Botanicals Exam 1 Flashcards
St John’s Wort - name
Hypericum perforatum
St John’s Wort - plant parts used
Flowering tops
Leaves
Buds
Flowers
St John’s Wort - active constituents
Hypericins
Hyperforin
Flavonoids
St John’s Wort - MOA (3)
Modification of neurotransmitter functions - esp serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
Reuptake inhibition
Potential modification of the HPA axis
St John’s Wort - uses
Antidepressant - most effective for mild-moderate depression
(65% of patients show improvement over placebo)
- Improves mood
- Improves sleep
- Reduces anxiety
- Reduces somatic sx
Somatoform disorders (psychological conditions that create or amplify pain and sx that cannot be validated by diagnostic methods)
Good for chronic pain reduction
St John’s Wort - contraindications
Bipolar disorder / manic depression - may trigger mania
St John’s Wort - drug interactions
Antidepressants
Birth Control pills
Blood thinners
Some drugs for cancer, HIV, or seizures
St John’s Wort - side effects
Increased skin photosensitivity Itching / rash HA Sleep disturbance Fatigue
St John’s Wort - pregnancy & lactation
Not enough evidence to determine safety
May increase risk of colic, drowsiness, or lethargy in infant
Garlic - name
Allium sativum
Garlic - plant parts used
Bulb (cloves)
Garlic - active constituents
Allicin and related sulfur compounds (fresh) - cloves must be crushed to activate
Alliin + allinnase = allicin
S-ally cysteine (SAC) (aged garlic extract)
Garlic - MOA cardiovascular (5) and other (2)
Antioxidant (protects LDL) Hypolipidemic Anti hypertensive Anti thrombotic / anti platelet (blood thinning) Anti plaque
Antimicrobial
Anticancer
Garlic - uses
Hyperlipidemia - reduce total LDL and Tg (powder, not extract)
Hypertension - reduce systolic and diastolic pressure (powder not extract)
Atherosclerosis Mgmt - reduce intima-media thickness, plaque volume, and improve aortic elasticity
Garlic - contraindications
Increases bleeding tendency - avoid prior to surgery or with bleeding disorders
Garlic - drug interactions
Isoniazid - TB drug
HIV drugs
Anticoagulants (anti-clotting effects)
Bp drugs (hypotensive effects)
Contraceptives (reduces effectiveness)
Diabetes medications (may reduce fasting glucose)
Garlic - side effects
Breath
Body odor
GI upset
All may be mitigated with enteric-coating
Garlic - pregnancy & lactation
Food sources safe
Only one study of supplementation - no effects found
Garlic passed in breast milk may upset infant stomach
Valerian - name
Valeriana officinalis
Valerian - plant parts used
Root
Valerian - active constituents
Essential oils
Valerenic acid (sesquiterpenes)
Valepotriates (iridoid ester)
Linarin (flavinoid)
Valerian - MOA (3-4)
Potentiation of GABA neuro activity, similar mechanism to sedative medications
- sedative, hypnotic effects
- anxiolytic effects
- anticonvulsant / antispasmodic effects
- counteracts caffeine
- EEG wave pattern changes towards mental relaxation
Kava - name
Piper methysticum
Kava - plant parts used
Rhizome
Kava - active constituents
Kava lactones / kava-pyrones
Kava - MOA (2-4)
Potentiation of GABA neuro activity
- anxiolytic effects
- sedative effects
- possible effects on dopamine / norepinephrine activity
- EEG changes similar to anti-anxiety drugs (no hypnotic effects)
Kava - uses
Anxiety reduction
Mental stress reduction
Improved sleep (found in anxiety studies, not independent studies)
Kava - contraindications
Anesthesia
Kava - drug interactions
- CNS depressants (additional sedative effect)
- Alcohol (additional sedative effect)
- Anti-anxiety medication (benzodiazepines)
- Drugs with potential hepatotoxicity
Kava - side effects
Mental impairment, similar to alcohol - inconclusive evidence
Kava dermopathy (excessive use) - dry, scaly, pigmented skin
Hepatotoxicity - may be due to low quality material, excessive use, use of inappropriate plant parts, non-water solvents - evidence is mixed
Kava - pregnancy & lactation
Not recommended
Valerian - uses
Insomnia
Sleep disturbances - mostly subjective benefits, objective are hard to demonstrate. Hops may improve effect
Anxiety / stress reduction - alone or with passion flower - effects inconsistently demonstrated over placebo
Valerian - drug interactions
Benzodiazapines
CNS depressants (barbiturates, morphine, anesthesia)
Alcohol
Valerian - side effects
GI upset
Allergic reactions
Valerian - pregnancy & lactation
Not enough evidence to support safety
