Lomatium dissectum, antiviral herb
John Kohl
Introduction
Article by Dr. Alstat
Historical Native American Use
Antibiotic Studies with Lomatium Dissectum Species
Constituents and Physiological Actions
Discussion
References
Quotations about Lomatium Dissectum from Other Sources
A Lomatium-caused Rash
Suppliers of Lomatium Dissectum
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INTRODUCTION
I became interested in Lomatium dissectum after reading about it in
three different books a few months ago. I finally contacted Dr. Edward
K. Alstat, the author of an article about Lomatium that was cited in one
of the books. He gave me permission to post the following article to
newsgroups. (This paper was unpublished, but was the basis for an
article that was published in May/June 1987 in a journal called
Complementary Medicine, which I believe is now defunct.)
Although I don't (as yet) have any personal experience with Lomatium, it
seems worthy of further investigation. Quite a bit is already known
about its antimicrobial components. With the advent of PCR and
branched-DNA testing, it should be possible to determine, on an
individual basis, whether Lomatium actually has any effect on HIV.
I am aware of some people's concerns about using herbs against HIV. I
am not a scientist, but people with a better scientific background than
mine may be able to determine whether there are reasons NOT to try
Lomatium or to investigate it further. I would welcome discussion of
Lomatium in this newsgroup.
For further information, you can contact Dr. Alstat at
Eclectic Institute, Inc.
14385 S.E. Lusted Road
Sandy, Oregon 97055
(503) 668-4120
(800) 332-4372
(503) 668-3227 FAX.
He has spent a lot of time talking to me on the phone and sending me
copies of some of the articles cited under "References," below.
He does not have any clinical experience with Lomatium and HIV+
patients, but he has used it to treat influenza, colds, and Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome.
I do not have any financial interest in Eclectic Institute nor in other
suppliers of Lomatium dissectum preparations.
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ARTICLE BY DR. ALSTAT
LOMATIUM DISSECTUM
by Dr. Edward K. Alstat, N.D., R.Ph.
Lomatium dissectum, known previously as Ferula dissoluta, Leptotaenia
dissecta, Leptotaenia multifida (French, 1971), and as Toza by the
Indians (Scully, 1971; Train, 1957), was widely used as a source of food
and medicine and as a piscicide by the native Americans of the plateau
region of the western United States (Cox, 1983; French, 1971; Hunn,
1981; Scully, 1971; Train, 1957). However, it has not received modern
recognition of any importance as either food or medicine (French, 1971).
It is surprising that Lomatium has received so little attention, as it
is the largest genus of Umbelliferae in the United States, consisting of
75-80 species. More than half of these are found in the high plateaus
of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Idaho (Cox, 1983). Lomatium
finds its greatest diversity in the Columbia plateau region (Hunn,
1981), and it is this dry area which induces the large tuberous state of
the root (Cox, 1983).
Lomatiums are spring-flowering perennials that grow on basalt rock
slopes and outcroppings formed by accumulations from previous lava flows
(Cox, 1983; Taylor, 1974). These are known as the lithosol and talus
zones.
Lomatium dissectum is found from Vancouver Island to southern British
Columbia and Alberta, and south to Southern California, Nevada, New
Mexico and Colorado. It ranges from sea level to the Cascade foothills
and up to 2500 meters in the Rocky Mountains (Cox, 1983). It is a
robust plant, from 20-60 inches high at maturity, with a large woody
taproot. There are several to many hollow, ribbed stems arising from
the top of the root. The leaves are finely divided into small segments,
and there are large umbels of flowers that range in color from yellow to
brownish purple. The flattened oval seeds have narrow wings. Lomatium
dissectum has three varieties: dissectum (sessile fruit),
multifidum (fruits on pedicels and very finely divided leaves), and
eatonii (fruits on pedicels and less finely divided leaves) (Gilkey,
1980; Hitchcock, 1961).
HISTORICAL NATIVE AMERICAN USE
Although Lomatium dissectum was not one of the primary Lomatiums used as
a food source by native Americans, it was consumed by a number of
different peoples. The Nez Perce and some Salishan tribes ate the shoots
and young roots (Hunn, 1971). The Shushwap people also ate the young
roots, and older shoots were consumed by both the Thompsons and the
Shushwaps of the Columbia plateau (Cox, 1983).
Lomatium dissectum was used as a piscicide to harvest freshwater fish
for human consumption by the Yakima and John Day Indians of the Columbia
plateau, as well as by the Okanagans and the Paiutes (Cox, 1983).
