Petasites hybridus is one from ours early blooming flowers. The fleshy flower-bear decorated by thick bunchs appears in April to May still up to growing of leaves. The bunch consists of dense calathides, in which small-sized tubular reddish flowers are assembled.
Butterbur has very large (up to 60 cm in width) rounded-cordate blades resembling a track of hoof in shape. The bottom side of blade looks whitish because of the greyish woolly trimming. The leaf has long petiole which can reach the length one or two meters! Such ticket make a very strong impression. Short of the sizes the leaves are similar to that of the related Colt's-foot.
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Basic Instruction
Petasites hybridus,butterbur root,from tradition to modern uses...
seminal trace...Butterbur Extract.Butterbur root extract.Petasites hybridus Extract.Butterbur Petasin.Petasin.M.F.C20H28O3.CAS:26577-85-5.extracts of butterbur.isopetasin,neopetasin....
Botanical Data Info of Butterbur Root:
Butterbur Root
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Petasites P. Mill.
Species: Petasites hybridus (L.) P.G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb.
Butterbur is a native of Europe but is now distributed throughout much of Northeastern United States.
Leaves are large, up to 2 feet across, and flowers are usually pink or lilac. The plant is usually 6-12 inches in height and is usually found in disturbed habitats such as fields and roadsides.
The roots are the organ of primary interest in migraine treatment, however, several studies have shown that this plant produces cancer-causing chemicals.
Butterbur should to be tested for safety before widespread use in preventing migraines is indicated.
Different varieties of Petasites
Petasites hybridus - Petasites japonicus or Japonica petasites - Petasites vulgaris - Petasites japonicus var giganteus
Petasides hybridus (butterbur) is a perennial shrub, found throughout Europe as well as parts of Asia and North America, that has been used medicinally for centuries. During the Middle Ages butterbur was used to treat plague and fever; in the 17th century its use was noted in treating cough, asthma, and skin wounds. The plant can grow to a height of three feet and is usually found in wet, marshy ground, in damp forests, and adjacent to rivers or streams. Its downy leaves can attain a diameter of three feet, making it the largest of all indigenous floras, and their unique characteristics are responsible for the plant's botanical and common names. The genus name, Petasites, is derived from the Greek word petasos, which is the felt hat worn by shepherds. The common name of butterbur is attributed to the large leaves being used to wrap butter during warm weather. Other common names include pestwurz (German), blatterdock, bog rhubarb, and butter-do3ck. Currently, the primary therapeutic uses for butterbur are for prophylactic treatment of migraines, and as an antispasmodic agent for chronic cough or asthma. It has also been used successfully in preventing gastric ulcers, and in treating patients with irritable bladder and urinary tract spasms.
Petasites hybridus (butterbur) is an herbal plant found throughout Europe, Asia and North America. For centuries the leaves and rhizomes of this perennial shrub have been used as an important medicinal herb. Modern researchers have discovered that extracts of petasites contain active ingredients that prevent migraines and act as an antispasmodic to support chronic cough or asthma.
Phytochemicals and Constituents:
Extracts of Petasites hybridus are prepared from the rhizomes, roots, and leaves.
The main active constituents are two sesquiterpenes, petasin and isopetasin. Petasin is responsible for the antispasmodic properties of the plant by reducing spasms in smooth muscle and vascular walls, in addition to providing an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting leukotriene synthesis. Prostaglandins are important mediators in the inflammatory process and isopetasin's positive impact on prostaglandin metabolism contributes to the effectiveness of Petasites extracts. Extracts of the plant also contain volatile oils, flavonoids, tannins, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids. As these alkaloids are believed to be toxic to the liver and carcinogenic in animals, extracts are available in which the pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been removed.
Effective content: tussilagone,C23H34O5; rutin,C27H30O16,0.36%; hyperoside,C21H20O12,0.28%.
The main active ingredients of petasites hybridus are two sesquiterpenes, petasin and isopetasin. Research has shown that petasin possesses anti-spasmodic properties that help to reduce spasms in smooth muscle and vascular walls. Petasin has also been found to be a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that inhibits synthesis of leukotrienes that act as potent pro-inflammatory agents in blood vessel walls, causing bronchoconstriction in asthma.The second active ingredient, isopetasin, has also been found to reduce inflammation by modulating prostaglandin metabolism. Together these ingredients have an antispasmodic effect on vascular walls, with a marked affinity for cerebral blood vessels.
