PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Rizoma, raíz.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Anticatarral, béquico, expectorante.

POSOLOGÍA= Posology: Alcohol de 60 grados y enula 40gr (tintura). Para uso interno, se recomiendan 3 cucharadas al día disueltas en una taza de agua tibia.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Argentina.

DIVERSIDAD GENÉTICA Y MEJORAMIENTO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants and improvement of medicinal herbs
 

1) In this work we report results regarding the in vitro antimicrobial activity of Inula helenium L. dried root exts. obtained by stepwise supercrit. fluid extn. (SFE) and by hydrodistn. (HD).  The essential oil of the roots of I. helenium L. consisted mainly of alantolactone, isoalantolactone and 3-elemene.  HD and SFE oil exts. showed clear activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and an Enterococcus faecium clin. strain resistant to ampicillin, erythromycin, penicillin and tetracycline (MIC>0.03mg/mL); Staphylococcus epidermidis was susceptible to 3.7 mg/mL of HD-extd. oil and to 14.8 mg/mL of SFE-extd. oil; the strain was isolated from a nasal swab and was resistant to ampicillin, cefalothin, erythromycin, gentamicin, tetracycline and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.  Aeromonas sobria was resistant to ampicillin (0.192 mg/mL) and gentamicin (0.125 mg/mL).  Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the least susceptible to I. helenium oil, with a MIC of 14.8 mg/mL.  Candida strains were the most susceptible to I. helenium oil, with MIC values ranging from 0.009 mg/mL to 0.12 mg/mL.  The best antimicrobial activity of essential oil extd. by HD could be due to the presence of the main constituents alantolactone and isoalantolactone.  Furthermore, the most interesting activity of HD oil was against Candida spp., thus the oil may be useful in the clin. management of fungal infections.  However, further studies on various fractions as well as clin. trials are required for prepg. a possible phytoformulation to combat candidiasis.

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


1) The larvicidal activities of 3 sesquiterpenes, alantolactone, isoalantolactone and dihydroisoalantolactone, isolated from the roots of Inula helenium (Compositae) against 3rd and 4th instars of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Paratanytarsus grimmii (Diptera: Chironomidae), were examd.  The two sesquiterpenes, alantolactone and isoalantolactone, showed LC50 values of 2.7 mg/mL and 11.9 mg/mL for A. albopictus, and 5.1 mg/mL and 4.1 mg/mL for P. grimmii within 48 h, resp.  Alantolactone was significantly more toxic than isoalantolactone against A. albopictus; however, dihydroisoalantolactone did not entirely show lethal effects against the larvae of both species at a concn. of 1,000 mg/mL.
 
2) The present study aims to investigate the bactericidal activity (specifically antistaphylococcal) of Inula helenium.  The antimicrobial activity of the extract is tested against 200 clinically significant Irish Staphylococcus aureus isolates consisting of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and -sensitive (MSSA) S. aureus using a drop test method and a microbroth dilution method.  The antibacterial effect is evaluated by measuring the area of the inhibition zone against the isolates.  Results proved I. helenium to be 100% effective against the 200 staphylococci tested, with 93% of isolates falling within the ++ and +++ groups.  The minimum bactericidal concentration of I. helenium was examined on a subset of isolates and values ranged from 0.9 mg/mL to 9.0 mg/mL.  The extract was equally effective against antibiotic-resistant and -sensitive strains.  This plant therefore possesses compounds with potent antistaphylococcal properties, which in the future could be used to complement infection control policies and prevent staphylococcal infection and carriage.  This research supports other studies wherein herbal plants exhibiting medicinal properties are being examined to overcome the problems of antibiotic resistance and to offer alternatives in the treatment and control of infectious diseases.

Patente extraída del Chemical Abstracts= Extracted patent of the Database Chemical Abstracts
 
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compositions with Inula helenium extract and water soluble chitosan.      You, Hyung Ja; Seo, Sang Bong; Seo, Chan Seok.  (Jakwang Co., Ltd., S. Korea).    U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ.  (2002),     10 pp.  CODEN: USXXCO  US  20020155175  A1  20021024  Patent  written in English.    Application: US  2001-866738  20010530.  Priority: KR  2001-6226  20010208.  CAN 140:8782    AN 2003:1004600    CAPLUS   (Copyright (C) 2011 ACS on SciFinder (R))  

The present invention relates to a natural cell control carrier, more specifically to a natural cell control carrier contg. water-sol. chitosan (HFP) and Elecampane (I. Helenium L.) ext., which solves problems of conventional synthesized antibacterial agents and provides various superior properties, improved antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory effect with a broad antibacterial spectrum, so that it can be used for food, cosmetics and medicine.  A lotion contained DL-panthenol 0.20, betaine 4.00, ethoxydiglycol 0.50, Me gluceth-20 0.80, PEG/PPG 1.00, glycerin 1.50, chitosan/Elecampane ext. (3:1) 5.00, EtOH 7.00, PPG-26/PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil 0.20, and water qs to 100%.

By legend, Helen of Troy was holding this plant when she went off with Paris, ergo the species name I. helenium. Or, perhaps it was named for the island Helena where it was known to grow abundantly. The plant has been used at least since Roman times to treat lung problems in humans and horses. The root contains a mucilaginous substance, inulin, that is useful in relieving coughs by soothing the bronchial linings. Inulin was first isolated from the plant in Germany in 1804. Another plant component called alantolactone shows some action against the bacillus that causes tuberculosis according to German research in 1999, and it had been used in the past as a treatment for TB. Inula extract has proven useful in treating the nausea and vomiting brought on by chemotherapy.

Part used::
Roots, Rhizomes

Origin:
Europe, Asia

1) CONSELL, Danilo M. Enciclopedia de plantas que curan. Buenos Aires: Ediliba, 1987. 2 volúmenes. p.

2) DERIU, Antonella, et al. Antimicrobial activity of Inula helenium L. essential oil against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Candida spp. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 2008, vol.31, nº6, p.588-590.
 
3) KONISHI, Tenji; KONDO, Shigeo; UCHIYAMA, Nahoko. Larvicidal activities of sesquiterpenes from Inula helenium (Compositae) against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Paratanytarsus grimmii (Diptera: Chironomidae).  Applied Entomology and Zoology. 2008, vol.43, nº1, p.77-81.
 
4) O´SHEA, S; LUCEY, B; COTTER, L. In vitro activity of Inula helenium against clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains including MRSA.  British journal of biomedical science. 2009, vol.66, nº4, p.186-189.

5) Hull, Kathleen; Photog. Hull, Meredith /Indiana Medical History Museum: Guide to the Medicinal Plant Garden./ USA: Indiana Medical History Museum. 2010. -- p. 58.