Inflammation and Anti-inflammatories
Inflammation is a defense process of the organism, aimed at hindering the agents responsible for an injury (pathogens, toxins, burns, trauma, etc.), starting at the same time a reparative process.
The inflammation is recognizable by the onset of 5 phenomena: redness, increase in temperature, pain, swelling and reduced functionality.
Inflammations are not all the same; for example, there are acute and chronic ones. This is a very large topic that we will not cover in this article; therefore, for more information on inflammation, see the dedicated article by clicking here.
Sometimes, the inflammation becomes excessive and ends up compromising both the operative capacity of the subject and the integrity of the tissues themselves (which are affected by this phenomenon and can deteriorate). Here the inflammation can be reduced / hindered by taking products that contain specific active ingredients. These can be classified into: drugs (of synthetic origin) and natural products (leaves, flowers, roots, stolomas, animals or parts of them, algae, etc.) .
Among the drugs we mention steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (cortisone or corticosteroids) and non-steroidal drugs (NSAIDs, such as salicylates, para-aminophenols, etc.). As for natural products, however, we refer the reading to the next paragraph.
Natural anti-inflammatories
PREMISE
Some products or their active ingredients can enter into metabolic conflict with possible drug therapies. Furthermore, it cannot be excluded that some of these, in their drugs or in other parts, may hide potentially harmful molecules. Before using it, it is necessary to consult the pharmacist and the attending physician.
The following drugs will be described briefly, neglecting many details of purely scientific interest.
What many do not know is that most drugs are obtained from natural substrates or their derivatives. Not surprisingly, both in western herbal medicine and in oriental medicines (Chinese, ayurveda, Japanese or kampo, etc.), there are many other remedies that use the same chemical elements. Usually, especially the form (foods, spices, flowers, roots, leaves, etc.) and the concentration of the drug or drug it contains.
Lately, we hear a lot about foods (eg pineapple) that have a hypothetical anti-inflammatory function; however, the first question the reader should ask is: "To what extent and with what dosages would the food have an anti-inflammatory effect?"
Precisely for this reason, instead of listing the “hottest” products, we will first of all mention the most effective ones (with a few hints of pharmacopoeia).
Licorice
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Fabaceae family) is a perennial herbaceous plant that lives in Eastern and Southern Europe, and in Central Western Asia; it is sporadic in the Italian coastal area, where it is cultivated in Abruzzo and Calabria.
The licorice drug is made up of dried roots and stolons (often available undocked). Licorice has a gray-brown outer surface, with evident longitudinal streaks and few rootlets or scars on the branches. The flavor is characteristic, sweet, then acrid and bitter.
The active ingredients are the triterpene saponins (glycyrrhizin), i flavonoids, L"starch they simple sugars (glucose, sucrose and mannitol).
The prevalent use of licorice is for anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and expectorant purposes, thanks to the triterpene saponins, which - together with the flavonoids - also play an antibacterial and gastric protective role. In association with anthraquinone drugs, the triterpene saponins of licorice also manifest a laxative role.
The most serious drawbacks of the consumption of licorice are related to the potential hypertensive effect and edema due to sodium retention (if taken for long periods).
In pharmacies, licorice is often used as a corrective to flavor, bechico, expectorant, against heartburn, gastritis and gastric ulcers. It lends itself to the preparation of refreshing and tonic drinks (eg dark beer).
Licorice is not recommended in combination with digitalis drugs (cardiokinetics) or during pregnancy.
Arnica
L "Arnica (Arnica montana, family Asteraceae) is a perennial herbaceous plant that colonizes the Alpine and Apennine ranges; in Italy it is considered a protected species.
The arnica drug consists of its flower heads (rich in terpenes) and its mother tincture.
Its active ingredients are terpenoids (elenalina) And flavonoids (isoquercitrin, astragalin, luteolin-7-glycoside) and a volatile oil.
The main uses of arnica are mainly external and based on mother tincture, as a local anti-inflammatory and tonic of the peripheral circulation.
For centuries, it has been used against sprains, bruises, wounds and to mask chilblains. Arnica is also known for its antirheumatic and antineuralgic effects.
Common or German Chamomile
German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla, family Asteraceae) is an annual herbaceous plant, widespread throughout Europe in places characterized by uncultivated land.
