Botanical name: Geum rivale / Geum urbanum
Lehrbuch der Biologischen Heilmittel, 1938, was written by Dr. Med. Gerhard Madaus.
Name: Géum urbánum L. (= Geum caryophyllata Gilib., = Caryophyllata urbana Scop., = C. vulgaris Lam., = C. officinale Moench). Echte Nelkenwurz. Märzwurz, Hasenaug, Heil aller Welt, Mannskraft, Garoffel. Französisch: Bénoite, herbe de Saint Bénoit, herbe ou racine bénite; englisch: Avens root; italienisch: Cariofillata, garofanaja, erba di plaga, erba benedetta, ambretta selvatica; dänisch: Feber Nellikerod, Benedikturt, Krat-Humle-blomst; litauisch: žiognage, Bajorūnas; polnisch: Kuklik; russisch: Grawilat; tschechisch: Kuklík obecný, benedykt; schwedisch: Nejlikrot; ungarisch: Gyömbérgyökér.
Weiteres Vorkommen: Sibirien, Nordamerika, Himalajagebiet, Atlasländer.
Volkstümliche Bezeichnungen: Nach dem Gewürznelkenduft der Wurzel: Nägalaswurz (Schwäb. Alb), wegen der Heilkraft: Benediktenkraut, Wilder Sanikel, Heilnarsch (Ostpreußen) wegen ihrer Wirkung bei schwacher Verdauung. Auf ihre Verwendung gegen Augenkrankheiten (Flecken in den Augen = "Nagel") deuten hin: Flecka-, Nagel-, Augabüntelichrut (St. Gallen) u. a.
Name: Geum rivale L. (= G. nutans Crantz non Lam., = Caryophyllata rivalis Scop., = C. aquatica Lam.). Bachnelkenwurz. Französisch: Bénoite d'eau ou des ruisseaux; englisch: Avens; italienisch: Cariofillata a benedetta aquata.
Volkstümliche Bezeichnungen: Die meisten volkstümlichen Namen sind durch Farbe und Form der Blüten und durch den Standort bedingt, z. B. Bachnägeli (Baden), Herzglocken (Oberharz), Fleischglöckchen (Thüringen), Kuhschelle (Baden), Kapuzinerle (Baden, Schweiz) usw.
Namensursprung: Geum wahrscheinlich von γε_ειν (geuein) = kosten, wegen der aromatischen Wurzel, urbanus = städtisch, an Mauern wachsend, rivalis = am Bache wachsend.
Botanisches: Die 25-130 cm hohe Halbrosettenstaude Geumurbanum ist im gemäßigten Eurasien und in Nordamerika verbreitet. Die Rosettenblätter sind kurz gestielt und unterbrochen leierförmig gefiedert; der aus der Achsel eines Grundblattes entspringende aufrechte, dünne, flaumig behaarte Stengel trägt dreizählige, oben dreiteilige Blätter, deren Nebenblätter rundlich nierenförmig und ungleich eingeschnitten gezähnt sind. In locker traubig-rispigen Blütenständen stehen die endständigen lebhaft gelben, meist zwitterigen, schwach proterogynen Blüten, aus denen sich behaarte Früchtchen entwickeln. Diese zeigen einen ausgeprägten Angelhakentypus, so daß sie sehr leicht an Tieren und Kleidern hängen bleiben und verbreitet werden. Daher das massenweise Auftreten an Wildlägern und in wildreichen Auengebüschen, wo die Pflanze auch die ihr zusagende mittlere Bodenfeuchtigkeit, Nährstoffreichtum und leichte Beschattung findet. Auch an Mauern, Zäunen und an feuchten Schuttplätzen wächst sie gern. Blütezeit: Juni bis September.
Bei Geum rivale entspringt aus der grundständigen Laubblattrosette der Stengel, der etwa 15-70 cm hoch wird. Er ist aufrecht und oberwärts meist ästig, von einfachen Haaren sowie von Drüsenhaaren flaumig und oben braunrot überlaufen. Die Rosettenblätter sind langgestielt, unterbrochen leierförmig gefiedert mit sehr großem Endblättchen. Seitenblättchen ungleich groß, das oberste Paar viel größer. Die Oberseite der Blätter ist spärlicher behaart als die Unterseite. Die oberen Stengelblätter sind dreizählig. Die Blüten stehen in armblütigen Doldentrauben auf dicht behaarten Stielen. Die Blüte besteht aus fünf lang zugespitzten, braunroten Kelchblättern, fünf linealen Außenkelchblättern von der halben Länge der Kelchblätter, fünf Kronenblättern, die bald kürzer, bald länger sind als die Kelchblätter. Sie sind breit verkehrt-ei- bis herzförmig und rasch in den Nagel verschmälert. Die Farbe ist blaßgelb und hellrot überlaufen. Staubblätter viele, Fruchtblätter zahlreich. Die Blüte ist nickend. Fruchtköpfchen gestielt. Früchtchen an der Spitze hakig. Blütezeit April und Mai, manchmal bis in den Juli hinein. Die Pflanze ist im gemäßigten Eurasien und in Nordamerika heimisch. Sie ist anzutreffen in feuchten Hochstaudenbeständen, an Quellen, Bachufern, in Auen- und Bruchwäldern, auf feuchten, humosen Wiesen und an ähnlichen Stellen. Sie kommt zwar auf allen Unterlagen vor, häufiger aber auf kalkreichen Böden.
