10/25/2018 / By Ellaine Castillo
Plants are an invaluable part of disease treatment and management, especially in developing countries. These plants contain bioactive compounds that are responsible for their different medicinal properties. In order to maximize a plant’s potential use for medicinal purposes, it is crucial to determine the phytochemicals involved in its therapeutic activities. This is what researchers from Brazil aimed to do when they conducted a phytochemical and antimicrobial analysis of extracts derived from foxtail (Harrisia adscendens) roots, which are used in traditional medicine.
Foxtail is a species of cactus native to the savanna. It is traditionally used for treating burning sensations like heartburn, kidney problems, and toothaches. These conditions are known to have pain as one of their symptoms. Although foxtail roots are commonly used for such ailments, the compounds involved in the alleviation of these conditions have not been determined prior to this study.
In this study, which was published in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy, the researchers determined the phytochemicals present in foxtail root extracts through chromatography and spectroscopy. Results of these experiments showed that the main components of foxtail extracts are the alkaloid beta-carboline and an acetophenone. The presence of beta-carboline was attributed to foxtail’s ability to relieve pain, which is how this compound works in the central nervous system. Previous studies have shown that beta-carboline has relaxant, anticonvulsant, antitumor, and antimicrobial properties, which means that foxtail can also be used for these effects.
Aside from phytochemical analysis, the researchers also determined the antimicrobial activity of foxtail extracts. They were able to determine that the extracts were active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is promising since this pathogen is the leading cause of most infections. Additionally, P. aeruginosa exhibits inherent resistance against many antimicrobial compounds so the discovery of potential treatments against it is crucial.
From these results, it can be determined that foxtail extracts contain compounds, namely acetophenone and beta-carboline, which can be attributed to the plant’s ability to remedy pain associated with toothaches and heartburn. With further validation, foxtail could be developed into a safe and effective alternative for prescription drugs. (Related: Heartburn is a symptom – and meds are NOT the solution: Prescriptions for heartburn DOUBLE your risk of stomach cancer.)
Aside from foxtail, there are other remedies for toothaches. These include the following:
Learn more about the potential uses of foxtail and other herbs by visiting Cures.news today.
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Tagged Under: acetophenone, alkaloids, beta-carboline, Cactus, foxtail, Harrisia adscendens, heartburn, herbal medicine, natural remedies, oral health, pain relief, phytochemical analysis, phytochemicals, research, secondary metabolites, toothache, traditional medicine