The most important native American use of Lomatium dissectum was as
medicine. It was one of the best known and most widely used remedies of
the Indians of the western United States (Cox, 1983; Scully, 1971;
Train, 1957). The root of the plant was most commonly used to treat
coughs, colds, hayfever, bronchitis, asthma, influenza, pneumonia, and
tuberculosis. It was prepared as a decoction and was also smoked or
inhaled. The decoction was applied externally for cuts, sores and
rashes. The oily sap was placed on skin lesions and was instilled in
the eye for trachomal and gonorrheal infections. The raw root was
chewed for sore throat and used as a poultice for swellings, sprains and
rheumatism. It was used to cure equine distemper and as a pediculicide
for humans and animals.
ANTIBIOTIC STUDIES WITH LOMATIUM DISSECTUM SPECIES
A screening study of medicinal plants of native Americans showed
Lomatium dissectum var. multifida to have moderate bacteriocidal effects
(Train, 1957). In a 1949 investigation, an oil extract of Lomatium
dissectum var. multifida was tested in vitro against 14 organisms
(Matson, 1949). The crude oil and a concentration of 1:10 in mineral
oil completely or partially inhibited growth of 10 organisms, including
all gram-positive ones. Penicillin gave an equal effect at a comparable
concentration. Susceptible organisms included Corynebacterium
diptheria, Diplococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus pyogenes, E. coli,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. It was suggested in this study that the water insoluble
oil might provide prolonged action in vivo.
A study on the effectiveness of extracts prepared from the root of
Lomatium dissectum var. dissectum showed varying degrees of inhibition
of the growth of all 62 strains and species of bacteria and fungi tested
(Carlson, 1948). The oil extracts exhibited bacteriostatic and
bacteriocidal activity against three strains of Shigella, two of
Pseudomonas, two of Proteus, four of E. coli, three of Staphaureus, four
strains of streptococcus, including viridans and pyogenes, Diplococcus
pneumonia, Corynebacterium diptheria, Hemophilus influenza, Neisseria
gonorrhea, three strains of Mycobacterium, including tuberculosis, five
strains of Clostridium, four human dermatophytes and Candida albicans.
Toxicity of the plant extract was shown to be slight if any when
injected sub-cutaneously at a dose of 1-2% of mouse body weight
(Carlson, 1948; Matson, 1949).
CONSTITUENTS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS
Identification of the specific medicinal constituents of Lomatium
dissectum has not been directly investigated. However, information is
available on the isolation and identification of some of the chemical
constituents and their biological effects. The root contains essential
oil, gums, resins, glycosides (coumarins and saponins), carbohydrates,
protein, fatty acids and ascorbic acid. (Cox, 1983; Train, 1957;
Wakeman, 1925). The glycosides present include coumarins and saponins.
Naturally occurring coumarins have a broad range of physiological
activities. Perhaps the most widely known effect is as an
anticoagulant. This is due to vitamin K antagonism--the coumarin
competes with vitamin K in the blood-clotting mechanism. Thus,
sufficient concentrations of vitamin K can reverse this effect (Soine,
1964). It must be noted that not all natural coumarins have
anticoagulant activity, and that the chemical structures necessary for
activity are under study.
Some natural coumarins have estrogenic action; others have demonstrated
spasmolytic, sedative, anthelmintic and/or uricosuric actions (Bose,
1958; Soine, 1964). They have been found to activate adrenaline and
ACTH-induced lipolysis and insulin-induced lipogenesis (Cox, 1983).
Coumarins have been used as vasodilating agents (Blake, 1962; Soine,
1964), in the treatment of malignant metastisis (Hilgard, 1976), and in
the therapy for retinal pigment degeneration (Merz, 1963). As a group,
coumarins are free of toxic side effects and may be used for years
without cumulative effects (Soine, 1964).
The most interesting biological effects of coumarins related to the
traditional native American use of Lomatium for infectious disease are
found in the furanocoumarins and pyranocoumarins. These two groups have
been identified as having significant antimicrobial activity.
Three coumarins have been isolated from Lomatium dissectum: columbianin,
an angular furanocoumarin composed of columbianetin and a saccharide
(Cox, 1983; Gupta, 1964); an isomer of nodakenetin, a linear
furanocoumarin (Cox, 1983; Lloyd, 1942), and a luvangetin-like
pyranocoumarin (Cox, 1983). (See appendix for chemical structures.)
Luvangetin was shown to have marked antifungal activity which may
correlate to the coumarins' effect on leucoderma (Chakraborty, 1957;
Soine, 1964).