Geschichtliches und Allgemeines:
Die Nelkenwurz ist schon seit dem Altertum medizinisch verwendet worden. Die bei Plinius unter Geum beschriebene und gegen Brustbeschwerden empfohlene Pflanze wird meistens als Geum urbanum gedeutet. Unter dem Namen Geum urbanum wurde die Echte Nelkenwurz zuerst von Conrad Gesner aufgeführt. Die Botaniker des Mittelalters nannten sie auch Sanamunda und schätzten ihre Heilkraft gegen zahlreiche Krankheiten séhr. Ebenso fand auch die Bachnelkenwurz, deren Wurzel als Radix Caryophyllatae aquaticae seu Gei rivalis früher offizinell war, Verwendung.
Die Wurzel von Geum urbanum wird auch als Zusatz zu Bier gebraucht, dessen Geschmack dadurch angenehmer und vor dem Sauerwerden geschützt wird. Die Blätter können als Salat gegessen werden.
Wirkung
Wo die beiden Arten in der Literatur besonders benannt sind, wird doch in der Wirkung nur insofern ein Unterschied gemacht, als manchmal der Bachnelkenwurz eine geringere Wirkungskraft zugeschrieben wird.
Lonicerus (Lonicerus, Kreuterbuch, 1564, S. 202 B.) rühmt die "Benediktenwurz" gegen Leberverstopfung, Magenerkältung und -verschleimung, Wassersucht, Unterleibskolik und Gelbsucht, ein von Kraut und Wurzel gebranntes Wasser gegen Wunden, Fisteln und Abszesse, innerlich und äußerlich gebraucht.
Matthiolus (Matthiolus, New-Kreuterbuch, 1626, S. 337.) läßt die Wurzel außerdem anwenden bei Lähmungen infolge Schlaganfalls, Fisteln und Krebs, wobei er das Pulver in die "löcherte Schäden" streuen läßt.
Als magen- und nervenstärkendes, uterusberuhigendes, expektorierendes und Wundmittel wird die Nelkenwurz von v. Haller (v. Haller, Medicin. Lexicon, 1755, S. 324.) empfohlen.
Hecker (Hecker, Pract. Arzneimittell., 1814, Bd. 1, S. 352.) gebraucht sie auf Buchaves Rat hin als Ersatz der China selbst in Fällen, in denen diese versagte, so namentlich bei Febris quartana, wo sie auch bei Kongestionen im Pfortadersystem ohne Nebenwirkungen und Nachfolgen heilte. Als weitere Indikationen gibt Hecker an: Faul- und Nervenfieber, Diarrhöen, Dysenterien, Hämorrhagien, aus Uterus, Magen- und Harnwegen, Fluor albus, Spasmen, Amenorrhöe mit Chlorose, Skrofulose und stark eiternde Geschwüre.
In neuerer Zeit wird die Nelkenwurz von Leclerc (Leclerc, Précis de Phytothér. 1927, S. 108.) als Tonicum amarum, bei Atonie der Verdauungsorgane, Dyspepsien, chronischer Diarrhöe und Dysenterie angewandt,
von Bohn (Bohn, Heilwerte heim. Pflanzen, S. 60.) bei fieberhafter Gastroenteritis, Typhus, namentlich in der Rekonvaleszenz, bei Skrofulose und Rachitis, die mit Darmstörungen verknüpft sind.
Peyer (Peyer, Pflanzl. Heilmittel, S. 60.) erwähnt, daß die Nelkenwurz in einem Hufelandschen Rezept, wohl als Karminativum, enthalten sei.
Die Volksmedizin schätzte Geum als Mittel gegen Diarrhöe und Erbrechen, Dyspepsie alter Leute, chronischen Bronchial- und Dickdarmkatarrh und Intermittens wie auch als Gurgelmittel bei Mundkrankheiten und hält an dieser Verwendung auch heute noch fest (Friedrich, Sammlg. von Volksarzneimitteln, 1845, S. 111; Schulz, Wirkg. u. Anwendg. d. dtsch. Arzneipfl., S. 223; Dinand, Handb. d. Heilpfl.-Kunde, S. 131.).
Vom russischen Volke (A. A. v. Henrici, in Histor. Studien des pharm. Inst. d. Univ. Dorpat, Bd. IV, S. 63.) wurde Geum urbanum gegen choleraartige Durchfälle, schmerzhafte Menses und Skrofulose gebraucht, eine Abkochung von Geum rivale gegen Uterusblutungen.
Der Kräuterpfarrer Künzle (Künzle, Salvia 1923, S. 43, 46 u. 64; 1928, S. 45.) hebt das Benediktenkraut (er schließt auch noch Geum alpinum mit ein) ganz besonders hervor als eine der wichtigsten Heilpflanzen. Er führt Heilungen von Incontinentia urinae und Encephalitis an. Auch bei Augenentzündungen und Zahnweh helfen die frischen Wurzeln. Vor allem aber sei Benediktenkraut eine der besten "Herzstärkungen". "Leute, die Schlaganfälle erlitten haben oder selbe zu fürchten haben, tun gut, fleißig die Benedikte zu benutzen." Er schreibt: "Ich habe selber gesehen, wie ein Hirt, dem eine Kuh erblindet war, diese in 8 Tagen geheilt hat mittels Auflegen eines Büschels der grünen Pflanze über die Augen."
