Arnica

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This article is about the genus Arnica. Arnica may also refer to the species Arnica montana, used in herbal medicine.
 This article's citation style may be unclear. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation, footnoting, or external linking. (November 2009)
Arnica
Arnica montana Ill.Koehler
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Heliantheae
Subtribe: Madiinae
Genus: Arnica
L.
Species

See text.

Arnica (Ár-ni-ca) is a genus with about 30 perennial, herbaceous species, belonging to the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The genus name Arnica may be derived from the Greek arna, "lamb", in reference to the soft, hairy leaves.

This circumboreal and montane genus occurs mostly in the temperate regions of western North America, while two are native to Eurasia (A. angustifolia and A. montana).

Arnica used to be included in the tribe Senecioneae, because it has a pappus of fine bristles. This was soon questioned and Nordenstam (1977) placed it tentatively in tribe Heliantheae s.l. This arrangement also became uncertain because of the sesquiterpene lactone chemistry in certain species. Lately Arnica was placed in an unresolved clade together with Madiinae, Eupatorieae, Heliantheae s.s. and Pectidinae.

Several species, such as Arnica montana and Arnica chamissonis, contain helenalin, which is a sesquiterpene lactone that is a major ingredient in anti-inflammatory preparations (mostly against bruises).

Arnica species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bucculatrix arnicella.

Contents

[edit] Characteristics

A.chamissonis
Frigid Arnica near a training radar site in the Alaskan Interior.

They have a deep-rooted, erect stem, that is usually unbranched. Their downy, opposite leaves are borne towards the apex of the stem. The ovoid, leathery, basal leaves are arranged in a rosette.

They show large yellow or orange flowers, 6-8 cm wide with 10-15 long ray florets and numerous disc florets. The phyllaries (a bract under the flowerhead) has long spreading hairs Each phyllary is associated with a ray floret. Species of Arnica, with an involucre (a circle of bracts arranged surrounding the flower head) arranged in two rows, have only their outer phyllaries associated with ray florets. The flowers have a slight aromatic smell.

The seed-like fruit has a pappus of plumose, white or pale tan bristles. The entire plant has a strong and distinct pine-sage odor when the leaves of mature plants are rubbed or bruised.

[edit] Arnica montana

The species Arnica montana, native to Europe, has long been used medicinally, but this use has not been substantiated.[1][2]

[edit] Medicinal uses

Arnica montana has been used medicinally for centuries.[1] The roots contain derivatives of thymol,[3] which are used as fungicides and preservatives and may have some anti-inflammatory effect.[4] Arnica is currently used in liniment and ointment preparations used for strains, sprains, and bruises. Commercial arnica preparations are frequently used by professional athletes.[5] Arnica should not be taken internally due to its toxicity, with the possible exception of homeopathic preparations that are diluted at 24X or more, since only water remains.[6][7]

The thymol derivatives concentrated in the plants roots have been clinically shown to be effective vasodilators of subcutaneous blood capillaries.[citation needed] Arnica preparations used topically have been demonstrated to act as an anti-inflammatory and assist normal healing processes by facilitating transport of blood and fluid accumulations through a dilating action of subcutaneous blood capillaries.[citation needed] (Holist Nurse Pract, 2008, 22(4):237-239) In one double-blind trial, Arnica montana was found to be equally effective as the more expensive diclofenac for accelerating wound healing after foot surgery, but was less effective than the same drug for pain relief. [8] However, Diclofenac does not promote wound healing as it is an anti-inflammatory drug and hence this comparison is not useful. A study of wound-healing after surgery to treat varicose veins found a trend towards a beneficial effect of reduction of pain and hematoma following surgery.[9]

[edit] Homeopathy

The homeopathic use of Arnica has been found by the analysis of multiple studies to be no more effective than a placebo.[10] In the UK the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has registered the product for sprains and bruising under the 'National Rules for Homoeopathic Products' (2006), allowing claims of efficacy to be made on the packing for these conditions without the evidence, as is required for conventional medicines under the Medicines Act 1968 and 1971.[11] The fact that homeopathic studies of Arnica have even been the subject of published clinical trials has drawn criticism on the grounds that the basic premise of high dilution used in homeopathy is inherently flawed.[12]

[edit] Toxicity

Arnica contains the toxin helenalin, which can be poisonous if large amounts of the plant are eaten, and contact with the plant can also cause skin irritation.[13][14] If enough of the material is ingested, the toxin helenalin produces severe gastroenteritis, and internal bleeding of the digestive tract. [15]