A number of studies have been done with both linear and angular
furanocoumarins and their antiviral activity (Bordin, 1975; Hanson,
1978; Karathanasis, 1981; Swanstrom, 1981; Talib, 1982). In these
investigations both DNA and RNA viruses were inactivated by exposure to
long-wave UV light (320-380nm) (penetration to capillaries in the dermis
occurs at 330-390nm) in the presence of furanocoumarins. The linear
furanocoumarins are capable of cross-linking double-stranded DNA by
formation of an adduct with pyramidine bases. Both linear and angular
furanocoumarins form mono adducts with a single pyramidine base in
single-stranded DNA or RNA. Either linkage blocks nucleic acid
replication and gene transcription, thus effectively inactivating the
virus (Bordin, 1975; Hanson, 1978). The furanocoumarins easily permeate
the virus coat as well as bacteria, yeast and animal cells, and the
linkage has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo (Hanson, 1978).
Herpes simplex virus I was shown to be very sensitive to linear
furanocoumarin photoinactivation (Hanson, 1978). Although columbianin
and the nodakenetin isomer have not been studied in virus
photoinactivation, their structural similarity to the psoralens and
angelicin studied (see appendix for structures) indicates probable
activity.
Historically, herbs containing saponins have been used as medicinal
remedies, specifically as tonics, tranquilizers, expectorants and
antitussive agents. Recent research reports antitumor, antimicrobial
and antiinflammatory properties of saponins, as well as their
stimulation of production of serum proteins. Water soluble
triterpenoidal saponins reportedly enhanced antibody production (Mita,
1979). This suggests active immune-system stimulation by saponins.
Isolation of the saponins in Lomatium dissectum has not been documented
in the literature, but warrants investigation.
The ascorbic acid content of Lomatium dissectum was determined in one
study to be 22.8% (Train, 1957). The immune-stimulating activity of
ascorbic acid has been documented (Anderson, 1981). Its antiviral,
antihistamine and antioxidant effects and its promotion of wound healing
are well known.
As for other constituents, volatile oils have been used as antiseptics
(Kuts-Cheraux, 1953), and since it is reported that the root contains
much carbohydrate, it would be of great interest to investigate for the
presence of immune-stimulating polysaccharides in Lomatium (Wakeman,
1925).
DISCUSSION
Historical native American use of Lomatium dissectum indicates that it
was effective as an internal remedy for viral and bacterial infections,
especially those of the respiratory and urinary tracts, and the eyes.
Externally it was used as an antiseptic and as an anti-inflammatory
agent. Scientific research has demonstrated positive antibacterial and
antifungal actions of Lomatium dissectum. Antiviral activity is
suggested by the literature on furanocoumarins. Immune-stimulating
activity, as well as antitumor, expectorant and antitussive effects,
have been identified with saponins.
Additional chemical, biological and clinical study of Lomatium dissectum
is indicated, especially of the use of the plant to inhibit bacteria,
fungi, and viruses, to stimulate immune-system function and to decrease
inflammation. Specific areas for clinical trials include the diseases
treated by native Americans, such as influenza, colds, bronchitis,
pneumonia, tuberculosis, hayfever, asthma, ocular infections, throat
infections, skin lesions and rheumatic conditions, and additionally the
chronic viral infections and immune-system suppression prevalent today
(e.g., AIDS, chronic Eppstein-Barr virus, Herpes simplex I and II and
systemic Candida albicans)."
Lomatium dissectum was historically one of the most important medicinal
plants of the western United States and has great potential as a modern
therapeutic agent.
REFERENCES
Anderson, R. "Ascorbate Mediated Simulation of Neurophil Motility and
Lymphocyte Transformation by Inhibition of Peroxidase/H202/Halide
System in Vitro and In Vivo," American Journal of Medical Science,
34:1906-1911, 1981.
Blake, T.M., E.G. Wood, D.O. Moore and R.G. Ned, "Vasodilating Effects
of Coumarin Derivatives," American Journal of Medical Science,
243:598-602, 1962.
Bordin, F., S. Marciani, F.R. Baccichetti, F. Dall'Acqua, G.
Rodighiero, "Studies on the Photosensitizing Properties of Anglicin,
an Angular Furanocoumarin Forming Only Monofunctional Adducts with
the Pyrimidine Bases of DNA." Italian Journal of Biochemistry,
24:258-26?, 1975.
Bose, P.K., "On Some Biochemical Properties of Natural Coumarins,"
Journal of Indian Chemical Society, 35:367-375, 1958.
Carlson, H.J. and H.G. Douglas, "Antibiotic Agents Separated from the
Root of Lace-Leaved Leptotaenia," Journal of Bacteriology,
55:615-621, 1948.
Chakraborty, D.P., A.D. Gupta and P.K. Bose, "On the Anti-Fungal
Actions of Some Natural Coumarins," Annals of Biochemistry and
Experimental Medicine, 17:59-62, 1957.