Der Hauptwirkstoff von Geum urbanum und Geum rivale ist das auch in den Gewürznelken vorkommende Eugenol, das den Wurzeln den eigenartigen Geruch verleiht und wie andere Bestandteile des zu 0,1% in der Pflanze vorhandenen ätherischen Öles bei der Spaltung des Glykosides Gein durch das Enzym Gease entsteht. Weiterhin enthält die Wurzel Bitterstoff (Bourquelot et Hérissey, Cpt. rend. 1905, Bd. 140, S. 870.), Saccharose (Vgl. 10.) und wie viele andere Rosaceen Gerbstoff (Buchner, B. Eepert. Pharm. 1844, Bd. 35, S. 169.).
Eugenol wirkt schwach lokalanästhetisch und stark antiseptisch, so daß es häufig zu Zahntropfen und Mundwässern Verwendung findet (Marfori-Bachem, Lehrb. d. klin. Pharm., S. 555.). Zugleich wirkt es aber auch reizend und ätzend (Hagers Handb. d. Pharm. Praxis, 1930, Bd. 1, S. 862.).
Größere Gaben der Nelkenwurzel erregen Nausea und Vomitus (Schulz, vgl. 8).). In großer Dosis bewirkt das Eugenol beim Menschen einen rauschartigen Zustand (de Regibus, Jahresber. f. Tierchemie 1886.). 30 Gramm Nelkenöl riefen bei einem Menschen mehrstündige Bewußtlosigkeit, Zyanose, kalten Schweiß und wiederholtes Erbrechen hervor (Pfeiffer, Dtsch. med. Wschr. 1895, Nr. 29.). Auch beim Kaninchen wurden nach größeren Gaben von Eugenol narkoseartige Erscheinungen beobachtet (Schröder u. Vollmer, Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. f. exp. Path. u. Pharm. 1932, Bd. 168, S. 332.). In Dezigramm ist das Eugenol ungefährlich (Starkenstein-Rost-Pohl, Toxikologie, 1929, S. 329.). Die glatte Muskulatur wird durch Eugenol gelähmt (Wasicky, Lehrb. d. Physiopharm., 1929, S. 208.).
Schröder und Vollmer (Vgl. 18).), die die Ausscheidung und Verteilung des Eugenols im Körper quantitativ untersuchten, berichten über auffallend starke Füllung der Gallenblase nach Eugenolverabfolgung, die sie zur bekannten Ausscheidung durch die Leber in Beziehung setzen. Eine Ausscheidung in der Lunge findet nicht statt.
Untersuchungen ergaben, daß die Blätter von Geum rivale nicht bakterizid bzw. fungizid wirken (Nach eigenen Untersuchungen.).
Verwendung in der Volksmedizin außerhalb des Deutschen Reiches (nach persönlichen Mitteilungen):
Dänemark: Gegen Diarrhöe und Febris intermittens.
Italien: Gegen chronischen Darmkatarrh.
Litauen: Das Dekokt des Rhizoms bei Bauchsenkung und Fieber.
Polen: Die Wurzel gegen Magen- und Darmkrankheiten.
Ungarn: Magenleiden, als Wundmittel und zur Erleichterung der Entbindung.
Anwendung in der Praxis auf Grund der Literatur und einer Rundfrage:
Geum wird als Tonicum amarum vorwiegend bei Erkrankungen des Gastrointestinaltraktus verwendet. So gibt man es häufig bei Dysenterie, Typhus, gastrischem Fieber mit Atonie der Verdauungsorgane, Dyspepsie, Diarrhöe, auch Sommerdurchfällen (als 10% Sirup), Obstipation, Blähungen, Vomitus, Darmkrämpfen und kolikartigen Beschwerden. Des öfteren hat sich die Nelkenwurz auch bei Leber- und Gallenstörungen und bei Hämorrhoiden als nützlich erwiesen.
Als Chininersatz leistet sie bei Intermittens und Nervenfieber gute Dienste, ebenso wird sie bei Infektionskrankheiten und als Adstringens bei Hämorrhagien, Hämoptoe, leichtblutendem Zahnfleisch (allein oder im Wechsel mit Trillium) und bei Fluoralbus erfolgreich angewandt.
Schließlich werden noch folgende Indikationen für das ja schon von den alten Ärzten sehr vielseitig gebrauchte Mittel genannt: Nervenleiden, Herzleiden, wenn diese mit Blähungen verbunden, Muskelschwäche, Bleichsucht, Skrofulose und last, not least Nachtschweiße (gegen Nachtschweiße bei Lungenspitzenkatarrh allein oder auch in Verbindung mit Bryonia und Belladonna).
Außerdem empfiehlt Glaser, Karlsbad, den Tee gegen Diabetes, während Müller, Donaustauf, das Mittel im Klimakterium gebrauchen läßt.
Einheitliche Wechselmittel werden nicht genannt.
Angewandter Pflanzenteil:
Matthiolus und Lonicerus erwähnen neben dem Gebrauch der Wurzel auch den des Krautes. Alle späteren Literaturstellen nennen die Wurzel, d. h. wohl den bewurzelten Wurzelstock.
Erst wieder bei Clarke findet sich die Angabe, daß die Tinktur aus der frischen, blühenden Pflanze hergestellt werde. Bei Kroeber findet sich dieselbe Angabe, während Flamm-Kroeber die Wurzel als Sammelgut bezeichnen.
