POMERANIAN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IN SZCZECIN
Research on the pharmacological properties of willow extracts standardized to salicin.
The research was conducted by Prof. Leonidas Samochowiec and Dr. Alina Glinko, MD.
The research was conducted at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and compared the effects of two substances: acetylsalicylic acid (popularly known as “aspirin”) and willow bark extract standardized to 13% salicin content.
At this point, we need to refer to history. “Aspirin,” or acetylsalicylic acid, was invented over 100 years ago in the laboratories of the Bayer company. A metabolic product of the liver, salicylic acid, was synthesized there. The body naturally produces this acid from the supplied salicin, the best source of which is willow bark. Consequently, since 1935, a synthetically produced substitute for the natural substance has been available on the market. Unfortunately, the use of this substitute carries the problem of side effects.
Now let’s return to the research conducted in Szczecin. Prof. Samochowiec and Dr. Glinko compared the effects of the synthetic and natural substances in their study. The results turned out to be very surprising!
Methodology:
In the study, carrageenan-induced edema, i.e., inflammation of the hind paw, was induced in Wistar rats. 70 animals were randomly divided into groups of 10 individuals each.
Groups 1-3 received acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) solution at doses of 100, 300, and 600 mg/kg. Groups 4-6 received a water solution of willow bark extract (ES), standardized to 13% salicin, at doses of 60, 100, and 120 mg/kg. Group 7 received distilled water as a control.
One hour after administering the drugs, a 0.1 ml solution of 1% aqueous carrageenan was injected subcutaneously into the plantar surface of the right hind paw of the animals. The volume of the right hind paw of each rat was measured using a plethysmometer three times: a. immediately after the carrageenan solution was administered, b. 1 hour after the carrageenan solution was administered, c. 3 hours after the carrageenan solution was administered. Changes in the volume of the right hind paw of the animals in the experimental groups were compared with the corresponding increase in volume in Group 7 – the control group.
⏱ Results:
INHIBITION OF INFLAMMATORY STATE AFTER 1 HOUR
INHIBITION OF INFLAMMATORY STATE AFTER 3 HOURS
The conducted studies demonstrated a comparable scope and strength of therapeutic action of willow bark extract to “aspirin,” and even greater effectiveness in anti-inflammatory and analgesic action, especially when compared to high doses of acetylsalicylic acid, which in such conditions are burdened with numerous adverse effects. It is important to emphasize that the study involved large doses of acetylsalicylic acid, which, under these conditions, are associated with numerous adverse effects. According to the opinion of the eminent American researcher V.E. Tyler from Pardue University, natural preparations containing willow bark are much safer than acetylsalicylic acid, as evidenced by the lack of reports in the medical literature of any serious adverse effects. He referred to willow bark extracts as “natural aspirin.”
🔵 Conclusions:
-
Standardized willow bark extract exhibits analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects comparable to those achieved with doses of acetylsalicylic acid ten times higher.
-
Extractum salicis is a safe herbal remedy that does not demonstrate acute toxic effects or damage to the gastric mucosa.
-
Willow bark extract may serve as a valuable alternative in situations where the intake of synthetic acetylsalicylic acid is not advisable.
📚 References:
Bonnycastle D.D.: Evaluation of Drug Activities Pharmacometrics t. II. Academic Press, London and New York, 1964. 2. Brook P.M., Day R.O.: N. Engl. J. Med.1991, 324, 1716. 3. Buckingham R.B.: Bull. Rheum. Dis. 1977/78a, 28, 960. 4. Buckingham R.B.: Bull. Rheum. Dis. 1977/78b, 28, 966. 5. Carson J.L. et al.: Arch. Intern. med. 1987, 147, 1054. 6. Dauksas V. et al.: Arzneim.-Forsch. Drug Res.,1993, 43/I, 44. 7. Dauksas V. et al.: Arzneim.-Forsch. drug res.,1995 45/II, 11. 8. Dixon A.St., Graber J.: I. Einteilung Eular-Bull.,1978, 7, Nr 4. 9. Feng L. et al.: J. Clin. Invest.,1995, 95, 1669. 10. Görög P., Kovacs I.B.: J. Pharm. Pharmac. 1970, 22, 86. 11. Insel P.A.: Analgesic-Anttipyretics and Antiinflammatory Agents; Drugs employed in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout. In: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. Hrsg. A. Goodman, Gilman T.W., Rath A.S., Nies P., Taylor. 8th edition, 1990, Pergamon Press. 12. Isaacs J.D. et al.: Lancet 1992, 340, 748. 13. Janssen P.A. et al.: Psychopharmacologia Berlin, 1960, 1, 389. 14. Julkunen-Titto R., Meier B.: The enzymatic decomposition of salicin and its derivatives obteined from salicaceae species. J. Nat. prod. 55, 1204-1212 (1992). 15. Kohlmünzer S.: Substancje naturalne i surowce farmakognostyczne. [W:] Farmakognozja. (Red.) Kamińska M., Wiśniewska E., 1985, PZWL. 16. Kommission E.: Monographie Salicis cortex (Weidenrinde) Bundesanzeiger, 1984 Nr 228. 17. Korolkiewicz Z.: Post. Nauk Med., 1995, 8, 40. 18. Meier B., Schweiz. Apotheker Zeitung Nr 25 1988, 126 Jg., 725. 19. Meier B., Liebi M.: Zeitschr. F. Phytotherapie, 1990, 11, 50. 20. Patrignani P. et al.: J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther, 1992, 271, 1705. 21. Pentz R. et al.: Zeitschr. F. Phytotherapie, 1989, 10, 92. 22. Reffer C. et al.: Arthritis Rheum, 1991, 34, 524. 23. Schneider E.: Zeitschr. F. Phytotherapie 1987, 8, 35. 24. Schumacher W. et al.: Thrombosis and Hoemostasis, 1993, 69, 509. 25. Soll A. et al.: Ann. Intern. Med., 1991, 114, 307. 26. Svensson T.H., Theime G.: Psychophatmacologia, 1969, 14, 157. 27. Valencia E. et al.: Planta Med., 1994, 60, 395. 28. Winter C.A, et al.: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 1962, 3, 544. 29. Windholtz M., Budavari S.: Monographs. [W:] The Merck Index (Ed.) Windholtz M., Merck and Co., Inc. 1983, 40.