The German chamomile drug consists of its flower heads with empty receptacles (flower tops).
The active ingredients are the "essential oil (consisting of bisabolol, chamazulene), i flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercitrin) and the coumarins.
The main use of German chamomile is as a local anti-inflammatory for the skin and oral cavity (action ascribed to bisabolol), and as an antispasmodic in gastrointestinal disorders, thanks to the hydrophilic component in apigenin and other flavonoids.
Among the side effects, someone (but rarely) has accused an allergy to coumarins.
Roman Chamomile
Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile, family Asteraceae) is a perennial and pubescent herbaceous plant.
Its drug consists of flower heads with a full receptacle.
The active ingredients of Roman chamomile are i polyphenols (derivatives of "cinnamic, caffeic, ferulic acid), the coumarins, flavonoids (apigenin, quercitrin, luteolin), the "essential oil (angelic, tiglic and crotonic acid etc.), i monoterpenes (cineole And pinene) they azulenes.
The main uses of this plant are comparable to those of the German chamomile; therefore spasmolytic for gastrointestinal disorders and anti-inflammatory for the skin and oral cavity.Also known is its use in sleep disorders, perhaps supported by the presence of benzodiazepine-like molecules.
Milk thistle
The milk thistle (Silybum marianum, Asteraceae family) is a biennial herbaceous plant widespread throughout the Mediterranean region.
Its drug is constituted by the fruits (achenes) deprived of the pappus and obtained by beating the flowering tops; however, even the latter are used in dried form (although they are not a real pharmacopoeia drug). NB. The drug must not have a rancid smell or taste.
The active ingredients of milk thistle are contained in its lipid fraction, mainly composed of oleic acid And linoleic, but also characterized by flavonoid glycosides present in the integuments (silybin, silidianin, silicristin in the ratio 3: 1: 1, which form the so-called silymarin) and derivatives polymerized flavonoids.
The main uses of milk thistle mainly refer to the flavonoid component, and exploit the hepatoprotective action (action at the level of the hepatocyte membranes), stimulating on hepatocytic proliferation, diuretic and pro-digestive.
Furthermore, milk thistle also plays an important role in the treatment of skin disorders, thanks to the anti-inflammatory action of its compounds related to membrane phospholipids.
All Sources of Omega 3
Omega 3 is a group of essential fatty acids which includes: alpha linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and ecosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
The foods that contain them (such as oily fish, krill, many oil seeds, algae and related oils) contribute to reaching the recommended ration of these molecules, which are lacking in most of the population.
Omega 3s have several metabolic roles, including: they reduce bad cholesterol, triglyceridemia, excess blood pressure, complications related to type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular risk and tendency to systemic inflammation.
In particular, omega 3s attenuate the inflammatory reactions that are the basis of atherosclerosis, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
They are also adjuvants in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin diseases; they seem to have an anticarcinogenic effect, and facilitate the immune and anti-inflammatory response in case of wounds.
The most active chemical forms are DHA and EPA, very concentrated in oils of marine origin (cod liver oil, fish oil in general, krill oil, algae oil, etc.).
Other Natural Anti-inflammatories
Other less relevant natural inflammatories are:
- Horse chestnut: fruits of the "Aesculus hippocastanum, contain triterpene saponins (escin), flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin and rutin), coumarins And tannins. The therapeutic properties of horse chestnut are anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, anti-exudative and venotonic. Possible (but rare) side effects may involve: itching and gastric disturbances.
- Butcher's broom: rhizome of Ruscus aculeatus, contains steroid saponins (ruscogenin And neoruscogenin), flavonoids, benzofuranodic derivatives and little essential oil. Its properties are above all anti-dilating of venous vessels, anti-inflammatory and decontracting. Useful for use in chronic venous insufficiency (IVC).
- Centella: leaves, petioles and stolomas of the Gotu kola, contain triterpene saponins (asiaticoside, madecassoside, Asian acid, centelloside etc), flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol etc. etc. It has many properties, including anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the synthesis of prostanoids (intermediates of the inflammatory process).
- Devil's claw
- Turmeric
Bibliography:
- Pharmacognosy: Botany, chemistry and pharmacology of medicinal plants - Francesco Capasso, R. De Pasquale, G, Grandolini - Springer - pag. 157: 159; 185-186; 213: 219.