Cox, R.L., "Chemical Investigations into the Ichthyotoxic Effect of
Lomatium Dissectum," Thesis, Reed College, Portland, OR, 1983.
French, D.H., "Ethnobotany of the Umbelliferae," _The Biology and
Chemistry of the Umbelliferae_, V.H. Heywood, Ed., Academic Press,
New York, NY, 1971, pp. 385-412.
Gilkey, H.M. and L.J. Dennis, _Handbook of Northwestern Plants_,
Oregon State University Bookstores, Inc., Corvallis, OR, 1980, pp.
288-291.
Hanson, C.V., J.L. Riggs and E.H. Lennette, "Photo-chemical
Inactivation of DNA and RNA Viruses by Psoralen Derivatives," Journal
of General Virology, 40:345-358, 1978.
Hilgard, P. and R.D. Thornes, "Anticoagulars in the Treatment of
Cancer," European Journal of Cancer 12:755-762, 1976.
Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist, _Vascular Plants of the Pacific
Northwest_, University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA, 1961.
Hunn, E.S. and D.H. French, "Lomatium: A Key Resource for Columbia
Plateau Native Subsistence," Northwest Science 55:87-94, 1981.
Karathanasis, S.K. and W.S. Champney, "Effects of
Hydroxymethyl-Trimethyl Psoralen on Structure and Function of
Bacteriophage MS2 Ribonucleic Acid, Biochemistry 20:3579-3585, 1981.
Kuts-Cheraux, A.W., _Naturae Medicina and Naturopathic
Dispensatory_, Antioch Press, Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1953, p.13.
Matson, G.A., A. Ravve, J.M. Sugihara, W.J. Burke, "Antibiotic
Studies on an Extract from Leptotaenia Multifeda," Journal of
Clinical Investigation 28:903-908, 1949.
Merz, M.O. and A. Piotrowski, "Dicoumarin Compounds in the Treatment
of Pigment Degeneration of the Retina," Opthalmologica 145:249-256,
1963.
Mita, A., R. Shida, N. Kasai and J. Shoji, "Enhancement and
Suppression in Production of IgM Antibody in Mice Treated with
Purified Saponins," Biomedicine 31:223-227, 1979.
Scully, V., _A Treasury of American Indian Herbs: Their Lore and
Their Use for Food, Drugs and Medicine_. Crown Publishers, Inc. New
York, NY, 1971, pp. 116-118.
Soine, T.A., "Naturally Occuring Coumarins and Related Physiological
Activity," Journal of Pharmaceutical Science 53:231-264, 1964.
Swanstrom, R., L.M. Hallick, J. Jackson, J.E. Hearst and J.M.
Bishop, "Interaction of Psoralen Derivatives with the RNA Genome of
Rous Sarcoma Virus," Virology 113:613-622, 1981. [year may be incorrect]
Talib, S. and A.K. Banerjee, "Covalent Attachment of Psoralen to a
Single Site on Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Genome RNA Blocks
Expression of Viral Genes," Virology 118:430-438, 1982. [year may be
incorrect]
Taylor, R.J. and R.W. Valum, _Sagebrush Country_, Touchstone Press,
Beaverton, OR, 1974, p. 12.
Train, P., J.R. Henrichs and W.A. Archer, _Medicinal Uses of Plants
by Indian Tribes of Nevada_, Quarterman Publications, Inc., Lawrence,
MA, 1957, pp. 65-67, 115.
Wakeman, N., "A Chemical Examination of the Root of Leptotaenia
Dissecta," Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association
14:29-32, 1925.
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QUOTATIONS ABOUT LOMATIUM DISSECTUM FROM OTHER SOURCES
"Leptotania (Lomatia spp.) and Osha root (Ligusticum porteri) These
plants, native to the American western states, have for many years
been used by practitioners of traditional native American medicine,
eclectic herbology and naturopathic medicine. Although recent
literature identifying the specific constituents and their effects
on immune system functioning and microbial activity is unavailable,
the empirical experience with virus-associated diseases strongly
recommend serious consideration of these plants as elements of a
protocol for virus-associated acquired immune deficiency."