Mechanisms of Action:
The active constituents of Petasites have an antispasmodic effect on vascular walls and appear to have an affinity for cerebral blood vessels. Petasites' ability to reduce smooth muscle spasm suggests it may be a useful therapeutic tool in treating urinary disorders, menstrual cramps, migraine headaches, kidney stone disorders, obstruction of bile flow, as well as other liver or gastrointestinal disorders associated with smooth muscle spasm.The anti-inflammatory properties of butterbur extracts are attributed to inhibition of lipoxygenase activity and down-regulation of leukotriene synthesis, and are primarily due to the petasin content.
Butterbur Extract (Petasites Hybridus) Effective in Reducing Migraine Attacks:
It is estimated that 240 million people worldwide suffer 1.4 billion migraine attacks each year. Current therapeutic options are often not effective or are accompanied by troublesome side effects. New research reveals that an extract of the ancient medicinal plant, Petasites hybridus (butterbur), can reduce the frequency, duration and pain of migraine attacks by up to 60% with a degree of safety and tolerance superior to most pharmaceutical drugs.
Migraine Traditional Treatment and Herbal Substitution:
Migraine:
Migraines strike women three times as frequently as men, affecting 5% of men and 17% of women in the United States. In direct medical costs and lost productivity, the annual cost in the United States is estimated to exceed $17 billion. In spite of these numbers, according to the International Headache Society many migraines go unrecognized and undertreated due largely to the fact that there are no recognized biological markers to confirm the diagnosis.
While the exact cause of migraine is not fully understood, migraines can be triggered by internal and external factors, such as stress, anxiety, food allergies, hormones and environmental changes, such as light, heat and altitude. When triggered, the nervous system responds with increased serotonergic activity in the brain, vasodilation of the extra-cranial blood vessels, and concomitant vasoconstriction of the intra-cranial blood vessels.
Migraine Symptoms:
Unlike tension headaches, migraines are a full-blown neurologic disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of headache that, if not successfully treated, can last anywhere from 2 to 72 hours. Migraine pain is usually unilateral, appearing as a throbbing, pounding pain on only one side of the head. During different phases of a migraine attack, pain can move from one part of the head to another, or radiate down into the neck and the shoulders. Skin hypersensitivity, including scalp irritation and tenderness, also occur frequently during a migraine attack.
Migraine sufferers often experience nausea and vomiting accompanied by a pronounced and extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia), sounds (phonophobia) and odors (osmophobia). In severe attacks, even normal activities such as standing or walking can intensify pain to the point where normal function is completely disrupted.
Migraine Aura:
Approximately 20% of all migraine sufferers experience visual disturbances that are referred to as the migraine aura. In addition to alterations in perception of light, sound and smell, aura can include bizarre visual distortions such as blurry vision, spots, flashing lights, wavy lines, flashing lights, and/or partial loss of sight. Other symptoms may include vertigo, tingling or numbness of the face or extremities, auditory hallucinations, difficulty or confusion when forming words, and impaired hearing. Some patients even have the aura without the headaches.
Standard Migraine Treatment:
Standard treatments aim to control symptoms by calming sensitive nerve pathways and reducing the inflammatory response while preventing future attacks. As with tension headaches, some individuals find that very mild migraine attacks can be treated with standard analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen. These drugs, in addition to their potential gastrointestinal side effects, have been shown to increase risk of rebound (medication-induced) headaches. Combination medications such as acetaminophen with codeine, aspirin with codeine and caffeine, and aspirin with butalbital and caffeine (with or without codeine) are sometimes used. However, overuse of combination medications is one of the most prominent causes of rebound headache, which is the leading form of chronic daily headache.
5-HT1 Receptor Agonists:
Sumatriptan, a selective 5-hydroxy-triptamine 1 (5-HT1) receptor agonist, has been shown more effective than placebo in treating moderate to severe migraines (50-80% versus 20-40%) when administered by subcutaneous injection. Reported side effects include tightness in the chest, chest pain, pain in the throat, tingling in the head or limbs, nausea, and a high rate (44%) of migraine recurrence within 24 hours.
Dihydroergotamine (DHE), a nonselective 5-HT1 receptor agonist, has also been shown effective in relieving headache when used subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously, but side effects are similar to those of sumatriptan.
Ergotamine has also been used for many years to treat migraine, but meta-analysis has demonstrated little benefit from oral dosing.Side effects of ergotamine resemble those of DHE, but nausea is usually more severe.
