GUMPLANT

Description

It is a herbaceous plant that has semi-amplexicaules leaves, rigid, toothed, glossy and presenting on the underside, a characteristic network formed by the secondary nerves. The inflorescences are heterogamous chapters of orange-yellow color, surrounded by an involucre of imbricate bracts, coriaceous and endowed with curved spines, lustrous and covered with small lenticular incrustations of brown resin.

Part used

The flowering tops.

Active principles

• Oleoresin (10-20%).
• Resin rich in sesquiterpenes (beta-farnesene, germacranene, alpha-humulene, bisabolene) and diterpenes (grindelic acid).
• Essential oil: pinenes, terpineol.
• Phenolic acids: p-hydroxybenzoyl, vanillic, p-coumarinic, caffeic, chlorogenic, ferulic.
• Flavonoids: quercetol, luteololol, kaenferol.
• Saponins: grindelin.
• Others: phytosterols (grindelol), mucilages, fatty acids, ceryl alcohol, an alkaloid (grindelin), gallic tannins and acetylenic derivatives (matricarianol, matricaria ester).

Pharmacological action

• Antispasmodic of respiratory and digestive tract (phenolic acids, flavonoids).
• Expectorant (saponins).
• Antitussive and balsamic (saponins, mucilages).
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Anti-asthmatic.
• Bactericidal, especially against Diplococus pneumoniae and Bordetella Pertosis (resin, phenolic acids, flavonoids).
• Vitamin P action (increases capillary resistance and decreases its permeability).
• Antirheumatic (flavonoid derivatives).

Indications

• Respiratory conditions: asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, pulmonary emphysema, irritative cough, etc.
• Gastrointestinal spasms.
• Rheumatic processes.
• Varicose veins, capillary fragility.
• In external use it is used in contact dermatitis caused by Toxicodendron sp.

Contraindications

Not described.

Precautions

Not described.

Side effects and toxicity

Rarely produces irritation of the gastric mucosa.

Overdosage

Not described.

Studies

The resinous fraction of grindelia has been found to be active, in vitro, against Diplococus pneumoniae and Bordetella pertosis.

Kreutzer S, Schimmer O, Waibel R. Institut fur Botanik und Pharmazeutische Biologie der Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg, Federal Republic of Germany. Triterpenoid sapogenins in the genus Grindelia. [Article in German]. Planta Med. 1990 Aug;56(4):392-4. PMID: 2236296 [PubMed-indexed for MEDLINE].

Clinical studies on its composition:

Pinkas M, Didry N, Torck M, Bezanger L, Cazin JC. Phenolic components from some species of Grindelia. Ann Pharm Fr. 1978;36(3-4):97-104. PMID: 686629 [PubMed-indexed for MEDLINE].

Forliard N. Chemical composition of Grindelia herbs. J Pharm Belg. 1969 Sep-Oct;24(9):397-414. PMID: 5363670 [PubMed-indexed for MEDLINE].

Bibliography

Benigni, R; Capra, C; Cattorini, P. Piante Medicinali. Chimica, Farmacologia e Terapia. Milano: Inverni & Della Beffa, 1962, pp. 706-8.

Bézanger-Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M. Les Plantes dans la Therapeutique Moderne. 2ª. Paris: Maloine, 1986, pp. 237-8.

Bézanger-Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M; Trotin, F. Plantes Médicinales des Regions Tempérées. Paris: Maloine, 1980, pp. 400-1.

Bruneton, J. Elementos de Fitoquímica y Farmacognosia. Zaragoza: Acribia, 1991, p. 294.

Fernández, M; Nieto, A. Plantas Medicinales. Pamplona: Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, 1982, p. 92.

Paris, RR; Moyse, M. Précis de Matière Médicale. Tome III. Paris: Masson, 1971, p. 431.

Peris, JB; Stübing, G; Vanaclocha, B. Fitoterapia Aplicada. Valencia: M.I. Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos, 1995, p. 301.

Trease, GE; Evans, WCh. Farmacognosia. México D.F.: Interamericana--MacGraw-Hill, 1991, p. 516.

Van Hellemont, J. Compendium de Phytotherapie. Bruxelles: Association Pharmaceutique Belge, 1986, pp. 186-7.