Das HAB. läßt die Essenz von Geum rivale aus frischen, blühenden Pflanzen ohne Wurzel (§ 3), die tinktur von Geum urbanum aus der getrockneten Wurzel (§ 4) bereiten. Das "Teep" wird bei beiden Arten aus der im Frühjahr gesammelten frischen Pflanze mit Wurzelstock und Wurzeln gewonnen.
Sammelzeit: Mai bis Juni.
Radix Caryophyllatae (Rhizoma Gei urbani) ist offizinell in Dänemark und Portugal.
Dosierung:
Übliche Dosis:
10-15 Tropfen der Tinktur zwei- bis dreimal täglich (Friedrich);
1,2-1,8 g des Pulvers (Buchheim);
1-2,5 g Rhiz. Gei als Pulver (Rost-Klemperer);
2 Teelöffel voll des Krautes (= 2 g) zum heißen Aufguß täglich.
1/2 Teelöffel der Frischpflanzenverreibung "Teep" zweimal täglich.
(Die "Teep"-Zubereitung ist auf 50% Pflanzensubstanz eingestellt.)
Maximaldosis:Nicht festgesetzt, doch treten nach größeren Dosen Erbrechen und Übelkeit auf (Schulz).
Rezepte:
Als Tonikum amarum bei Erkrankungen des Magen-Darmtraktus:
Hb. Gei urbani . . . 30
D.s.: 2 Teelöffel mit 1 Glas Wasser heiß ansetzen, 10 Minuten ziehen lassen und tagsüber trinken.
(Teezubereitung: Der Extraktgehalt des heiß im Verhältnis 1 : 20 bereiteten Tees beträgt 3,3% gegenüber 2,6% bei kalter Zubereitung Der Aschengehalt des Extraktes beträgt 0,52% bei heißer und 0,45% bei kalter Zubereitung. Die Peroxydasereaktion ist in beiden Zubereitungen nur schwach positiv. Geschmacklich erweist sich der heiß bereitete Tee etwas stärket Man kann einen Ansatz 1 : 50 noch trinken.
1 Teelöffel voll wiegt etwa 1 g. Im Hinblick auf den stärkeren Geschmack und den größeren Extraktgehalt des heiß bereiteten Tees erfolgt die Herstellung heiß unter Verwendung von 2 Teelöffeln voll auf 1 Teeglas.).
Bei Intermittens und Hämorrhagien:
Gei urbani Ø (Ø = hom. Urtinktur.) . . . 30
D.s.: Dreimal täglich 10 Tropfen in Wasser nehmen.
Bei Nervenschwäche (nach Hufeland):
Rad. Valerianae (= Baldrianwurzel)
Rad. Caryophyllat. (Gei urb.) (= Nelkenwurz)
Hb. Menthae pip. (= Pfefferminzkraut)
Fol. Aurantii . . . aa 25 (= Pomeranzenblätter)
C.m.f. species.
D.s.: 1 Teelöffel auf 1 Glas Wasser, vgl. Zubereitung von Teemischungen S. 291.
Bei Diarrhöe (nach P. Flämig):
Cort. Aesculi hippocastani (= Roßkastanienrinde)
Cort. Quercus roboris (= Eichenrinde)
Rhiz. Tormentillae (= Tormentillwurzel)
Rad. Gei urbani . . . aa 5 (= Nelkenwurz)
M.f. pulv.
D.s.: Stündlich 2 Messerspitzen voll mit geschabtem Apfel.
Bei Hämorrhagien (nach Junge):
Rad. Gei urbani (= Nelkenwurz)
Rhiz. Tormentillae (= Tormentillwurzel)
Hb. Bursae pastoris . . . aa 20 (= Hirtentäschelkraut)
C.m.f. species.
D.s.: 2 Teelöffel auf 2 Glas Wasser, vgl. Zubereitung von Teemischungen S. 291.
Rezepturpreis ad chart. etwa -.56 RM.
Composition of essential oil from aerial and underground parts of Geum rivale and G. urbanum growing in Poland. Aleksandra Owczarek, Jan Gudej, Agnieszka Kicel
Natural Product Communications 2013, 8 (4): 505-8
A study of the composition of essential oils from aerial and underground parts of Geum rivale L. and Geum urbanum L. growing in Poland led to the identification of 130 compounds. The main compound of the essential oil from underground parts of G. urbanum was eugenol (69.2%), whereas cis-myrtanal (53.3%) was the major constituent of the essential oil from roots of G. rivale. The essential oils from aerial parts of the plants contained large amounts of aliphatic compounds with (Z)-3-hexenol (38.4%) being the dominant constituent of the essential oil from aerial parts of G. urbanum and 1-octen-3-ol (33.9%) from G. rivale.
Z Naturforsch C. 2012 Mar-Apr;67(3-4):172-80. Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of the methanolic extract of Geum iranicum and its main compounds. Shahani S1, Monsef-Esfahani HR, Saeidnia S, Saniee P, Siavoshi F, Foroumadi A, Samadi N, Gohari AR.