As with the previous medications, side effects of these medications are substantial. In the case of beta-blockers, they are contraindicated for patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, heart failure, or peripheral vascular disease. Calcium-channel blockers, which can take several months to become effective, are contraindicated in pregnancy and in patients with hypotension, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or depressive illness.
Herbal Treatments:
A course of therapy with Butterbur petasin extract has been scientifically proven to be beneficial in the alleviation of hayfever symptoms.
Butterbur comes from the Asteraceae family, and is a fleshy, creeping plant with a short root.
Extracts from the leaves and roots have been used, since ancient Greek times, as an anti-inflammatory, a smooth muscle relaxant (anti-spasmodic) and pain reliever (analgesic).
These traditional uses are supported by modern science.
Butterbur petasin's main active ingredients are petasin and isopetasin, with the highest concentrations occurring in the root.
There are two types of Butterbur plant, both looking identical yet very different. One kind of Butterbur contains petasins (Butterbur Petasin) and the other contains only trace amounts (Butterbur Furan). When choosing a brand of Butterbur ensure that it is made from Butterbur Petasin and that it is standardised to at least 7.5mg of Petasin and isopetasin per 50mg butterbur.
Their effects are reported to be:
Spasmolytic: reducing spontaneous activities and spasms in smooth muscle, including vascular walls.
Anti-inflammatory: acting on the arachnidonic acid cycle by inhibiting inflammatory leukotriene synthesis.
There are no known drug interactions with Butterbur petasin extract.
Butterbur petasin should not be used during pregnancy and breast feeding.
Petasites Extract Reduces Incidence of Migraine:
Researchers in Germany conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study using a standardized extract of petasites (60 patients suffering from headaches with and without aura randomly received either 50 mg of a standardized petasites extract or placebo, twice daily for 12 weeks. At the conclusion of the test the researchers found that, compared to placebo, petasites hybridus significantly reduced the frequency of migraine attacks and days with migraine per month, as well as the frequency of accompanying symptoms. Compared to baseline, petasites hybridus reduced the frequency of attacks by 46% after 4 weeks, 60% after 8 weeks and 50% after 12 weeks of treatment (placebo group: 24%, 17% and 10%, respectively).
The researchers also found that the extract reduced the total number of migraine days.
Of particular interest was the finding that patients who entered the study reporting at least three migraine attacks per month showed the most pronounced reduction in events. Patients also reported significant alleviation of intensity of migraine pain, leading researchers to conclude that petasites extract is most effective in reducing migraine in patients who suffer the most from frequent severe attacks.
Conclusions:
Standardized extract of Petasites hybridus offers a new option for migraine sufferers.
Petasites hybridus extracts is effective in reducing the number of days with migraines per month, in decreasing migraine-associated symptoms, and in reducing both the duration and intensity of migraine pain.
Petasites extract has a history of excellent tolerance, and no adverse side effects have been reported. It should be noted that it is important to take Petadolex on a daily basis for maximum effectiveness.
Medical uses for Petasites:
Migraine Headache: Two clinical studies using 50 mg and 75 mg of a standardized Petasites extract twice daily for 12 weeks demonstrated its effectiveness as a prophylactic treatment for migraines. When used to treat migraines, administration is prophylactic and supplementation should be carried out daily for a few weeks and then tapered until migraine incidence begins to increase. Petasites may work by preventing peptidoleukotriene biosynthesis.
Asthma Bronchitis: Various parts of the petasites plant have been used for centuries to treat bronchial asthma and whooping cough. Petasites' possible effectiveness in treating respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis is attributed to the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties of the petasin constituent. (see below)
Gastrointestinal Disorders: A German study found extracts of Petasites blocked ethanol-induced gastric damage and reduced ulcerations of the small intestine caused by indomethacin, an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritic conditions. The results of this study were attributed to inhibition of lipoxygenase activity and leukotriene biosynthesis.
Clinical Indications Migraine Headache:
Two clinical studies using 50 mg of a standardized Petasites extract twice daily for 12 weeks demonstrated its effectiveness as a prophylactic treatment for migraines. Both studies were doubleblind, placebo controlled, and involved a total of 128 patients. The results of the two studies showed a significant reduction (as much as 60%) in frequency of migraine attacks compared to placebo. Other improvements in the Petasites group included a reduction in the number of days with migraines per month, a decrease in migraine-associated symptoms, and diminished duration and intensity of pain. No adverse reactions were reported in either study. Butterbur extract's high degree of efficacy and excellent tolerability accentuates its value in the prophylactic treatment of migraines.