[edit] Species

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Arnica in Flora of North America @ efloras.org
  2. ^ Clonal propagation of Arnica montana L., a medicinal plant Authors: Buthuc-Keul, A.; Deliu, C. Source: In Vitro Cellular and Development Biology - Plant, Volume 37, Number 5, September 2001 , pp. 581-585(5) Publisher: Springer
  3. ^ Weremczuk-Jezyna I, Kisiel W, Wysokińska H (2006). "Thymol derivatives from hairy roots of Arnica montana". Plant Cell Rep. 25 (9): 993–6. doi:10.1007/s00299-006-0157-y. PMID 16586074. 
  4. ^ Braga PC, Dal Sasso M, Culici M, Bianchi T, Bordoni L, Marabini L (2006). "Anti-inflammatory activity of thymol: inhibitory effect on the release of human neutrophil elastase". Pharmacology 77 (3): 130–6. doi:10.1159/000093790. PMID 16763380. http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?typ=fulltext&file=PHA2006077003130. Retrieved 2008-01-27. 
  5. ^ Jenna Sumara (2006). "Arnica: the natural alternative for treating sore muscles". The Final Sprint. http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2006/12/arnica-the-natural-alternative-for-treating-sore-muscles/. Retrieved 2008-12-11. 
  6. ^ "Dynamization and Dilution". Creighton University Department of Pharmacology. http://altmed.creighton.edu/Homeopathy/philosophy/dilution.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-09. 
  7. ^ Vaughan, John Griffith; Patricia Ann Judd, David Bellamy (2003). The Oxford Book of Health Foods. Oxford University Press. pp. 59. ISBN 0198504594. http://books.google.com/books?id=mMl9vwVDxigC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=%22arnica%22+homeopathic&source=web&ots=xEccdnf4ox&sig=uQu-JUHbXaEd9Ru5vJAPS9hkk0Y#PPA8,M1. 
  8. ^ Jens-Hagen Karow, Hans-Peter Abt, Markus Fröhling, Hanns Ackermann, "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine", Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 17-25, Jan. 1, 2008.
  9. ^ M. Wolfa, C. Tamaschkeb, W. Mayerc, M. Heger, "Wirksamkeit von Arnica bei Varizenoperation: Ergebnisse einer randomisierten, doppelblinden, Placebo-kontrollierten Pilot-Studie", Forschende Komplementärmedizin und Klassische Naturheilkunde, Vol. 10, pp. 242-247, 2003.
  10. ^ Susan Mayor, "Trial shows that homoeopathic arnica is no better than placebo", BMJ, pp. 326-303, 2003.
  11. ^ "Arnica registered by medicines regulator ", Telegraph, 16 May 2009
  12. ^ R.M. Youngson, "Randomized trial of homeopathic arnica", J R Soc Med, Vol. 90, No. 4, pp. 239–240, Apr. 1997.
  13. ^ Poisonous Plants: Arnica montana
  14. ^ Edward Rudzki, Zdzisława Grzywa (1977) Dermatitis from Arnica montana Contact Dermatitis 3 (5), 281–281. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1977.tb03682.x
  15. ^ Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1

[edit] Further sources

  • Maguire, B. (1943). "A monograph of the genus Arnica (Senecioneae, Compositae)". Brittonia 4: 386–510. doi:10.2307/2804900. 
  • Wolf, S.J. & K.E. Denford (1984). "Taxonomy of Arnica (Compositae) subgenus Austromontana". Rhodora Journal of the New England Botanical Club 86 (847): 239–309. 
  • Nordenstam, B. 1977 Senecioneae and Liabeae—systematic review. In V. H. Heywood, J. B. Harborne, and B. L. Turner [eds.], The biology and chemistry of the Compositae, vol. II, 799–830. Academic Press, London, UK
  • Baldwin, B. G. (1999). "New combinations in Californian Arnica and Monolopia". Novon 9: 460–461. doi:10.2307/3392142. 
  • Lyss, G., T. J. Schmidt, H. L. Pahl, and I. Merfort (1999). "Anti-inflammatory activity of Arnica tincture (DAB 1998) using the transcription factor NF-kappaB as molecular target". Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Letters 9: 5–8. 
  • Wolf, S. J., and K. E. Denford (1984). "Taxonomy of Arnica (Compositae) subgenus Austromontana". Rhodora 86: 239–309. 

[edit] External links

Search Wiktionary Look up arnica in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

[edit] Gallery

Mountain Arnica (Arnica montana)

Longleaf Arnica (Arnica longifolia)
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