Geum iranicum Khatamsaz, belonging to the Rosaceae family, is an endemic plant of Iran. The methanol extract of the roots of this plant showed significant activity against one of the clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori which was resistant to metronidazole. The aim of this study was the isolation and evaluation of the major compounds of G. iranicum effective against H. pylori. The compounds were isolated using various chromatographic methods and identified by spectroscopic data (1H and 13C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, EI-MS). An antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed employing the disk diffusion method against clinical isolates of H. pylori and a micro dilution method against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; additionally the inhibition zone diameters (IZD) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values were recorded. Nine compounds were isolated: two triterpenoids, uvaol and niga-ichigoside F1, three sterols, beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosteryl acetate, and beta-sitosteryl linoleate, one phenyl propanoid, eugenol, one phenolic glycoside, gein, one flavanol, (+)-catechin, and sucrose. The aqueous fraction, obtained by partitioning the MeOH extract with water and chloroform, was the most effective fraction of the extract against all clinical isolates of H. pylori. Further investigation of the isolated compounds showed that eugenol was effective against H. pylori but gein, diglycosidic eugenol, did not exhibit any activity against H. pylori. The subfraction D4 was the effective fraction which contained tannins. :;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; The MIC values indicated that Gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Bacillus subtilis are more susceptible than Gram-neagative bacteria including Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Geum / Synuclein / Parkinson / Mechanistic study of the inhibitory activity of Geum urbanum extract against α-Synuclein fibrillation
The presence of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites is a major pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease and is hypothesized to be linked to disease development, although this is not yet conclusive. Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites primarily consist of fibrillated α-Synuclein; yet, there is no treatment available targeting stabilization of α-Synuclein in its native state. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory activity of an ethanolic extract of Geum urbanum against α-Synuclein fibrillation and examine the structural changes of α-Synuclein in the presence of the extract. The anti-fibrillation and anti-aggregation activities of the plant extract were monitored by thioflavin T fibrillation assays and size exclusion chromatography, while structural changes were followed by circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, intrinsic fluorescence, small angle X-ray scattering and electron microscopy. Since the extract is a complex mixture, structure-function relationships could not be determined. Under the experimental conditions investigated, Geum urbanum was found to inhibit α-Synuclein fibrillation in a concentration dependent way, and to partly disintegrate preformed α-Synuclein fibrils. Based on the structural changes of α-Synuclein in the presence of extract, we propose that Geum urbanum delays α-Synuclein fibrillation either by reducing the fibrillation ability of one or more of the aggregation prone intermediates or by directing α-Synuclein aggregation towards a non-fibrillar state. However, whether these alterations of the fibrillation pathway lead to less pathogenic species is yet to be determined.
Geum urbanum has been used in the European traditional medicine against shivers [21], which could be interpreted as the resting tremor observed in Parkinson's disease. The decision to use ethanol for the extraction of plant material was based on the original procedures used in the traditional medicine where people would prepare the medicinal plants as cold extractions, decoctions or infusions with water or alcoholic beverages like wine [21]. Moreover, ethanol limits the extraction of salts which can interfere with the stability of the investigated protein [3].
The anti-amyloidogenic activity of the ethanolic extract of Geum urbanum was analyzed by examining the structural changes of α-Synuclein in the presence of the extract. However, since structure-function relationships cannot meaningfully be obtained from work with complex mixtures, this study should be considered only a first step in the identification of potentially bioactive compounds through the ethnopharmacological approach.
Role of human gut microbiota metabolism in the anti-inflammatory effect of traditionally used ellagitannin-rich plant materials. Piwowarski JP, et al. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ellagitannin-rich plant materials are widely used in traditional medicine as effective, internally used anti-inflammatory agents. Due to the not well-established bioavailability of ellagitannins, the mechanisms of observed therapeutic effects following oral administration still remain unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate if selected ellagitannin-rich plant materials could be the source of bioavailable gut microbiota metabolites, i.e. urolithins, together with determination of the anti-inflammatory activity of the metabolites produced on the THP-1 cell line derived macrophages model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The formation of urolithins was determined by ex vivo incubation of human fecal samples with aqueous extracts from selected plant materials. The anti-inflammatory activity study of metabolites was determined on PMA differentiated, IFN-γ and LPS stimulated, human THP-1 cell line-derived macrophages.
RESULTS: The formation of urolithin A, B and C by human gut microbiota was established for aqueous extracts from Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. herb (Ph. Eur.), Geranium pratense L. herb, Geranium robertianum L. herb, Geum urbanum L. root and rhizome, Lythrum salicaria L. herb (Ph. Eur.), Potentilla anserina L. herb, Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch rhizome (Ph. Eur.), Quercus robur L. bark (Ph. Eur.), Rubus idaeus L. leaf, Rubus fruticosus L. and pure ellagitannin vescalagin. Significant inhibition of TNF-α production was determined for all urolithins, while for the most potent urolithin A inhibition was observed at nanomolar concentrations (at 0.625 μM 29.2±6.4% of inhibition). Urolithin C was the only compound inhibiting IL-6 production (at 0.625 μM 13.9±2.2% of inhibition).
CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained clearly indicate that in the case of peroral use of the examined ellagitannin-rich plant materials the bioactivity of gut microbiota metabolites, i.e. urolithins, has to be taken under consideration
Botanical: Geum urbanum (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Rosaceae
---Synonyms---Colewort. Herb Bennet. City Avens. Wild Rye. Way Bennet. Goldy Star. Clove Root.
---Parts Used---Herb, root.
---Habitat---The Avens (Geum urbanum, Linn.), belonging to the order Rosacece, its genus being nearly related to the Potentilla genus, is a common wayside plant in Great Britain, abundant in woods and hedges in England, Ireland and southern Scotland, though becoming scarcer in the north. It is common in the greater part of Europe, Russia and Central Asia.
