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What is ST JOHN'S WORT?

Identification name: Hypericum perforatum L.

Family: Hypericaceae

Habitat: native to Europe, Asia, North Africa.

Medicinal parts: aerial parts, flowering tops

Key chemical constituents: it contains flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, essential oil, sterols, vitamin C, vitamin A, xanthones, choline. Specifically, hyperforin is antidepressant; hypericin is antidepressant, antiviral, antineoplastic, immunostimulant, phototoxic; rutin is antioxidant; quercetin is antibacterial, antioxidant, antineoplastic, radical scavenger.

Properties and uses: it is antidepressant, anxiolytic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, anticancer. It is used for mild to moderate depression, menopause, wound healing.

Curiosity: to recognize it just look at the small leaves against light, and you immediately notice the numerous transparent dots, similar to many small holes, of which they are sprinkled and from which it acquires the name of perforatum. Traditionally used to treat ulcers,

burns, wounds, abdominal pains, bacterial diseases.

Caution: SJW decreases the plasma concentrations of alprazolam, amitriptyline, cyclosporine, dextrometorphane, digoxin, indinavir, irinotecan, oral contraceptives, phenprocoumon, simvastatin, and warfarin. Photosensitivity skin reaction to sunlight.

What is TURMERIC?

Identification name: Curcuma longa L.

Family: Zingiberaceae

Habitat: native to India and Indonesia

Medicinal part: dried rhizome

Key chemical constituents: it contains phenolic curcuminoids, sesquiterpenes, sugars, resins, protein, vitamins, minerals. Specifically, curcumin is anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antifungal, nutraceutical, antineoplastic, radical scavenger, contraceptive, flavoring agent.

Properties and uses: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypolipidaemic, choleretic, cholagogue, antimicrobial, carminative, depurative, anticarcinogenic,

antitumour, radioprotective, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective,

nephroprotective, cardioprotective, vasoprotective. Used for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, osteoarthritis,

precancerous conditions, pancreatitis.

Curiosity: turmeric was firstly cultivated as a dye, then as a condiment and cosmetic. It is often used as a cheap substitute for saffron in cooking. Traditionally used as stomachic, tonic, blood purifier, poor digestion, fevers, skin conditions, vomiting in pregnancy, liver disorders.

Caution: it can cause nausea and diarrhea.

What is SAFFRON?

Identification name: Crocus sativus L.

Family: Iridaceae

Habitat: native to Greece or Iran

Medicinal parts: dried stigma and petal

Key chemical constituents: it contains carotenoids, flavonoids, monoterpene aldehydes, monoterpenoids, volatile oil, pigments, Vitamins B1 and B2. Specifically, crocetin is nutraceutical, antifatigue, antioxidant; crocin is antioxidant and food coloring; zeaxanthin is antioxidant; safranal.

Properties and uses: it is antidepressant, neuroprotective, anticancer emmenagogue. It is used to treat depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, male infertility, dysmenorrhea, psoriasis, dry skin, food coloring.

Curiosity: the genus crocus consists of about 90 species.

Caution: avoid in pregnancy. The corms are toxic to young animals.

What is LAVENDER

Identification name: Lavandula officinalis L.

Family: Lamiaceae

Habitat: native to Mediterranean regions like Italy, France, Spain, Andorra.

Medicinal parts: flower, leaf, stem

Key chemical constituents: it contains essential oil, tannins, phenols. Specifically, linalool is antimicrobial; cineole is anti-inflammatory.

Properties and uses: it is sedative, anxiolytic, antiseptic, antibacterial, antineoplastic. It is used for generalized anxiety, depression, insomnia, dementia, alopecia areata.

Curiosity: traditionally used to scent bed linen and to protect stored clothes from moths. In ancient Rome, lavender was used as a bath additive. During the Middle Ages, lavender was used in perfumes and soap making.

Caution: it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, constipation, contact dermatitis. It can potentiate the effects of sedatives.

What is ASHWAGANDHA?

Identification name: Withania somnifera L.

Family: Solanaceae

Habitat: native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Africa.

Medicinal parts: leaf, bark, root, berry

Key chemical constituents: it contains lactones, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, sitoindosides, iron, choline, coumarins. Specifically, withaferin A is antineoplastic; tropine, pseudotropine.

Properties and uses: it is adaptogen, antitumor, tonic, glucocorticoid-like anti-inflammatory, mild sedative. It is used for generalized anxiety, stress adaptation, cancer therapy.

Curiosity: traditionally used for asthma, bronchitis, psoriasis, arthritis, rheumatic pains, insomnia, senile debility, promotion of conception, antidote to snakebites.

Caution: in large doses it can cause gastrointestinal upset, diarrhoea, vomiting. Avoid in pregnancy, hyperthyroidism.

In 2019 a taskforce with expertise in psychiatry and traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine agreed on a set of guidelines for the use of plants by health professionals.

They accepted to clearly recommend ST JOHN'S WORT for mild and moderate depression.

They accepted to tentatively recommend SAFFRON and CURCUMIN for mild and moderate depression.

They tentatively recommend LAVENDER and ASHWAGANDHA for generalized anxiety.

References

Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epub/10.1080/15622975.2021.2013041

Goozee, K. G., et al. "Examining the potential clinical value of curcumin in the prevention and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease." British Journal of Nutrition 115.3 (2016): 449-465.

Braun, Lesley, and Marc Cohen. Herbs & Natural Supplements: an Evidence-Based Guide. Volume 2. 4th ed., Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2015.

Bone, Kerry, and Simon Mills. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. 2nd ed., 2013.

Pizzorno, Joseph E., and Michael T. Murray. Textbook of Natural Medicine. 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, 2013.

Sharma, Monika, and Subash Sahu. Gallery of Medicinal Plants: (Dravyaguna Vigyan). Thieme, 2022.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 969516, Curcumin" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Curcumin. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5280805, Rutin" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Rutin. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5280343, Quercetin" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Quercetin. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5281232, Crocetin" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Crocetin. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5281233, Crocin" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Crocin. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5280899, Zeaxanthin" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Zeaxanthin. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 6549, Linalool" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Linalool. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 2758, Eucalyptol" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Eucalyptol. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 6989, Thymol" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Thymol. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "PubChem Compound Summary for CID 265237, Withaferin A" PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Withaferin-A. Accessed 17 June, 2023.

Winston, David, and Steven Maimes. Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Healing Arts Press, 2007.