Asthma or Bronchitis:
Various parts of the butterbur plant have been used for centuries to treat bronchial asthma and whooping cough, and in folk medicine the leaves of the plant were used as a mucus-reducing cough remedy. Butterbur's ostensible effectiveness in treating upper respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis is attributed to the antispasmodic properties of the petasin constituent. The plant's anti-inflammatory action would also help calm the reactive airways seen in both asthma and bronchitis. A Polish clinical study conducted in 1998 examined the influence of Petasites on lung ventilation and bronchial reactivity in patients suffering from asthma or chronic obstructive bronchitis. The study included three test groups and two control groups. Test Group A exhibited an improvement in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) three hours after an oral dose of 600 mg Petasites extract. Group B experienced a significant decrease in bronchial reactivity two hours after receiving an oral dose of 600 mg Petasites extract. Group C patients were treated for 14 days and received 600 mg of the extract three times daily. Some patients (n=10) were also given corticosteroids due to disease severity. All three groups exhibited a decrease in bronchial reactivity, but the patients in Group C who received no corticosteroids had the most pronounced results. These results indicate Petasites might be helpful in improving lung ventilation in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive bronchitis.
Gastrointestinal:
Disorders Butterbur's use as an antispasmodic for gastrointestinal conditions dates back to the Middle Ages. The leaves and rhizomes were used to treat spasms of the digestive tract associated with colic, plague, and bile flow obstruction. A German study conducted in 1993 found ethanolic extracts of Petasites hybridus blocked ethanol-induced gastric damage and reduced ulcerations of the small intestine caused by indomethacin, an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritic conditions. The results of this study were attributed to inhibition of lipoxygenase activity and leukotriene biosynthesis.
Suggestions and Administrations:
Petasites Safety:
Petasites has not been studied extensively enough or for a long enough period to determine its side effects. Burping was the only side effect noted in a recent study published in the December 2004 issue of Neurology (see below).
What is it? Butterbur is an herbal medicine used to treat migraine headache, asthma, and bronchitis. Butterbur has also been used for cough and urination and stomach problems.
Other names for Butterbur include: Petasites hybridus, Petasites officinalis, Bogshorns, Blatterdock, Langwort, Butter dock, Bog Rhubarb, and Exwort.
Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you need more information about this medicine or if any information in this leaflet concerns you.
Before Using: Tell your doctor if you
are taking medicine or are allergic to any medicine (prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) or dietary supplement)
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine
are breastfeeding
have other health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart or blood vessel disease
Petasites Dosage:
Typically, Petasites extracts are standardized to contain a minimum of 7.5 mg of petasin and isopetasin. The adult dosage ranges from 50-100 mg twice daily.
Talk with your caregiver about how much Butterbur you should take. The amount depends on the strength of the medicine and the reason you are taking Butterbur. If you are using this medicine without instructions from your caregiver, follow the directions on the medicine bottle. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than the directions tell you to.
Warnings:
Before taking Butterbur, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Side Effects: Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects. Your medicine may be causing these symptoms which may mean you are allergic to it.
Breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest
Chest pain
Skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin
Other Possible Side Effects: This medicine may also cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have side effects that you think are caused by this medicine.
Petasites research petasites for migraine petasites:
Petasites hybridus (butterbur) is a shrub found throughout Europe as well as parts of Asia and North America. Petasites that has been used medicinally for centuries to treat cough, asthma, and skin wounds. The plant can grow to a height of three feet and is usually found in wet, marshy ground, in damp forests, and adjacent to rivers or streams.
Phytochemicals in Petasites:
Petasin, a kind of sesquiterpene ester, appears to be a major active compound of petasites hybridus extract. It has inhibitory activities on leukotriene generation in eosinophils and neutrophils. This indicates that it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties. Petasites may be helpful for seasonal allergic rhinitis. Petasites also helps reduce smooth muscle spasm.
Extract of butterbur that supports healthy blood vessel tone in the brain, as well as normal blood flow in the brain.* It has been the subject of two placebo-controlled clinical studies. In the most recent, participants reported a 62% improvement.
Extract of butterbur is standardized to contain 15% of butterbur's key ingredient, petasin. It's also guaranteed to be pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) free, so you can use it with confidence. PA's are toxic compounds that can harm the liver. Studies demonstrate patented Petadolex is safe and well tolerated.
Recommendations: One petasites softgel three times daily, or 2 softgels 2 times daily for the first few weeks. Thereafter, one softgel twice daily. However, these are rough guidelines since each person is unique in their response.