---Description---It has thin, nearly upright, wiry stems, slightly branched, from 1 to 2 feet in height, of a reddish brown on one side. Its leaves vary considerably in form, according to their position. The radical leaves are borne on long, channelled foot-stalks, and are interruptedly pinnate, as in the Silverweed the large terminal leaflet being wedge-shaped and the intermediate pairs of leaflets being very small. The upper leaves on the stem are made up of three long, narrow leaflets: those lower on the stems have the three leaflets round and full. The stem-leaves are placed alternately and have at their base two stipules (leaf-like members that in many plants occur at the junction of the base of the leaf with the stem). Those of the Avens are very large, about an inch broad and long, rounded in form and coarsely toothed and lobed. All the leaves are of a deep green colour, more or less covered with spreading hairs, their margins toothed.
The rhizomes are 1 to 2 inches long terminating abruptly, hard and rough with many light brown fibrous roots. The flowers, rather small for the size of the plant, are on solitary, terminal stalks. The corolla is composed of five roundish, spreading, yellow petals, the calyx cleft into ten segments - five large and five small - as in the Silverweed. The flowers, which are in bloom all the summer and autumn, often as late as December, are less conspicuous than the round fruitheads, which succeed them, which are formed of a mass of dark crimson achenes, each terminating in an awn, the end of which is curved into a hook.
---History---The plant derives its name of Avens from the Latin Avencia, Mediaeval Latin, avantia or avence, a word of obscure origin and which in varieties of spelling has been applied to the plant from very early times.
The botanical name, Geum, originated from the Greek geno, to yield an agreeable fragrance, because, when freshly dug up, the root has a clove-like aroma. This gives rise to another name, Radix caryophylata, or Clove Root, and its corruption, Gariophilata.
Avens had many names in the fourteenth century, such as Assarabaccara, Pesleporis, or Harefoot, and Minarta.
It was called 'the Blessed Herb' (Herba benedicta), of which a common name still extant - Herb Bennet - is a corruption, because in former times it was believed that it had the power to ward off evil spirits and venomous beasts. It was worn as an amulet. The Ortus Sanitatis, printed in 1491, states: 'Where the root is in the house, Satan can do nothing and flies from it, wherefore it is blessed before all other herbs, and if a man carries the root about him no venomous beast can harm him.' Dr. Prior (Popular Names of English Plants) considers the original name to have probably been ' St . Benedict's Herb,' that name being assigned to such as were supposed to be antidotes, in allusion to a legend respecting the saint. It is said that on one occasion a monk presented him with a goblet of poisoned wine, but when the saint blessed it, the poison, being a sort of devil, flew out of it with such force that the glass was shivered to atoms, the crime of the monk being thus exposed. Hemlock is also known as Herb Bennet, probably for the same reason.
Goldy Star of the Earth, City Avens, Wild Rye and Way Bennet are other local names for the plant.
In mediaeval days, the graceful trefoiled leaf and the five golden petals of the blossoms symbolized the Holy Trinity and the five wounds of Our Lord, and towards the end of the thirteenth century the plant frequently occurs as an architectural decoration in the carved leafage on the capitals of columns and in wall patterns.
The roots should be dug up in spring; some of the old physicians were so particular on this point that the 25th March was fixed for procuring the root (and it was specified that the soil should be dry). At this time the root was said to be most fragrant. It loses much of its odour in drying, so must be dried with great care, and gradually, then sliced and powdered as required, as they are less likely to lose their properties in this form than when kept in slices.
Externally, the rhizome, when dried, is of a brownish to a brownish-yellow colour. The fracture is short. Internally, it is of a light purplish-brown when dried. In transverse section, it shows a large pith, a narrow woody ring, with thin bark. The taste of the drug is astringent, slightly bitter and clove-like.
---Constituents---The principal constituent is a volatile oil, which is mainly composed of Eugenol, and a glucoside, Gein, geum-bitter, tannic acid, gum and resin. It imparts its qualities to water and alcohol, which it tinges red. Distilled with water, it yields 0.04 per cent. of thick, greenish, volatile oil.
The root has been found by Milandi and Moretti to contain one-eleventh of its weight of tannin.
---Medicinal Action and Uses---Astringent, Styptic, febrifuge, sudorific, stomachic, antiseptic, tonic and aromatic.
In earlier days the roots were not only used medicinally, as at present, but to flavour ale, and to put among linen to preserve from moths and to impart a pleasant odour.
The Augsburg Ale is said to owe its peculiar flavour to the addition of a small bag of Avens in each cask. The fresh root imparts a pleasant clove-like flavour to the liquor, preserves it from turning sour, and adds to its wholesome properties. in wine against stomach ills and bites of venomous beasts.' On account of its stomachic properties, chewing of the root was recommended for foul breath.
Culpepper says:
'It is governed by Jupiter and that gives hopes of a wholesome healthful herb. It is good for the diseases of the chest or breath, for pains and stitches in the sides, it dissolveth inward congealed blood occasioned by falls and bruises and the spitting of blood, if the roots either green or dried be boiled in wine and drunk. The root in the spring-time steeped in wine doth give it a delicate flavour and taste and being drunk fasting every morning comforteth the heart and is a good preservative against the plague or any other poison. It is very safe and is fit to be kept in every body's house.'
