic effect
can occur when burdock is taken with antidiabetics; avoid concurrent use.
Antihypertensives,
calcium channel blockers: Burdock
may possibly increase the hypotensive effect of antihypertensives, calcium
channel blockers; avoid concurrent use.
Lab Test
Blood glucose: Burdock may decrease blood glucose level.
SIDE-EFFECTS, TOXICITY
A single report
of human poisoning initially associated with burdock has been documented.(20) The
patient exhibited symptoms of atropine-like poisoning following the ingestion
of a commercially packaged burdock root tea. However, atropine is not a
constituent of burdock, and subsequent analysis indicated that the teawas
contaminated with a herbal source of solanaceous alkaloids, possibly belladonna
leaf. This report served to highlight the problems which may arise with
inadequate quality control of herbal preparations.
The
carcinogenicity of burdock was investigated in 12 rats fed dried roots (33% of
diet) for 120 days, followed by a normal diet until 480 days.(21) Ten of the 12
rats survived 480 days and no tumours were detected. A urinary bladder
papilloma and an oligodendroglioma were observed in one rat, but these were considered
to have been induced spontaneously. Burdock has been reported to exhibit
antitumour properties (see In vitro and animal studies).
CLIENT CONSIDERATIONS
ASSESS
·
Assess the reason the client is
using burdock.
·
Monitor blood pressure and
blood glucose levels while the client is taking this herb.
·
Assess for the use of
antidiabetics, antihypertensives, and calcium channel blockers (see
Interactions).
ADMINISTER
·
Instruct the client to store
burdock in a tight container away from sunlight and moisture.
TEACH CLIENT/FAMILY
·
Inform the client that
pregnancy category is 2 and breastfeeding category is 2A.
·
Inform the client that burdock
may be used in children.
PREPARATIONS
PROPRIETARY SINGLE-INGREDIENT PREPARATIONS
Mexico:
Saforelle. Portugal: Saforelle.
PROPRIETARY MULTI-INGREDIENT PREPARATIONS
Australia:
Acne Oral Spray; Dermaco; Herbal Cleanse; Percutane; Trifolium Complex. Canada:
Natural HRT. Czech Republic: Diabetan. France: Arbum; Depuratif Parnel;
Fitacnol; Zeniac LP; Zeniac. Malaysia: Celery Plus; Cleansa Plus; Dandelion
Complex. South Africa: Lotio Pruni Comp cum Cupro. Spain: Diabesor. UK: Aqua
Ban Herbal; Backache; Cascade; Catarrh Mixture; GB Tablets; Gerard House Skin; Gerard
House Water Relief Tablets; HRI Clear Complexion; Modern Herbals Water Retention;
Napiers Skin Tablets; Rheumatic Pain Remedy; Skin Cleansing; Skin Eruptions Mixture;
Tabritis; Tabritis Tablets; Water Naturtabs. USA: Liver Formula Herbal Blend;
Skin Hair Nails.
EXTRACTS
High inulin and mucilage may explain GI soothing effect (SKY). The
bitter compound artipicrin kills Gram-positive bacteria (CAN). Bitter
constituents explain digestive properties (SKY); polyacetylenes are
antimicrobial (SKY). Lignans have antileukemic, antilymphomic, antimutagenic,
and antitumor activities. (FNF). The burdock fiber (root can be 50% inulin) at
5% in the diet of rats protects against the toxicity of artificial food
coloring. Plant juice reduces chromosome aberrations (CAN). Inulin seems to
have antidiabetic, gastrostimulant, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic,
immunostimulant, and lipolytic activities. Flowers and leaves antibacterial against
Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli,
Mycobacterium smegmatis, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, and Staphylococcus aureus.
REFERENCE
Barnes, J., Anderson, L. A., and Phillipson, J. D. 2007. Herbal
Medicines Third Edition. Pharmaceutical Press. Auckland and
London.
Duke, J. A. with Mary Jo Bogenschutz-Godwin, Judi duCellier, Peggy-Ann K.
Duke. 2002. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs 2nd Ed. CRC Press
LLC. USA.
Gruenwald, J., Brendler,
T., Jaenicke, Ch. 2000. PDR for Herbal
Medicines. Medical Economics Company, Inc. at Montvale, NJ
07645-1742. USA
Linda S-Roth. 2010. Mosby’s Handbook Of Herbs & Natural
Supplements, Fourth Edition. Mosby Elsevier. USA
Figure 3. Primary Chemical Components and Possible Actions
(Linda, S-R. 2010)
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