Petasites Research Update:
Butterbur root extracts reduces the frequency of migraine headaches:
An extract of the root of a plant called butterbur ( Petasites hybridus ) significantly reduces the frequency of migraine headaches. An article published in the December issue of Neurology reports a trial that compared petasites with an inactive placebo. Researchers compared the efficacy of two different doses of petsites extract to that of a placebo in about 230 migraine patients. They had experienced two to six attacks per month for the 3 months prior to the study. The number of migraine headache attacks per month was reduced by 45 percent in the group that took 75 milligrams of petasites twice daily, compared with a reduction of 28 percent in the placebo group during the 16-week trial. A group that took 50 milligrams of peatsites twice daily experienced a 32 percent decrease, not significantly different from placebo. The butterbur extract was well tolerated, the team reports, with burping as the only adverse event occurring more frequently in the active treatment groups. There were no changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or routine laboratory tests.
Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for migraine:
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a standardized special root extract from the plant Petasites hybridus as a preventive therapy for migraine. METHODS: This is a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized trial comparing Petasites extract 75 mg bid, Petasites extract 50 mg bid, or placebo bid in 245 patients with migraine. Eligible patients met International Headache Society criteria for migraine, were ages 18 to 65, and had at least two to six attacks per month over the preceding 3 months. The main outcome measure was the decrease in migraine attack frequency per month calculated as percentage change from baseline over a 4-month treatment period. RESULTS: Over 4 months of treatment, in the per-protocol analysis, migraine attack frequency was reduced by 48% for Petasites extract 75 mg bid (p = 0.0012 vs placebo), 36% for Petasites extract 50 mg bid (p = 0.127 vs placebo), and 26% for the placebo group. The proportion of patients with a > or =50% reduction in attack frequency after 4 months was 68% for patients in the Petasites extract 75-mg arm and 49% for the placebo arm (p < 0.05). Results were also significant in favor of Petasites 75 mg at 1, 2, and 3 months based on this endpoint. The most frequently reported adverse reactions considered possibly related to treatment were mild gastrointestinal events, predominantly burping. CONCLUSIONS: Petasites extract 75 mg bid is more effective than placebo and is well tolerated as a preventive therapy for migraine. Petasites 50 mg PO bid was not significantly more effective than placebo on the primary study endpoints.
Petasites hybridus (Butterbur root) extract in the treatment of asthma - an open trial.
The efficacy and tolerability of a petasites root extract (Petadolex) for the treatment of asthma was analyzed in a prospective, non-randomized, open trial. Subjects included 64 adults and 16 children/adolescents treated for two months with the extract, followed by two months during which the intake of the extract was optional. Concomitant asthma medication was permitted. The number, duration, and severity of asthma attacks decreased, while peak flow, forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and all measured symptoms improved during therapy. In addition, more than 40 percent of patients using asthma medications at baseline reduced intake of these medications by the end of the study. This study suggests the Petasites hybridus extract Petadolex is an effective and safe therapy for the treatment of asthma.
A placebo-controlled evaluation of petasites and fexofenadine on objective and subjective outcomes in perennial allergic rhinitis.
Summary Background There are presently no placebo-controlled data regarding the effects of petasites on subjective and objective outcomes in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Objective We performed a placebo-controlled evaluation of the effects of petasites and fexofenadine (FEX) on subjective and objective outcomes in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Methods Sixteen patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and house dust mite sensitization were randomized in double-blind cross-over fashion to receive for 1 week either petasites 50 mg twice daily, FEX 180 mg once daily and placebo (PL) once daily, or PL twice daily. The peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) response to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) challenge administered as a single 400 mg/mL dose was measured over a 60-min period after challenge, and domiciliary total nasal symptom score was recorded. Results Pre-challenge values for mean+/-SEM PNIF (L/min) were not significantly different comparing all groups; petasites (138+/-8), FEX (140+/-9), and PL (138+/-8). The maximum % PNIF fall from baseline after nasal AMP challenge was significantly attenuated (P<0.05) compared to PL (46+/-3), with petasites (34+/-3) and FEX (39+/-3). The area under the 60-min time-response curve (%.min) was also significantly attenuated (P<0.05) compared to PL (1734+/-156), with petasites (1052+/-258) and FEX (1194+/-161). There was also a significant reduction in total nasal symptom score with petasites (1.8+/-0.4) and FEX (1.8+/-0.4), compared to PL. There were no significant differences between petasites and FEX for any outcomes. Conclusion: petasites and FEX, in comparison to PL, were equally effective in attenuating the nasal response to AMP and in improving nasal symptoms, highlighting a potential role for petasites in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
An extract of Petasites hybridus is effective in the prophylaxis of migraine.
