Omnia SanaSymptom → Plant Sources
Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and Indigestion: evidence and sources
inferred from digestive action
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.
Gastric problems are often caused by the well-known Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) bacterium. One of the biggest obstacles to the treatment of H. pylori infections is increasing the antibiotic resistance. During our search for naturally derived anti- H. pylori compounds, six major compounds were isolated from the methylene chloride (CH 2 Cl 2 ) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions of Rumex acetos a that showed anti- H. pylori activity. Three anthraquinones and three anthraquinone glucosides were identified as the major chemical constituents of the CH 2 Cl 2 and EtOAc fractions, respectively. The chemical structures were identified to be emodin ( 1 ), chrysophanol ( 2 ), physcion ( 3 ), emodin-8- O -β-d-glucoside ( 4 ), chrysophanol-8- O -β-d-glucoside ( 5 ), and physcion-8- O -β-d-glucoside ( 6 ) by UV, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, and mass spectrometry. Anti- H. pylori activity, including the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of each compound, was evaluated against two H. pylori strains. All isolates exhibited anti- H. pylori activity with different potencies, with an MIC value ranging between 3.13 and 25 μM. However, some variations were found between the two strains. While compound 5 displayed the most potent antibacterial activity with an MIC 50 value of 8.60 μM and an MIC 90 value of 15.7 μM against H. pylori strain 51, compound 1 exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against H. pylori strain 43504. The two compounds also showed moderate urease inhibitory activity, with compound 1 demonstrating activity higher than that of compound 5 . Furthermore, a molecular docking study revealed the high binding ability of compounds 1 and 5 to the active site of H. pylori urease. The present study suggests that the six anthraquinones isolated from R. acetosa with the whole parts of this plant may be natural candidates for the treatment of H. pylori infection. Further studies are required to determine the exact mechanism of action and to evaluate safety issues in the human body.
3 sources supporting Common Sorrel for Indigestion. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's digestive aid action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Medicinal and food plants as well as their bioactive fractions have been used by diverse human cultures since ancient times. These plants provide multiple health benefits because of the presence of a plethora of phytochemicals including phenylpropanoids, isoprenoids, alkaloids, sulphated compounds, peptides and polysaccharides that are responsible for various biological activities such as anticancer, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-dysenteric, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, anti-hypertensive and anticoagulant properties. The genus Rumex includes edible and medicinal herbs belonging to buckwheat (Polygonaceae) family, consisting of about 200 species rich in phenylpropanoids and anthraquinones. Some Rumex species have exhibited health-promoting effects and have been used as traditional foods and herbal remedies, though a limited information has been documented on their specific biological properties. Therefore, this survey aimed at reviewing the Rumex species with documented biological activity, focusing on preclinical evidences on their efficacy and safety.