Arnica Flowers: Pharmacology, Toxicolgy, and Analysis of the Sesquiterpene Lactones—Their Main Active Substances

Abstract

Arnica flowers from the European Compositae Arnica montana have been used in traditional medicine to treat a large variety of different ailments. It has been shown that the known diverse effects of the flowers correlate closely with the pharmacological and toxicological profile of their constituents helenalin, 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin and their esters, which therefore must be considered as their main active compounds. Methods for their qualitative and quantitative determination have been established and the variability in flowers from different geographical origin investigated. Arnica chamissonis ssp. foliosa is used as alternative source for the official "Arnicae flos." In addition to the sesquiterpene lactones of A. montana, they contain 2,3-dihydro-2α-hydroxy-and 2,3-dihydro-2α-,4α-dihydroxy-helenanolide derivatives. The qualitative and quantitative variation is much larger than in the case of A. montana flowers, but populations exist equal to that of A. montana.Arnica flowers from the European Arnica montana L. have been extensively used in traditional medicine to treat a large variety of different ailments. First written records exist from the 16th century when Arnica flowers were used externally and internally in injuries and accidents such as sprains, dislocations, haematomas and oedema associated with fractures. Many vernacular names for this medicinal plant from that time, such as "fall herb", "break herb" or "wound herb" point to this indication. In the following centuries the range of indications for Arnica flowers was enlarged to include treatment of heart and circulatory diseases, chronical diseases such as asthma and rheumatic pains, feverish conditions, menstruation complaints and many other diseases. The plant was named "Panacea lapsorum" after the hypothetical medicine "Panazee," of which the ancient physicians were always dreaming. This imagined 118

Role of cysteine residues of p65/NF-κB on the inhibition by the sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide and N-ethyl maleimide, and on its transactivating potential

“…Many plants of the Asteraceae family are used in the traditional medicine, with applications ranging from inflammation to migraine treatment (Willuhn, 1998;Heptinstall and Awang, 1998). SLs are the most active constituents found in these plants.…”

Evaluation of the chemical composition of essential oils with respect to the maturity of flower heads of Arnica montana L. and Arnica chamissonis Less. cultivated for industry

“…It is mainly found in grasslands and shrublands as well as alpine mountain 2008; Merfort, 2010). Arnica is a source of sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, essential oils, terpenoids, and phenolic acids (Willuhn et al, 1995;Willuhn, 1998;Merfort and Wendisch, 1988;Ganzera et al, 2008;Weremczuk-Jeżyna et al, 2011;Gawlik-Dziki et al, 2009Sugier, 2013), and exhibits antiseptic, antiinflammatory, antiradical, antibacterial, antisclerotic, antifungal, and antioxidant activities (Ganzera et al, 2008;Gawlik-Dziki et al, 2009Sugier and Gawlik-Dziki, 2009;Saluk-Juszczak et al, 2010;Gaspar et al, 2014). Cultivation of other Arnica species with a similar pharmacological effect is one of the different approaches to meet the industrial demand for Arnica and guarantee the supply of a standardised plant drug or of its active substances (Nichterlein, 1995).…”

“…This is an attractive plant species for the pharmaceutical industry, as it contains numerous pharmacologically active substances and is characterised by similarity of pharmacological effects to A. montana (Willuhn et al, 1983;Leven and Willuhn, 1987;Nichterlein, 1995). Moreover, A. chamissonis is a good source of bioactive compounds (Leven and Willuhn, 1987;Merfort and Wendisch, 1987;Roki et al, 2001;Schmidt et al, 2006;Gawlik-Dziki et al, 2009), a valuable source of herbal raw material and a pharmaceutical substitute for the endangered mountain arnica (Willuhn, 1998;Cassell et al, 1999;Sugier and Gawlik-Dziki, 2009;Gawlik-Dziki et al, 2011). A. chamissonis extracts exhibit potent antiinflammatory and antiradical activity and possesses high antioxidant abilities that might be helpful in preventing or slowing the progress of free radical-dependent diseases (Cassell et al, 1999;Gawlik-Dziki et al, 2009).…”

Induction of hairy roots in Arnica montana L. by Agrobacterium rhizogenes

“…The species is an important source of valuable biologically active substances, mainly sesqiuterpene lactones, flavonoids and essential oils etc. A. montana has a long history of use as a medicine for hematomas, contusions, sprains, rheumatic disease, and superficial inflammations of the skin [1]. The plant and its various parts (flowers, flower heads, roots and rhizomes) are listed in pharmacopeias of many countries [2].…”