OBJECTIVE: Migraine is still an unsolved problem. This clinical trial investigates the efficacy and tolerance of Petasites hybridus in the prophylaxis of migraine. METHODS: A randomized, group-parallel, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study was carried out with a special CO2 extract from the rhizome of Petasites hybridus. Following a four-week run-in phase, 60 patients received either the special Petasites hybridus extract Petadolex or placebo at a dosage of two capsules (each capsule contains 25 mg) twice daily over 12 weeks. Outcome variables included the frequency, intensity and duration of migraine attacks as well as any accompanying symptoms. RESULTS: The frequency of migraine attacks decreased by a maximum of 60 percent compared to the baseline. This reduction in migraine attacks with Petadolex was significant (p < 0.05) compared to placebo. No adverse events were reported. Petasites was exceptionally well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that migraine patients can benefit from prophylactic treatment with this special extract. The combination of high efficacy and excellent tolerance emphasizes the particular value that Petasites hybridus has for the prophylactic treatment of migraine.
Gastro-protective effects by extracts of Petasites hybridus: the role of inhibition of peptido-leukotriene synthesis.
Extracts from Petasites hybridus are in therapeutic use for more than 2000 years. They have been claimed to improve gastrointestinal pain, lung-diseases such as asthma and cough, as well as spasms of the urogenital-tract. We have investigated these claims in animal models of gastro-intestinal ulcers and confirmed that alcoholic extracts of Petasites hybridus block the ethanol-induced gastric damage and reduce small intestinal ulcerations induced in rats by indomethacin. Searching for a possible mode of action, we found that ethanolic extracts of Petasites hybridus inhibit the peptido-leukotriene biosynthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages but leave prostaglandin biosynthesis unimpaired. We conclude that the active principle could be useful in the treatment of gastro-intestinal human diseases and that Petasites hybridus may contribute to the inhibition of calcium-dependent processes such as leukotriene biosynthesis.
Safety of a patented special petasites root extract for migraine prevention.
To report on the safety of a patented special petasites root extract used for migraine prevention. Two placebo-controlled clinical trials have been conducted supporting the beneficial use in humans. METHODS: Results from acute, subchronic and chronic animal toxicity studies as well as from mutagenicity studies are reported. Safety data gained from clinical trials, postmarketing surveillance studies and pharmacovigilance are evaluated and discussed. CONCLUSION: The patented special petasites root extract is safe for the treatment in humans.
Petasites hybridusL60 patients received randomly either the Petasites preparation (50 mg BID) or placebo for 12 weeks. A total of 33 patients were allocated to the petasites group and 27 patients to the placebo group. In all, 58 patients completed the study. Compared to placebo, Petasites hybridus significantly reduced the frequency of migraine attacks and days with migraine per month as well as the frequency of accompanying symptoms. Petasites hybridus reduced the frequency of attacks by 46% after 4 weeks, 60% after 8 weeks and 50% after 12 weeks of treatment (placebo group: 24%, 17% and 10%, respectively). No adverse drug reactions were reported in either the drug or placebo group. The efficacy and excellent tolerability of the Petasites hybridus extract observed in this study suggest that this plant preparation can be of clinical benefit to migraine patients.
Until recently, side effects from Petasites extracts had not been reported. In September 2000, a study conducted in Taiwan noted the petasin constituent, responsible for many of butterbur's pharmacological properties, inhibited the production of testosterone in rat testicular cells, but did not speculate whether this effect would be applicable in humans. The plant's pyrrolizidine alkaloids are thought to cause liver damage and to be carcinogenic in animals; however, extracts are commercially available in which the pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been removed. There are no known interactions with either pharmaceutical or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents; however, use of Petasites extracts during pregnancy and lactation is contraindicated.
Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) in hay fever
A study in the British Medical journal has compared the tolerability and effectiveness of butterbur (Petasites hybridus) with cetirizine in 125 patients with seasonal rhinitis.
Butterbur (carbon dioxide extract ZE 339 - standardised for petasin content) did not produce the sedative side-effects associated with antihistamines and was well tolerated. The study said butterbur was similar in effect to cetirizine in the treatment of hay fever.