In modern herbal medicine Avens is considered useful in diarrhoea, dysenteries, leucorrhoea, sore throat, ague, chills, freshcatarrh, intermittent fevers, chronic and passive haemorrhages, gastric irritation and headache.
The infusion or decoction is made from 1/2 oz. of the powdered root or herb to 1 pint of boiling water, strained and taken cold. The infusion is the most grateful, but the decoction may be made much stronger by boiling it down to half.
The simple tincture is made by pouring a pint of proof spirit on an ounce of the bruised root and macerating it for fourteen days and then filtering through paper. Two or three teaspoonsful of this tincture in any watery vehicle, or in a glass of wine, are a sufficient dose.
An excellent compound tincture may be made as follows: Take of Avens root 1 1/2 OZ.; Angelica root, bruised, and Tormentil root bruised, of each 1 OZ.; Raisins, stoned, 2 OZ.; French brandy, 2 pints. Macerate for a month in a warm place. Filter then through paper. Dose, 1/2 oz.
The same ingredients infused in a quart of wine will form an excellent vinous tincture.
The infusion is considered an excellent cordial sudorific at the commencement of chills and catarrh, cutting short the paroxysm, and the continued use of it has restorative power in weakness, debility, etc.
Its astringency makes it useful in diarrhoea, sore throat, etc. It is taken, strained and cold, in wineglassful doses, three or four times a day.
The infusion is also used in some skin affections. When used externally as a wash, it will remove spots, freckles or eruptions from the face.
Taken as decoction in the spring, Avens acts as a purifier and removes obstructions of the liver.
The powdered root has been used both in America and Europe as a substitute for Peruvian bark and has frequently been found to cure agues when the latter has failed, a drachm of powder being given every two hours.
The dose of the fluid extract of the herb is 1 drachm, of the fluid extract of the root, 1/2 to 1 drachm. As a tonic, the usual dose of the powdered herb or root is 15 to 30 grains.
As Arnica adulterant, the rhizome is sometimes present in the imported drug.
Geum King's American Dispensatory, 1898, was written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D.
The rhizome and rootlets of Geum rivale, Linné, and Geum virginianum, Linné.
Nat. Ord.—Rosaceae.
COMMON NAMES: (1) Water avens, Purple avens; (2) Virginia geum, Throat-root, Chocolate-root.
Botanical Source.—Geum rivale, likewise known as Purple avens, is a perennial, hairy, deep-green herb, with a creeping, blackish, somewhat woody root, running deep into the ground, with numerous fibers. The stems are 1 or 2 feet high, nearly simple, erect, and slightly paniculate at top. The radical leaves are nearly lyrate, uninterruptedly pinnate, with large terminal leaflets on long hairy petioles, rounded, lobed, and crenate-dentate, and from 4 to 6 inches long. The cauline leaves are few, subsessile, from 1 to 3 inches long, and divided into 3 serrate, pointed lobes; the stipules are ovate, acute, cut, and purplish, The flowers are few, sub-globose, nodding, yellowish-purple, on axillary and terminal peduncles. The calyx is inferior, erect, purplish-brown, with 10 lanceolate, pointed segments, 5 alternately smaller than the others; petals 5, as long as the erect calyx segments, broad-obcordate, clawed, purplish-yellow, and veined. The seeds are oval, bearded, and hooked at the end (L.—W.—G.).
Geum virginianum, Linné, also known as Throat-root, Chocolate-root, etc., is also perennial, with a small, brownish, horizontal, crooked root. The stem is simple or branched, smoothish above, pubescent below, and 2 or 3 feet high. The radical leaves are pinnate, lyrate, or simple and rounded, with appendaged petioles from 6 to 8 inches long; the cauline leaves 3 or 5-lobed, softly pubescent; all the leaves are unequally and incisely dentate. The flowers are rather small, white, erect, and borne on long, diverging peduncles; the calyx is 5-cleft, with 5 smaller and exterior, alternate bracteoles; the petals 5, about the length of the calyx; the stamens numerous; filaments slender, anthers yellowish and round. The styles are many, persistent, mostly jointed, geniculate, bearded, and booked after the upper joint falls away. The fruit is an achenia, aggregated on a dry receptacle, caudate with the style (W.—G.).
History and Description.—Geum rivale is common to Europe and this country, and is found growing in woods, wet meadows, and along streams, especially in the northern and middle states, and flowering in June and July. The American species differs from the European (Geum urbanum, Linné), in having the petals more orbicular on their free margin, the flowers of less size, and its leaves with deeper incisions. The fresh root is aromatic.
Geum virginianum is found in hedges and thickets, and in moist places in most parts of the United States, flowering from June to August. These plants, with some other varieties, have long been used in domestic practice. The whole herb contains medicinal properties, but the medicinal and most efficient portion is the root. The dried root of the G. rivale is scaly, jointed, tapering, hard, brittle, easily pulverized, of a reddish or purplish color, and inodorous; that of the G. virginianum, is brown, crooked, tuberculated, and brittle; both are white internally, and of a bitterish astringent taste. Boiling water or alcohol extracts their virtues, the solution becoming reddish. They have not been analyzed, but probably contain tannic acid, bitter extractive, gum, resin, etc. A weak decoction of the root of G. rivale is sometimes used by invalids as a substitute for tea and coffee. Its constituents are probably the same as those of Avens (Geum urbanum, Linné) (see Related Species).
