Pfaffia paniculata herb health benefit
Pfaffia paniculata is known as Brazilian ginseng and is used to improve energy level and vitality. There is very little human research with this herb, and our knowledge regarding the clinical uses of Pfaffia paniculata is in its infancy. See also suma herb information. Pfaffia paniculata is the botanical name for suma herb.
Pfaffia paniculataas
research
Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng) methanolic extract reduces angiogenesis
in mice.
Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2007 Aug;58(6):427-31. Laboratory of Experimental Oncology,
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny,
University of São Paulo, Av Prof Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva, São Paulo, SP,
Brazil.
Pfaffia paniculata roots have been indicated for the treatment of several
diseases. Our studies have shown that Pfaffia paniculata roots
present antineoplastic effects and cancer chemopreventive activity in a mouse
liver cancer model. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of
Pfaffia paniculata on corneal angiogenesis in mice. We first
conducted a toxicological study employing 250, 500, or 1000mg/kg/day of the methanolic
extract of Pfaffia paniculata roots by gavage to BALB/c mice. Animals did
not lose weight during the treatment nor presented histopathological
alterations. Male mice were treated, by gavage, once a day, with
doses of 250, 500, or 1000mg/kg of methanolic extract of Pfaffia paniculata
powdered root for 10 days; filtered water was used as control. Corneal
cauterization was accomplished by the contact of a silver nitrate crystal on the
central area of the cornea, in the 5th day of treatment with Pfaffia paniculata, which continued
thereafter; the animals were euthanized on the 6th day after cauterization.
Newly formed blood vessels were filled with India ink, and the corneas were
routinely processed.
A smaller total area of neovascularization in the mouse cornea was observed in
animals treated with 1000mg/kg of the methanolic extract of Pfaffia paniculata. These
results indicate an antiangiogenic effect of this extract. The mechanisms of
this antiangiogenic activity of Pfaffia paniculata should be further investigated.
Effects of Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng)
extract on macrophage activity.
Life Sci. 2006 Feb 16;78(12):1287-92. Laboratory of Experimental
Oncology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, University of São Paulo,
São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
The roots of Pfaffia paniculata have been indicated for the treatment of several
diseases and as an analgesic and antiinflamatory drug. The aim of this study was
to investigate experimentally the effects of the methanolic extract of P.
paniculata roots on macrophage activity. Male mice received, by gavage, once a
day, different doses (100, 250, or 500 mg/kg) of the methanolic extract of
Pfaffia paniculata or filtered water, as control, for 10 days. Macrophage
activity was evaluated through the phagocytosis index (PI), spreading index (SI),
production of peroxide oxigen and nitric oxide. The peritoneal cells were
activated with ip inoculation of Ehrlich ascitic cells, 24 h before the
macrophage harvesting. The methanolic extract raised significantly the SI of
mice from group of 500 mg/kg in comparison with the control group and group of
100 mg/kg. This raise of SI possibly induced the higher phagocytic activity
observed in the experimental situation. Increased macrophage activity may be one
of the effects contributing to inhibition of the Ehrlich ascitic tumor growth in
mice.
Antineoplastic effects of butanolic residue of
Pfaffia paniculata.
Cancer Lett. 2006 Jul 8;238(1):85-9. Departamento de Patologia,
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av.
Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 05508-900, São Paulo-SP, Brazil.
We have previously reported a reduction in the accumulation of ascitic fluid in
Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice following treatment with the powdered roots of
Pfaffia paniculata. The aim of this study was to investigate which extracts from
these roots presented antineoplastic properties. Thus, the effects of the
ethanolic extract, butanolic residue, or aqueous residue from Pfaffia paniculata
on animal survival and tumor growth in mice bearing this tumor were studied.
Butanolic residue-treated mice survived longer than untreated mice. This result
points to an antineoplastic effect exerted by the butanolic fraction from the
roots of Pfaffia paniculata on this tumor model.
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