Though well-designed, there are two criticisms of the study:
the trial showed lack of difference in effectiveness but was too small to show equivalence,he study used a short treatment period of two weeks in context of a condition where symptoms may vary markedly with daily pollen count changes
Petasites hybridus is a shrub that is found in America, Asia and Europe. Petasin, the active constituent of preparations derived Petasites hybridus, is claimed to have anti-inflammatory (anti-leukotriene) and anti-spasmodic activity.
Petasites hybridus extract in the treatment of asthma:an open trial
The efficacy and tolerability of a butterbur root extract (Petadolex[R]) for the treatment of asthma was analyzed in a prospective, nonrandomized, open trial. Subjects included 64 adults and 16 children/adolescents treated for two months with the extract, followed by two months during which the intake of the extract was optional. Concomitant asthma medication was permitted. The number, duration, and severity of asthma attacks decreased, while peak flow, forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and all measured symptoms improved during therapy. In addition, more than 40 percent of patients using asthma medications at baseline reduced intake of these medications by the end of the study. This study suggests the Petasites hybridus extract Petadolex is an effective and safe therapy for the treatment of asthma.
Methods Subjects:Eighty patients with either mild or moderate asthma were included in this open study from November 2000 to March 2002; 77.5 percent had mild asthma, 22.5 percent had moderate asthma. Patients ranged in age from 6-85 years and were required to have a stable course of the disease. In addition to Petadolex. all other available asthma medications were allowed.
Study Design:This open trial consisted of a two-week run-in phase and a treatment phase lasting 2-4 months. During the run-in phase, patients recorded asthma symptoms, dosage of asthma medication, and number, duration, and severity of asthma attacks. Patients then received the trial medication and a diary. Adults took 50 mg Petadolex three times daily, while children were given 50-150 mg daily, depending on age. Patients were examined by their physician four and eight weeks after issue of trial medication. FEV1 was measured each time. After two months of treatment, patients were free to continue with the trial medication for another two months; hence the maximum duration of treatment was four months, the minimum two months.
Introduction:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. In the past, the predominant pathophysiology of acute asthma was considered to be bronchospasm occurring in response to a variety of specific and nonspecific stimuli such as allergens and irritants. However. the main pathophysiology of the attack is now understood to be an inflammatory response, with inflammation leading to bronchospasm.The initial trigger in asthma may be the release of inflammatory mediators from bronchial mast cells, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and epithelial cells. These mediators direct the migration and activation of other inflammatory cells, such as eosinophils and neutrophils, to the airways where they cause alterations in epithelial integrity, abnormalities in autonomic neural control of airway smooth vascular tone, increased vascular permeability, mucus hypersecretion, change in mucociliary function, increase in airway smooth muscle responsiveness, and structural changes in airway architecture.
Increased appreciation of the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of asthma has led to new treatment strategies. Studies have shown improvements in asthma symptoms caused by high doses of inhaled corticosteroids are associated with improvement in markers of airway inflammation. These observations confirm the strong link between airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and asthma symptoms and severity.
Allopathic asthma treatment commonly consists of long-term therapy(control medication) and quick-relief therapy (relief medication). Current management guidelines stress the importance of first-line therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (e.g., beclomethasone, budesonide, fluticasone, triamcinolone) to suppress the inflammatory process. The main concern with inhaled corticosteroid treatment is the potential for dose-related systemic effects, including adrenal suppression, osteoporosis, growth inhibition, skin bruising, cataracts, and ocular hypertension. Cromolyn and nedocromil sodium have similar anti-inflammatory properties, but are less effective in treating asthma than inhaled corticosteroids.
The cysteinyl leukotrienes C4, D4, and E4 cause smooth muscle constriction and proliferation and are important mediators in the pathophysiology of the inflammatory process. Based on this knowledge, a new class of anti-inflammatory agents--the leukotriene antagonists--were developed. Leukotriene antagonists possess both anti-inflammatory and bronchodilation activity. Two types can be distinguished based on mechanism of action: leukotriene-receptor-antagonists (zafirlukast and montelukast) and leukotriene-synthesis-inhibitors (zileuton). These medications appear to improve lung function and reduce the use of inhaled and oral corticosteroids: however, they have the potential for side effects. Zileuton requires liver function monitoring and systemic vasculitis has been associated with zafirlukast and montelukast.
Beta-agonist medications are used both for acute and long-term asthma management, often in conjunction with oral corticosteroids and/ or leukotriene antagonists. Long-acting beta-agonists like salmeterol and formoterol act as bronchodilators by relaxing the smooth muscle cells of the airways. In contrast, short-acting beta-agonists like salbutamol, fenoterol, terbutaline, albuterol, pirbuterol, and reproterol are used for quick relief on demand rather than as control medication.
