Blackcurrant
FAMILY: Grossulariaceae.
HABITAT: Native to central and southern Europe, in mid-mountain areas with a rather humid continental climate.
USED PART: buds and young, non-woody shoots.
RECOMMENDED PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION: macerate glycerinate, whose daily dose is 1.2 -1.5 drops/kg, divided into two administrations, one in the morning upon waking and the other in the early afternoon. Also valid is the dry extract titrated in rutin min. 1%, whose daily dose is 8-10 mg/kg, divided into two administrations, one in the morning upon waking and the other in the early afternoon.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: the main ingredients are anthocyanosides, both dimers and trimers called prodelfinidines. It also contains numerous flavonoids, the most important of which are hyperoside, rutin, astragaloside, quercetin and kempferol rhamnoglucosides and glucosylosides. Organic acids, diterpenic acids, vitamin C and numerous mineral salts are also present. A small amount of essential oil is also found.
THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES:
Anti-inflammatory action: is known for its anti-inflammatory, antialgic and anti-allergic properties. They are partly related to its cortisone-like action due to a direct stimulus on the adrenal cortex, resulting in increased production of adrenal steroids. It is also able to bind to receptors for deoxycorticosterone (DOCA), a corticosteroid produced by the adrenal gland, thus enhancing its effects.
Anti-radical action: flavonoids and anthocyanosides have been noted to be good free radical antagonists. Flavonoids, and with them many phenols (especially tocopherols), react with free radicals, thus preventing degradation due to their intense reactivity at the phospholipids of the cell membrane. In particular, it has been shown that the anthocyanins and polyphenols present in blackcurrants have a strong inhibitory action against free radicals.
- A clinical study showed that currant nigrum reduced oxidative stress due tointense exercise by decreasing levels of altered proteins and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF alpha and IL6 after intense and prolonged exercise in a group of healthy volunteers. This effect remained evident until about 24 hours after the extract was administered. Incubating muscle cells from these subjects with hydrogen peroxide (a strong generator of free radicals) before they were exposed to the blackcurrant extract showed a significant increase in the secretion of inflammatory cytokines after 24 hours, which was not noticeable when the cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide and extract at the same time. The study indicates that a currant nigrum extract can alleviate oxidative stress caused by exercise in humans.
SIDE EFFECTS: may increase blood pressure due to its cortisone-like action, so it should be used with caution in the hypertensive patient.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: caution in patients with severe arterial hypertension. As a precaution, it should not be used during pregnancy and nursing. It can be used in children from 3-4 years of age.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: not known to date.
It can be found in imoviral®