Petasites

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Petasites
Petasites hybridus inflorescence - Keila.jpg
Petasites hybridus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Senecioneae
Genus: Petasites
Mill.
Synonyms [1] [2]
  • NardosmiaCass.
  • PetasitisMill.
Petasites japonicus Petasites japonicus Russia.JPG
Petasites japonicus

Petasites is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, [3] that are commonly referred to as butterburs [4] [5] [6] and coltsfoots. [7] They are perennial plants with thick, creeping underground rhizomes and large rhubarb-like leaves during the growing season. Most species are native to Asia or southern Europe.

Contents

Taxonomy

The genus name is derived from the Greek word πέτασοςpetasos, from the plant's broad leaves resembling a wide-brimmed hat. [8]

Species

Accepted species [1] [3]
Species of hybrid origin [1]
Species formerly included [1]

Petasites glacialis(Ledeb.) Polunin - Endocellion glaciale(Ledeb.) Toman

Characteristics

The short spikes of flowers are produced just before the leaves in late winter (e.g. Petasites fragrans [4] ) or spring, emerging with only a few elongated basal bracts and are usually green, flesh coloured or dull white depending on the species. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. [9]

Butterbur can be found in parts of Asia such as Korea, China, and Japan, as well as Europe and North America. [10] [11] They prefer moist environments such as riverbanks, marshes and ditches. [7] [12] [13] [14]

Petasites is closely related to the genera Tussilago and Senecio .

Medicinal uses

Butterbur has been used for over 2000 years to treat a variety of ailments including fever, lung disease, spasms, and pain. [12] Currently, butterbur extract is used for migraine prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis, which have the most evidence for its effectiveness. [12] [15] [16]

Migraine

Some butterbur species contain the chemicals petasin and isopetasin which are believed to have potential benefits in treating migraines. [11] High concentrations of petasin occur in both butterbur root and leaves, with the leaves containing lower levels of the toxic chemical. [17] Butterbur extracts have been reported to be effective in reducing frequency and severity of migraine headaches. [11] [12] [15] [18] Several double-blind studies have shown that high doses of Petasites hybridus" extract, containing petasin and/or isopetasin, are effective both in preventing and in relieving migraine, with the best results in groups taking the higher dose of the supplement. [11] [18] Although mainly well tolerated, the adverse effects of butterbur reported in clinical trials include mainly gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea, flatulence, and belching. [19] [18] In 2015, the American Academy of Neurology withdrew its original endorsement of butterbur due to safety concerns. [15] However, the Canadian Headache Society still recommends its use in migraine prevention for a selected number of patients based on their clinical features and co-existing disorders. [20]

Hay fever or allergic rhinitis

Additionally, a study showed butterbur extract to be an effective treatment for hay fever without the sedative effect of the antihistamine cetirizine, if taken four times daily. [21] Butterbur was also shown to be comparably effective as fexofenadine when compared to placebo for reducing symptoms of allergic rhinitis. [22]

Risks

Butterbur extracts may contain harmful components called pyrrolizidine alkaloids if the preparations are not carefully and fully purified. [11] The concentration of the toxic alkaloids is often highest in the rhizomes and lowest in the leaves, and may vary depending on where the plants are grown. [17] These chemicals are toxic to the liver and may cause cancers. [23] [24] Thus, due to the potential for contamination, taking butterbur supplements is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. [19] Some sources say it is safe practice to consume butterbur extract that has been prepared by a reputable laboratory. [11] Other sources say no butterbur product is safe: "The cases of liver toxicity appear to have occurred with extracts of butterbur where the pyrrolizidine alkaloids had been removed and only small amounts remained. There is some evidence that other constituents found in butterbur such as the sesquiterpene constituents for example petasin may be implicated in the liver toxicity". [25] [ unreliable source? ]

Long-term health effects and interaction of butterbur with other drugs have not been well documented. However, it can theoretically interact with certain blood pressure and heart medications, as well as with drugs that can induce a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 (i.e. St. John's wort, carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin); this interaction can potentially lead to increased concentration of the toxic alkaloids. [19]

Related Research Articles

<i>Jacobaea vulgaris</i> Flowering plant, daisy family Asteraceae

Jacobaea vulgaris, syn. Senecio jacobaea, is a very common wild flower in the family Asteraceae that is native to northern Eurasia, usually in dry, open places, and has also been widely distributed as a weed elsewhere.

