1.
Sources and Composition
1.1
Sources
Paederia foetida (family of Rubiaceae) is a plant from the Central and Eastern Himilayas growing at elevations of 5000m or above, and is called Prasarini in Hindi,[1] Gandhali,[2] and Akar Sekuntut in Malaysia.[3] It has some recorded usage for rheumatoid arthritis and for difficult labors as well as being an aphrodisiac, producing a youthful glow, and to enhance seminal parameters.
It is considered highly aromatic and is sometimes eaten as a culinary dish, either raw or steamed.[3]
1.2
Composition
- Paederine, Paederone, Paederolone, and Paederenine[3]
- Hentriacontane[1]
- Hentriacontanol[1]
- Irioid Glycosides[4]
- Ceryl alcohol[1]
- Methylemercaptan[1]
- Palmitic Acid (dietary fatty acid)[1]
- Ursolic Acid[1]
- Stigmasterol, Campesterol, and Sitosterol[1]
Over 77 components in the volatile oils have been noted.[5]
The phenolic content of fresh leaves can reach 62.64+/-1.32 while raw stems can reach 60.93+/-3.40 (mg/g ferulic acid equivalents); both of which decline upon drying.[3]
2.
Neurology
2.1
Aphrodisia
In sexually mature rats given 50-200mg/kg of the ethanolic extract of Paederia foetida, aphrodisia was confirmed by an increase in mounting frequency (231%) and decrease in mounting latency (31.2%) paired with an increase in intromission frequency (222%) and decrease in intromission latency (21%); all effects were both dose and time dependent, with the peak values (given) being reached with 200mg/kg after 28 days.[1] The aphrodisiac effects (highest dose at 28 days) were comparable to the active control of 0.5mg/kg testosterone (injections) biweekly.[1]
3.
Interactions with Hormones
3.1
Testosterone
An increase in serum testosterone has been noted in otherwise healthy rats given 100-200mg/kg of the ethanolic extract (not 50mg/kg) for 28 days, both of the higher doses appearing to fluctuate in the 4-4.5ng/mL range (value derived from chart) with control slightly below 2ng/L; barely significant increases in testosterone were noted at day 15 in the highest dose group only.[1]
4.
Inflammation and Immunology
4.1
Mechanisms
Paederia foetida appears to have some anti-inflammatory effects as assessed by a granuloma formation test in mice, where injections of 100-200mg/kg Paederua foetida outperformed the active control (100mg/kg phenylbutazone).[6]
5.
Interactions with Oxidation
5.1
Mechanisms
The fresh leaves of Paederia foetida have been shown to have antioxidative potential in vitro with a potency greater than that of Quercetin but less than that of Vitamin E in a beta-carotene oxidation test.[3] Similar trends have been noted in an ABTS free radical test, with the leaves outperforming Quercetin but not surpassing Vitamin C as active control.[3]
6.
Interactions with Organs
6.1
Penis
A study conducted on male rats using 50-200mg/kg of the ethanolic extract for 28 days noted an increase in the penile erection index (PEI) with 100-200mg/kg at day 15 (175%, no dose dependence) and all doses at day 28 (154-289%); both of which outperformed the active control of 0.5mg/kg testosterone biweekly.[1]
6.2
Testes
28 days supplementation of 50-200mg/kg of the ethanolic extract of Paederia foetida was able to increase the weight of the testes (5.9%), epididymus (9.3%) and seminal vesicles (7.9%) with no apparent dose-dependence.[1] Upon histological examination, a slight vasodilatory effect and increased spermatid concentrations were noted in the testes and the Sertoli cells were enlarged and highly processed.[1]
6.3
Prostate
The one rat study using 50-200mg/kg of an ethanolic extract of Paederia foetida for 28 days noted that while there was a trend to increase prostate weight that this increase failed to reach statistical significance; the active control of 0.5mg/kg testosterone biweekly also failed to reach statistical significance.[1]
6.4
Intestines
In a castor-oil induced diarrhea test, 100-500mg/kg of the ethanolic extract of Paederia foetida was able to exert an acute anti-diarrhea effect with 500mg/kg only having significance up to 6 hours.[7] Anti-diarrheal effects were also noted in a Magnesium sulfate test, and tended to decrease intestinal motility induced by Barium Sulphate and Cisplatin.[7]
References
- ^Effect of ethanolic extract of Paederia foetida Linn. leaves on sexual behavior and spermatogenesis in male rats
- ^Srivastava MC, Tewari JP, Kant VAnti-inflammatory activity of an indigenous plant--Paederia foetida (Gandhali)Indian J Med Sci.(1973 Mar)
- ^Osman H, Rahim AA, Isa NM, Bakhir NMAntioxidant activity and phenolic content of Paederia foetida and Syzygium aqueumMolecules.(2009 Mar 3)
- ^Iridoid glycosides and other contstituents of Paederia foetida
- ^Steam volatile constituents of the aerial parts of paederia foetida L
- ^De S, Ravishankar B, Bhavsar GCInvestigation of the anti-inflammatory effects of Paederia foetidaJ Ethnopharmacol.(1994 Jun)
- ^Afroz S, Alamgir M, Khan MT, Jabbar S, Nahar N, Choudhuri MSAntidiarrhoeal activity of the ethanol extract of Paederia foetida Linn. (Rubiaceae)J Ethnopharmacol.(2006 Apr 21)