The Petasites extract used in this study--Petadolex[R], softgel capsules (manufactured by Weber & Weber International GmbH & Co. KG, Germany) contain 50 mg era standardized lipophilic extract of the rhizome of Petositcs hybridus, the butterbur plant. The extract is obtained by high pressure, liquid carbon dioxide extraction in a standardized and patented procedure, and contains a minimum of 15 percent petasins. Petasins are a group of sesquiterpene compounds mainly thought to be responsible for the pharmacological actions of the butterbur extract.The manufacturing process removes pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are potentially hepatotoxic and carcinogenic. The finished product has been available in Germany since 1972 and licensed as a pharmaceutical under German regulations. This same extract has been available in the United States since 1997 as a dietary supplement.
Historically, Petasites has been used therapeutically for its analgesic effects and to reduce spasms in the gastrointestinal tract and in asthma. Recently, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind. placebo-controlled clinical trial for migraine prophylaxis was conducted on 229 evaluable patients with and without aura. The study found Petasites extract safe and effective in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks, the number of migraine days pcr month, and headache intensity.The first clinical experiences with Petadolcx in patients with asthma were published by Gruia. In vitro examinations with smooth muscle cells of various origins and in guinea pig tracheal rings confirmed the spasmolytic activity of Petasites. In addition to spasmolytic action, Petasites exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. In mouse macrophages and porcine leukocytes Petasites extract was shown to inhibit inflammatory leukotriene synthesis.
A clinical trial of Petasites root powder in patients with chronic asthma and chronic bronchitis demonstrated improved lung function in all groups treated with Petasites powder. The benefit was probably at least in part due to the inhibition of leukotrienes. Trials using synthetic leukotriene antagonists have shown superiority compared to placebo in respect to various lung function parameters, such as FEV1, peak expiratory flow, use of relief medication, and number of asthma symptoms.
Rhinitis and asthma frequently coexist. and rhinitis is recognized as a risk factor for subsequent asthma. A Petasites leaf extract (CO2-extract Ze339--not identical to Petadolex) was shown to be equally effective as cetirizine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis in a randomized controlled trial. In another trial, levels of inflammatory mediators (including histamine and leukotrienes) in the nasal fluid of individuals with allergic rhinitis were significantly reduced after taking a Petasites extract for five days. In another randomized, controlled trial with 20 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, CO2-extract Ze339 protected against AMP-reduced nasal responsivehess. This observation is in keeping with an inhibition of leukotriene synthesis by Petasites, since leukotriene receptor antagonists also attenuate AMP responses.
The following study was conducted to examine the efficacy and safety of an extract of Petasites hybridus in the treatment of asthma.
Scientific References:
1.Petasides hybridus,butterbur root,from tradition to modern uses...
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Claims: Information this web site presented is meant for Nutritional Benefit and as an educational starting point only, for use in maintenance and promotion good health in cooperation with a common knowledge base reference...Furthermore,it based solely on the traditional and historic use or legend of a given herb from the garden of Adonis. Although every effort has been made to ensure its accurate, please note that some info may be outdated by more recent scientific developments......
Pharmakon Warning: The order of knowledge is not the transparent order of forms and ideas,as one might be tempted retrospectively to interpret it; it is the antidote....(Dissemination,Plato's Pharmacy,II.The Ingredients:Phantasms,Festivals,and Paints;138cf. Jacques Derrida.).
And as it happens,the technique of imitation,along with the production of the simulacrum,has always been in Plato's eyes manifestly magical,thaumaturgical:......and the same things appear bent and straight to those who view them in water and out,or concave and convex,owing to similar errors of vision about colors, and there is obviously every confusion of this sort in our souls.And so scene painting (skiagraphia) in its exploitation of this weakness of four nature falls nothing short of witchcraft (thaumatopoia), and so do jugglery and many other such contrivances.(Republic X,602c-d;cf.also 607c).
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Serie No.:P021.Basic Data Sheet Download
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seminal trace...Butterbur Extract.Butterbur root extract.Petasites hybridus Extract.Butterbur Petasin.Petasin.M.F.C20H28O3.CAS:26577-85-5.extracts of butterbur.isopetasin,neopetasin....
Botanical Data Info of Butterbur Root:
Effective content: tussilagone,C23H34O5; rutin,C27H30O16,0.36%; hyperoside,C21H20O12,0.28%.
Scientific References:
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