--from Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, by Michael Murray and
Joseph Pizzorno, p. 117:
"'LDM-100' is the trade name of an herbal extract called "Lomatium
Dissectum" that is known for its antibiotic activity. It is
manufactured by the Spice West Co. of Salt Lake City, UT. Like
garlic, it does not kill friendly flora, but kills off many types
of viruses and pathogens. Lomatium shrinks swollen lymph nodes as
does DMSO. One half teaspoon taken orally in water three times a
day will yield positive results in cases of yeast overgrowth and/or
herpes. GAIA Herbs also makes a Lomatium product, but it is weaker
than the Spice West product, so I don't recommend it. LDM-100 is
believed to be effective against HIV, HHV-6, fungal infections and
may be effective against a wide range of other infectious diseases
including CMV. In several cases reported to us, LDM-100 has
reduced swollen lymph nodes in HIV+ persons. This indicates
anti-HIV activity. An effective dosage is 1/2 teaspoon in a glass
of water 3 times a day. A small number of people will develop an
allergic reaction (rash) to its use. Any over the counter
anti-histamine will get rid of the rash or it will go away when you
stop using the LDM-100. Vitamin B-6 and Vitamin C have
anti-histamine properties."
-- from AIDS Control Diet: A Nutrition Manual for HIV, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome, Candidiasis, and other Immune Related
Disorders_, 6th edition, by Mark Konlee. [Note: I do not wish
to suggest that this is an "authoritative source." It contains
mostly anecdotal information shared by people with HIV. I
have not yet contacted the author to find out more about his
(or his readers') experiences with Lomatium.]
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A LOMATIUM-CAUSED RASH
As noted in the above quotation from the AIDS Control Diet book, a
small number of people (1 in 200) will develop a rash caused by some of
the resins in the herb that are present in most tinctures. Eclectic
Institute (see Suppliers, below), however, has removed these resins and
converted the Lomatium extract to a powder. This "Lomatium isolate"
does not cause a rash, but is reportedly as effective as other Lomatium
preparations.
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SUPPLIERS OF LOMATIUM DISSECTUM
Spice West Company, P.O. Box S, Pocatello, ID 83206, (208) 237-4580.
Sells Lomatium under the product name LDM-100.
Eclectic Institute, Inc., 14385 S.E. Lusted Road, Sandy, Oregon 97055,
(503) 668-4120, (800)332-4372, (503) 668-3227 FAX. This is Dr. Alstat's
company.
There are probably others that I don't know about or don't have
addresses for.
John Kohl
of Lomatium dissectum:
>From VanWagenen, Bradford C., Jennifer Huddleston, and John H.
Cardellina, II, "Native American Food and Medicinal Plants, 8.
Water-Soluble Constituents of Lomatium Dissectum." J of Natural Products
51.1 (Jan-Feb 1988): 136-141.
ABSTRACT: A continuing investigation of the umbellifer Lomatium
dissectum has resulted in the isolation of a known flavonoid [1]
and three coumarin glycosides [2-4], two of which are previously
unreported. One of these new compounds [4] contains apiose, a
sugar uncommon in the coumarins. The ichthyotoxicity of the plant
extracts has been traced to the tetronic acids isolated earlier
in this study.
LITERATURE CITED (partial list):
1. B.C. VanWagenen and J.H. Cardellina, II, Tetrahedron, 42, 1117
(1986).
2. T.J. Mabry, K.R. Markham, and M.B. Thomas, "The Systematic
Identification of Flavonoids," Springer-Verlag, New York,
1970, p. 35.
3. B. Ternai and K.R. Markham, Tetrahedron, 32, 565 (1976).
4. R.L. Cox, "Chemical Investigations into the Ichthyotoxic Effect
of Lomatium dissectum," B.A. Thesis, Reed College, Portland,
OR, 1983.
[I don't know why they didn't provide titles or page ranges for
references 1 and 3.]
VanWagenen et al are at the Natural Products Laboratory, Dept. of
Chemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.
John Kohl
|> Although I don't (as yet) have any personal experience with Lomatium, it
|> seems worthy of further investigation. Quite a bit is already known
|> about its antimicrobial components. With the advent of PCR and
|> branched-DNA testing, it should be possible to determine, on an
|> individual basis, whether Lomatium actually has any effect on HIV.
|>
Someone from the sci.med.pharmacy newsgroup recently sent me this
additional information:
Recently, angular pyranocoumarin esters (suksdorfin) were reported from
Lomatium saksdorfii with anti-HIV effect. Lomatium dissectum might have
similar kind of compounds which explains the observed effect. In
addition, lately two research groups (one in NCI and the other in
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals) have reported structurally similar
coumarin derivatives with potent anti-HIV activity from Inophylum
species (Guttiferae).
If you're interested in the results of Lomatium saksdorfii, check out
the following publication:
Li Huang, et al. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 4, 593-398
(1994).
[NCI stands for the National Institute of Cancer. I've been told that
their natural products division is currently carrying out a large
screening program to find HIV inhibiting substances from natural
sources.]