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Tonic and astringent. Useful in all cases where there is an enfeebled state of mucous tissues, or morbid secretions therefrom. Large doses may cause emesis. Used in numerous diseases, as passive and chronic hemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, leucorrhoea, dyspepsia, phthisis, congestions of the abdominal viscera, intermittents, aphthous ulcerations, etc. Dose of the powder, from 20 to 30 grains; of the decoction from 1 to 2 fluid ounces, 3 or 4 times a day. Geum urbanum, or European avens, possesses similar properties (see below).
Specific Indications and Uses.—(Geum rivale). "Tearing, spasmodic, abdominal pains recurring upon taking food or exercise" (Scudder).
Related Species.—Geum album, Gmelin; White geum. United States. Flowers in May and August. Used in headaches and irritable conditions of the stomach (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1883).
Geum urbanum, Linné; Avens, European avens. Europe, growing in woodlands and shady situations, and has yellow flowers. The rhizome of this plant is hard, dark-brown, tuberculated at top, short (1 or 2 inches long and from 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick), and has the summit beset with hairy, reddish-brown leaf scales. The fresh rhizome resembles cloves in odor, hence has been called radix caryophyllata. Internally the rhizome is whitish, surrounding a central red portion. It has many fibrous roots of a lighter brown hue. It imparts a red color to both water and alcohol. Buchner analysed it in 1844, and found a considerable amount of tannin and a a amorphous and neutral yellow mass, to which be gave the name geum bitter. He also confirmed the observation of Trommsdorff as to the presence of a greenish-yellow volatile oil (0. 04 per cent), and found that it has a clove-like odor (Rep. d. Pharm., 1844, Vol. LXXXV, p. 168 to 201).
Avens is an astringent tonic considerably employed in European practice, where it is used in intermittents, dysentery and diarrhoea, passive hemorrhages, and leucorrhoea. It is apt to derange the stomach and induce emesis if given too freely. The dose of the powder is from 20 to 60 grains, but the decoction, made by boiling 1 ounce of avens in 1 pint of water, is preferable. The dose is 1 or 2 fluid ounces
Apple Tart Spiced with Herb Bennet Root Recipe from Britain Origin: Britain
Period: Traditional This is a traditional British recipe for a classic tart of pureed apples flavoured with herb bennet root and lemons. Ingredients: For the Pastry: 175g plain flour 40g butter, diced 40g white vegetable fat, diced 1 egg yolk water, if necessary For the Filling: 900g cooking apples 15g herb bennet root, cleaned, sliced and crushed (or 6 whole cloves) 50g butter 2 tbsp water 4 tbsp apricot jam 50g caster sugar grated zest of 1/2 lemon 225g eating apples 1-2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp caster sugar for sprinkling
Begin with the pastry. Sift the flour into a large bowl then add the fats and rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture comes to resemble fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and combine into the flour mix with a knife. Slowly bring the mixture together as a dough, adding a little water if necessary. Knead the pastry thoroughly then wrap in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes. Now prepare your filling. Quarter the apples, remove the core and chop into pieces. Melt the butter in a large pan, add the herb bennet root and fry for a minute before adding the apples and water. Cover the pan and allow to cook very gently for about 10 minutes, or until the apples have become very soft. Rub the apple puree through a nylon sieve into a clean pan then add the apricot jam, sugar and lemon zest. Allow to cook on high heat for about 10 minutes, with constant stirring, until all the excess liquid has evaporated and the apple mix has thickened. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile tip the pastry onto a floured surface and roll until it's thin enough to line a 20cm diameter flan tin. Cover with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans. Place in an oven pre-heated to 200°C and bake for about 8 minutes. Remove the paper and beans and return the dish to the oven. Bake for about another 5 minutes, or until the pastry has dried out. Take out from the oven and spoon the apple puree into the dish. Now peel, quarter and core the eating apples. Slice these very thinly, level the surface of the tart and arrange the apple slices in neat overlapping circles over the pie's surface. Brush the top with lemon juice then sprinkle the caster sugar over everything. Return to the oven and bake for 25 minutes more. The tart can be served either hot or cold.
Dandelion and Herb Bennet Soup Recipe from Britain Origin: Britain
Period: Traditional This is a traditional British recipe for a classic wild food soup of dandelion and herb bennet leaves cooked in a chicken and beef stock thickened with rice. An excellent recipe for the wild forager. This soup makes the most of wild dandelion leaves and adds the unique flavour of herb bennet leaves. It's best cooked in early Spring though when the dandelion and herb bennet leaves are young and not as bitter (they get more bitter as they age). Ingredients: 400g young freshly-picked dandelion leaves 100g fresh young herb bennet leaves 20g herb bennet roots 100g rice 2l chicken soup 450g minced beef 1 egg 2 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs 1 tbsp freshly-minced parsley 1 tbsp minced onion 1 tbsp minced garlic 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp freshly-ground black pepper generous pinch of nutmeg 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese 2 tbsp sour cream Dandelion and Herb Bennet Soup Preparation: Method: Bring the stock to a boil then add the dandelions and herb bennet (leaves and roots). Reduce to a low simmer and cook gently for about 5 minutes before adding the rice. Allow to cook gently for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, mix all the remaining ingredients together and form into meat balls. Set aside to chill and when the dandelions are tender add the meatballs to the soup and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through. Serve immediately, ladled into soup bowls and accompanied by crusty French bread.
Read more at Celtnet: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-apple-tart-herb-bennet