<i>Crotalaria</i> Genus of legumes

Crotalaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae commonly known as rattlepods. The genus includes over 700 species of herbaceous plants and shrubs. Africa is the continent with the majority of Crotalaria species, which are mainly found in damp grassland, especially in floodplains, depressions and along edges of swamps and rivers, but also in deciduous bush land, roadsides and fields. Some species of Crotalaria are grown as ornamentals. The common name rattlepod or rattlebox is derived from the fact that the seeds become loose in the pod as they mature, and rattle when the pod is shaken. The name derives from the Ancient Greek κρόταλον, meaning "castanet", and is the same root as the name for the rattlesnakes (Crotalus).

<i>Tussilago</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Tussilago farfara, commonly known as coltsfoot, is a plant in the tribe Senecioneae in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe and parts of western and central Asia. The name "tussilago" is derived from the Latin tussis, meaning cough, and ago, meaning to cast or to act on. It has had uses in traditional medicine, but the discovery of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the plant has resulted in liver health concerns.

<i>Petasites frigidus</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Petasites frigidus, the Arctic sweet coltsfoot or Arctic butterbur, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Arctic to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in northern Europe, northern Asia and northern North America.

<i>Petasites hybridus</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Petasites hybridus, also known as the butterbur, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae that is native to Europe and northern Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butalbital</span> Barbiturate drug used for headaches

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pizotifen</span> Drug used to reduce frequency of headaches

Pizotifen (INN) or pizotyline (USAN), trade name Sandomigran, is a benzocycloheptene-based drug used as a medicine, primarily as a preventive to reduce the frequency of recurrent migraine headaches.

<i>Petasites japonicus</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Petasites japonicus, also known as butterbur, giant butterbur, great butterbur and sweet-coltsfoot, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to China, Japan, Korea and Sakhalin and introduced in Europe and North America. It was introduced to southern British Columbia in Canada by Japanese migrants.

<i>Petasites pyrenaicus</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrrolizidine alkaloid</span> Class of chemical compounds

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<i>Ageratum conyzoides</i> Species of plant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antimigraine drug</span> Medication intended to reduce the effects or intensity of migraine headache

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senecionine</span> Chemical compound

Senecionine is a toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid isolated from various botanical sources. It takes its name from the Senecio genus and is produced by many different plants in that genus, including Jacobaea vulgaris. It has also been isolated from several other plants, including Brachyglottis repanda, Emilia, Erechtites hieraciifolius, Petasites, Syneilesis, Crotalaria, Caltha leptosepala, and Castilleja.

Preventive treatment of migraine can be an important component of migraine management. The goals of preventive therapy are to reduce the frequency, painfulness, and/or duration of migraine attacks, and to increase the effectiveness of abortive therapy. Another reason to pursue prevention is to avoid medication overuse headache (MOH), otherwise known as rebound headache, which can arise from overuse of pain medications, and can result in chronic daily headache. Preventive treatments of migraine include medications, nutritional supplements, lifestyle alterations, and surgery. Prevention is recommended in those who have headaches more than two days a week, cannot tolerate the medications used to treat acute attacks, or those with severe attacks that are not easily controlled.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis is a disease caused by chronic poisoning found in humans and other animals caused by ingesting poisonous plants which contain the natural chemical compounds known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis can result in damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, brain, smooth muscles, lungs, DNA, lesions all over the body, and could be a potential cause of cancer. Pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis is known by many other names such as "Pictou Disease" in Canada and "Winton Disease" in New Zealand. Cereal crops and forage crops can sometimes become polluted with pyrrolizidine-containing seeds, resulting in the alkaloids contaminating flour and other foods, including milk from cows feeding on these plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilastine</span> Antihistamine medication

Bilastine is an antihistamine medication used to treat hives (urticaria), allergic rhinitis and itchy inflamed eyes (allergic conjunctivitis) caused by an allergy. It is a second-generation antihistamine and takes effect by selectively inhibiting the histamine H1 receptor, preventing these allergic reactions. Bilastine has an effectiveness similar to cetirizine, fexofenadine, and desloratadine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ze339</span>

Ze339 brand herbal extracts are taken from the leaves of a unique variety (Petzell) of the butterbur plant. Petzell is grown on GAP-managed farms in Europe.

References

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  5. Miller, Philip. 1754. Gardeners Dictionary...Abridged...fourth edition page 1056.
  6. Tropicos, Petasites Mill.
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  14. Altervista Flora Italiana genere Petasites
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