Omnia SanaSymptom → Plant Sources
Elecampane (Inula helenium) and Cough: evidence and sources
Expectorant for productive cough and bronchitis (long-standing respiratory remedy); Soothes irritated airways / chronic catarrh (traditional)
For educational purposes only, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants, especially alongside prescribed medication, during pregnancy, or for a serious condition.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's expectorant action. The evidence below supports that pharmacology:
Ethnopharmacological relevance During the epidemic season, over 90% of acute wheezing disease is associated with bronchial inflammation. Both neutrophil- and eosinophil-mediated inflammation have been involved in the pathophysiology of acute bronchitis, but neutrophil cell recruitment has been shown to be dominant. The ongoing inflammation increases the chemotaxis of neutrophils to inflamed site providing to their overaccumulation. The pharmacological reduction of neutrophil migration can be limited by suppression of major chemo-attractants and cytokines (IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α) release and downregulation of adhesive molecules. Aim of the study During a screening of plants traditionally used in respiratory tracts diseases (e.g. cough, rhinitis, bronchitis, throat infection, fever, influenza) in Europe, we have selected roots of Inula helenium and aerial parts of Grindelia squarrosa as a potential source of compounds limiting neutrophil migration. Materials and methods The effect on IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α release by neutrophils and respiratory epithelium cell line (A549) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The surface expression of adhesive molecules was analyzed with flow cytometry, and the neutrophil attachment to the epithelial cells was assessed fluorimetrically. Results We confirmed the ability of selected extracts and compounds to suppress neutrophil binding to the epithelium surface via downregulation of β2 integrin. Alantolactone and grindelic acid have shown significant suppression of IL-8, TNF-α and IL-1β release comparable with budesonide, used as a positive control. Conclusions The present study demonstrated that Inula helenium and Grindelia squarrosa, which have been traditionally used in Europe as medicinal plants, are a valuable source of active compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. Our observations justify the traditional use of I. helenium and G. squarrosa for a treatment of inflammation-based diseases in respiratory tract.