Baliospermum montanum root extract found to have potential anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities

Researchers at Thammasat University in Thailand examined the potential anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of red physic nut (Baliospermum montanum) root extract. They published their findings in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• The root of red physic nut, also known as wild castor, is used as an ingredient of traditional Thai medicines for the treatments of diseases including eczema, muscle and joint inflammation, and cancer.
• In this study, the researchers found that red physic nut root extract exhibited potent inhibitory effects in all biological activities investigated.
• They found that it can be a potential source of anti-allergy, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer compounds.
• Red physic nut root extract exhibited anti-allergy activity by inhibiting the release of beta-hexosaminidase, a marker of eczema.
• The extract demonstrated three times higher anti-allergic activity than the positive control, chlorpheniramine.
• For anti-inflammatory activity, the crude extract inhibited the inducible nitric oxide production, which promotes inflammation.
• The extract also exhibited selective cytotoxic activity against the two cancerous liver cells, HepG2 and KKU-M156.
• The researchers also isolated major compounds of the extract and evaluated their activities.
• They found that the extract’s major compounds exhibited anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities, but their potency was only moderate to low.

Taken together, the results support the use of red physic nut in traditional medicines for the treatment of eczema, muscle and joint inflammation, and cancer.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Find more studies on natural medicines like the red physic nut at Herbs.news.

Journal Reference:

Pipatrattanaseree W, Itharat A, Mukkasombut N, Saesiw U. POTENTIAL IN VITRO ANTI-ALLERGIC, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BALIOSPERMUM MONTANUM ROOT, ITS MAJOR COMPONENTS AND A VALIDATED HPLC METHOD. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 12 February 2019; 19:45. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2449-0