Melilotus officinalis Lam:great favourites of the bees.The King's Clover and Its Fragrance.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info:Melilotus officinalis.
- .Melilotus officinalis Plant Description.
- .Difference between white and yellow sweet colover.
- .Sweet clover and alfalfa:Classification.
- .Brief History of Meliots.
- .Melilotus officinalis Phytochemical and Constituents.
- .Edible Uses and Medicinal Uses:Melilotus officinalis.
- .Pharmacological Effects:Melilotus officinalis.
- .Melilotus officinalis Uses Guide and Administration.
- .Research Update:Melilotus officinalis.
Pharmacological Effects:Melilotus officinalis.
Chronic venous insufficiency.:
A comparative clinical study was run to evaluate the efficacy of the association of alphatoco-pherol,rutin, melilotus officinalis, and centella asiatica with oral administration in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.
Thirty patients with chronic venous insufficiency were random-ized in two groups of fifteen subjects (control and treatment group). During the period of treatment the patients did not wear elastocompressive stockings. The therapeutic efficacy and the clinical tolerability of this association have been valued with clini-cal-instrumental evaluations and by a control after 15 and 30 days. Functional bothers, cramps and the edema have been val-ued in function presence and of their gravity with a clinical-score between 0 and 4. At the end of the observation period, a signifi-cant improvement of the clinical symptomatology was obtained,characterised by a diminution of the sovrafascial edema. The study confirmed previous clinical experiences regarding the de-scribed treatment and suggests its application in chronic venous insufficiency.
In another study conducted in 29 patients with lower limb chronic venous insufficiency and varicose the treatment with oral melilotus extract induced a relevant improvement of the symptoms and physical signs in 83% of patients.
Lymphedema of the lower limbs:
Similar results (to the above) were observed in a study enrolling patients affected by II stage lymphedema of the lower limbs. In this case a phlebolymphologic therapy aimed to activate the venous,lymphatic and macrophagic systems and to reduce the proteic lymphatic load was studied and was composed by: Coumarin 60mg/day, Ginkgo biloba 40 mg/day and Melilotus extract 40 mg/day orally given for 6 to 8 months. This trilogy induced a significant improvement of the lymphedema (limb measurement,aspect), of functional symptoms (pain, heaviness of limbs) and of physical signs (edema, episodes of infection).
Venous and lymphatic circulation:
The melilotus extract has some specific anti-edemigenic properties linked to its direct action on the smooth muscle contractility of lymphatic vessels (pro-lymphokinetic action) and the tissular proteolytic function by macrophages (pro-macrophagic action). Due to these pharmacological activities the extract has been used in different pathologies in order to improve the venous and lymphatic circulation.
Protective effects against hypoxia in human epithelial cells:
Ginkgo biloba extract and other phlebotonic drugs used for the treatment of venous pathologies were studied to de-termine their toxicological effects and protective effects against hypoxia in human epithelial cells. Melilotus extract retarded cell growth at a concentration of 2 mg /ml, and EGbb (a component of Ginkgor Fort) inhibited growth at concentrations between 0.001 mg/ml and 0.007 mg/ml. For cells subjected to hypoxia for 24 hours, Melilotus extract, offered moderate to good protection thus offering support in protecting endothelial cells against hypoxia, one of the first stages of vascular disease associated with venous stasis.
Effects on coronary circulation and myocardial metabolism:
In dogs melilotus extract slightly but significantly increased the coronary blood flow and decreased myocardial oxygen consumption. The drug also slightly increased the left circumflex coronary flow and decreased blood pressure.
Effect on mammalian GI motility:
The effect of Melilotus extract on GI transit of charcoal meal was investigated in mice. The extract orally administered to animals 90 minutes prior to the charcoal meal facilitated the GI transit. It seems likely that transitory and repetitive inhibition of motility and the decrease of GI muscle tone induced by melilotus extract may greatly contribute to facilitate the gastrointestinal transit of contents.
Wound healing and bruising:
The wound healing properties of melilotus extract have been confirmed in animal experiments.
Suppressive effect on thermal oedema. The effect of melilotus extract on thermal oedema in rats has been evaluated by both quantitative and qualitative assays. The intra-peritoneal injection of melilotus extract immediately after burn, greatly reduced the level of swelling and avoided the development of necrosis and induration in the injured leg-skin in contrast with the third degree of thermal injury observed in saline treated controls. Similar results were obtained in administering the drug four hours before burning.
Obstetrics and gynaecology - symptoms of capillary fragility:
In obstetrics and gynaecology melilotus extract has been administered in women suffering of lymphatic and venous insufficiency and capillary fragility during pregnancy and post-partum.
In more than 420 patients the extract was orally administered at dosages between 4 e 60 mg/day in three daily administrations for 20 days a month up to a maximum of three months.The signs (oedema, venous dilatation, varices,hemorrhoids, etc) and symptoms (pain, fatigue, etc) of venous insufficiency were substantially reduced in more than 60% of treated women. In one trial 15 patients with pre-menstrual syndrome were also studied with the same dosages and the symptomatology was improved in the 87% of cases.
Hemorrhoids: Sweet Clover has been shown to help reduce inflammation and swelling as well as support wound healing.
Reference:
1.Melilotus officinalis Lam:great favourites of the bees.The King's Clover and Its Fragrance.
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