Herbal remedy secret uncovered

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3104730.stm

 

Herbal remedy secret uncovered

 

 

Arnica is often used to treat muscle pain or strains

 

British scientists believe they may have discovered how the popular herbal

remedy arnica works.

Researchers from the Bradford School of Pharmacy say it contains powerful

anti-inflammatory agents which can be absorbed into the skin.

Speaking at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Harrogate, they suggested

it may protect damaged blood vessels.

Arnica is used in creams to treat a wide variety of ailments, including

bruising, muscle ache and sprains.

Absorbed

Professor Adrian Williams and colleagues tested a product containing arnica in

their laboratory.

They examined it to see if it could pass through human skin.

This is good evidence - but not yet proof

 

 

Professor Adrian Williams,

Bradford School of Pharmacy

 

Initially, their tests showed that it could not be absorbed by the skin.

However, after 12 hours they discovered that two components had permeated the

skin.

Further tests found that these were anti-inflammatory agents called

sesquiterpene lactones, which are found in arnica.

The scientists believe that this may explain why arnica may prevent bruising.

Professor Williams said: " This is good evidence - but not yet proof - that these

are the vasoactive agents that prevent bruising. "

But he added: " The curious aspect is that we did not see permeation in the first

12 hours.

" To prevent bruising the agents will have to act quickly to stop capillary

bleeding.

" Active agents are presumably getting through the skin but in such small

quantities that it takes 12 hours for the amount to be detectable.

" For such low concentrations to be effective, the active agents must be very

potent. "

At present, arnica preparations are not standardised which means some may

contain more of these active ingredients than others.

This may explain why some people claim it doesn't work while others insist it

does.

Professor Williams suggested that one approach may be to purify just these

active ingredients.

However, because they are present in such small concentrations this is unlikely

to be commercially viable.

As a result, Professor Williams and his team are now looking at ways of

manufacturing these agents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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