Phytochemistry, Toxicology and Therapeutic Value of Petasites hybridus Subsp. Ochroleucus (Common Butterbur) from the Balkans

Tatjana Mihajilov-Krstev,Vladimir Cvetković,Jelena Matejić,Nataša Joković,Vesna Stankov Jovanović,Tatjana Jakšić,Nirit Bernstein,Budimir Ilić,Nemanja Stanković,Jelena Vitorović,Boris Jovanović,Dragoljub Miladinović,Ljubiša Đorđević,Bojan Zlatković

doi:10.3390/plants9060700

Abstract

Petasites hybridus (Common butterbur) is extensively used in traditional medicine, and is currently gaining interest and popularity as a food supplement and for its medicinal properties. It contains a large number of active compounds of potential therapeutic activity, but also toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Science-based information is needed to support the developing modern use of this plant, and to direct continued safe practice in traditional medicine. The present study focused on the essential oils from leaves and rhizomes of the understudied P. hybridus ssp. ochroleucus from the Balkans, and evaluated its phytochemistry and potential therapeutic activities (antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase and anti-inflammatory), as well its toxicology potential (acute toxicity in insects and mice). We studied the essential oils, which are not commonly used in traditional practices, but have a potential for safe use since the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are non-volatiles, are usually not present in the distilled essential oils. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids were indeed not detected in the essential oils; ingestion of the essential oils did not induce toxicity signs in mice, and topical application did not elicit skin irritation in humans. The essential oils had no antimicrobial properties against 20 pathogenic bacterial strains, but demonstrated good local anti-inflammatory activity in a Carrageenan-induced paw edema test. An insect toxicity test demonstrated that the leaf essential oil is an efficient insect repellent, and the demonstrated anti-cholinesterase activity suggests a potential for the treatment of neurological conditions. Isopetasin, a sesquiterpene found in plants of the genus Petasites, known to have anti-inflammatory effects, was present only in the rhizomes essential oil (3.9%), and sesquiterpene lactones concentrations were high, likely contributing to the antioxidant activity.

Highlights

Common butterbur [Petasites hybridus (L.) G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb] is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant of the daisy (Asteraceae) family
The present study focused on Petasites hybridus subsp. ochroleucus, which is spread and used in traditional medicine mainly in the eastern, central and southern parts of the Balkans [1,16], and is endemic to the southern Balkan region
We focused on the essential oil of this plant, which is a herbal preparation not commonly used in traditional practices of Petasites hybridus and has attracted little research-attention so far, but that has a potential for safe use since the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are non-volatiles and are usually not present in essential oils

Summary

Introduction

Common butterbur [Petasites hybridus (L.) G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb] is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant of the daisy (Asteraceae) family. & Scherb] is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant of the daisy (Asteraceae) family. It has long rhizomes and large leaves, which develop after flowering and can reach up to 60 cm in diameter, and it grows up to 3 feet in height and has a history of use in traditional medicine [1]. It is native to Europe, and is present as an introduced species in North America and West and North Asia. It is common on riverbanks, in wet meadows and in other damp and shady locations [2]. Commercial preparations of P. hybridus capsules, extracts, powders, tinctures and softgels are available nowadays in many countries around the world

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