PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Tuberculo fresco (tiene 2 y el otro es arrugado y seco, usar el fresco), hojas frescas.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Emoliente, antidiarreico, tónico, nutritivo, antiinflamatorio.

POSOLOGÍA= Posology: Inflamaciones intestinales. Cocer 30 g de tubérculo fresco o 10 g del seco en 1 litro de agua durante 10 minutos. Dejar reposar durante 10 minutos. Tomar el litro de liquido durante el día. También se puede preparar la receta con medio litro de agua. Este remedio se empleaba cuando se sufrían trastornos de diarrea o disentería y se permanecía convaleciente.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: Mucílago, Almidón, albúmina, azúcar.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Caminos de Santiago.

ÚLTIMOS AVANCES EN LA QUÍMICA Y ACTIVIDADES BACTERIOLÓGICAS EN LAS PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants, last advances on chemistry and bacteria activities on the medicinal herbs

The objective of this study was to investigate the possible mode(s) of action for the medicinal use of Orchis mascula (OM) (family Orchidaceae) in hypertension and dyslipidemia.  In spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), OM significantly (P<0.05) reduced systolic blood pressure to 174.2+/-9.63 vs. 203.4+/-7.13 mm Hg (mean+/-s.e.m.; n=7-10) and improved endothelial dysfunction by increasing acetylcholine-induced relaxation.  In normotensive anesthetized rats, the crude extract of OM (Om.Cr) at 10 and 30 mg kg(-1) caused a dose-dependent attenuation of mean arterial pressure.  OM also decreased serum triglycerides to 29.28+/-6.99 vs. 93.84+/-5.7 mg per 100 ml (P<0.001), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol to 5.99+/-1.27 vs. 21.9+/-3.5 mg per 100 ml (P<0.05) and atherogenic index to 0.096+/-0.017 vs. 0.36+/-0.08 mg per 100 ml (P<0.05).  OM significantly reduced lipid levels in tyloxapol and high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia.  In a second model, OM also reduced gain in body weight with a reduction in daily diet consumption.  In isolated rabbit aorta, Om.Cr caused concentration-dependent relaxation of both phenylephrine and high K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions and a rightward shift of the calcium concentration-response curves similar to the effect seen with verapamil.  In conclusion, OM shows antihypertensive and endothelial-modulating effects mediated through multiple pathways that include direct vasodilation by calcium channel blockade and reduction of plasma lipids by inhibition of biosynthesis, absorption and secretion.  This study rationalizes the medicinal use of OM in hypertension and dyslipidemia.  However, further studies are required to identify the active constituents of this plant.

1) ALFARO, Txumari, Plantas y remedios naturales de los caminos de santiago. Barcelona: B.S.A. 2008, p. 204.

2) AZIZ, Nauman, et al. Antihypertensive, antidyslipidemic and endothelial modulating activities of Orchis mascula.  Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension. 2009, vol.32, nº11, p.997-1003.