Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals : Popular #Herbs

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Popular #Herbs - #Eyebright ( Euphrasia)

Eyebright is one of the species of flowering plant, genus Euphrasia, belonging to the family Orobanchaceae, native to Europe. It has been used in traditional and herbal medicine to treat eye infection and to relieve inflammation caused by colds, coughs, sinus infections, sore throats and hay fever.

Health benefits 1. Antioxidant
In the investigation of the methanolic extract of Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne (eyebright) and its methanolic fractions and its antioxidant effects found that glycosilated caffeic acid derivative, exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS assays, IC50: 11.88 microg/ml and 4.24 microg/ml, respectively, which are notable results if compared to the investigated standards. Fractions of flavonoid glycosides proved to have similarly strong, but lower effect, according to "[Antioxidant activity of different phenolic fractions separated from Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne].[Article in Hungarian]" by Blazics B, Alberti A, Kéry A.(1)

2. Antihyperglycemic activity
In the evaluation of the aqueous extract of the leaf of Euphrasia officinale and its effect on blood glucose level found that the treatment of alloxan-induced diabetic rats brought down the raised glucose levels, while the extract was devoid of hypoglycemic effect in normal rats, according to "Antihyperglycemic activity of Euphrasia officinale leaves" by Porchezhian E, Ansari SH, Shreedharan NK.(2)

3. Anti-microbial effect
In the observation of Aqueous, ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of Citrus sinensis L. (Osbeck), Euphrasia officinalis L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Matricaria recutita L., Rosa canina L. and Ruta graveolens L. found that Aqueous exerted the antimycotic activity "in vitro" on strains of Candida albicans isolated from clinical samples obtained in the course of acute vaginitis, accoridng to "In vitro anti-mycotic activity of some medicinal plants containing flavonoids" by

Trovato A, Monforte MT, Forestieri AM, Pizzimenti F.(3)

4. Conjunctivitis
In the investigation of Eye drops made from Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne have been used in anthroposophical medicine and its effectiveness found that Euphrasia single-dose eye drops can effectively and safely be used for various conjunctival conditions by general practitioners and ophthalmologists. A dosage of one drop three times a day seems to be the general prescribed dosage, according to "Prospective cohort trial of Euphrasia single-dose eye drops in conjunctivitis" by Stoss M, Michels C, Peter E, Beutke R, Gorter RW.(4)

5. Cytotoxic effect
In the identification of Aqueous, ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts of Citrus sinensis L. (Osbeck), Euphrasia officinalis L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Matricaria recutita L., Rosa canina L. and Ruta graveolens L. found that They showed a quite significative cytotoxic effect, according to "In vitro cytotoxic effect of some medicinal plants containing flavonoids" by Trovato A, Monforte MT, Rossitto A, Forestieri AM.(5)

6. Capillary electrophoresis
In the analytes in the different parts of Euphrasia regelii by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) found that The levels of analytes in the different parts of Euphrasia regelii were easily determined with recoveries ranging from 95.5 to 104.2% of eukovoside, cinnamic acid and ferulic acid, according to the study of "Identification and determination of effective components in Euphrasia regelii by capillary zone electrophoresis" by Shuya C, Shengda Q, Xingguo C, Zhide H.(6)

7. Etc.

Side effects
1. Eyebright may cause allergic effect
2. Do not use the herb if you are pregnant or breast feeding without approval from the related field specialist
3. Do not use the herb if wear contact lens or have recent eye surgery.
4. Etc.