Omnia SanaSymptom → Plant Sources
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and Indigestion: evidence and sources
Carminative digestive and stomach tonic (bloating, indigestion)
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.
Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss (parsley) is a popular medicinal plant widely used in different traditional medicines all over the world. This paper provides an updated review on the traditional use, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of parsley. Parsley contains volatile compounds such as terpenes and terpenoids in the essential oil, as well as phenolic compounds in the plant extract. Parsley is traditionally used as a diuretic, liver and stomach tonic, and for urolithiasis and indigestion. Pharmacological investigations also confirm several biological activities of parsley including hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antiurolithiatic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and antineoplastic effects in animal and cell-based studies. Parsley has currently demonstrated several pharmacological activities in preclinical studies; however, there is a big lack in clinical evidence. Considering parsley as a possible valuable medicinal food, future clinical trials are recommended to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the plant in different health conditions.
1 source supporting Parsley 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:
Traditional herbal medicines such as Petroselinum crispum (Parsley) have been used for treatment of intestinal disorders in Iran. To date no pharmacological evidence for their effectiveness has been reported. The aim of this study was to examine the relaxant effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Petroselinum crispum on isolated adult male Wistar rat's ileum contraction by KCl 60 (mM). The extract was prepared from parsley seed with 80% ethanol. A portion of ileum was removed and placed in an organ bath containing Tyrode solution (37 degrees C, pH = 7.4) bubbled with air. From a resting tension of 1 g, isotonic Transducer and Harvard Universal Oscillograph were used for recording contraction of ileum after administration of 60 mM KCl. Various concentration of extract were added to the bath. This experiment showed that, the extract in a dose-dependent manner decreased the induced-KCl ileums contraction (n = 7, p < 0.001). Also adding extract before influence of KCl, cause reduced effect of KCl (n = 7, p < 0.001). In addition, the Tyrode solution without CaCl2 and high concentration of K+, various concentration of extract significantly (n = 7, p < 0.001) decreased the CaCl2-induced contraction. Therefore, it seems that the relaxation effect of extract alcoholic parsley seed on the contraction of ileum is performed by blocking of voltage-gated calcium channels.
An ethanolic extract of Parsley, Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym.ex A.W. Hill (Umbelliferae), was tested for its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and to protect gastric mucosa against the injuries caused by pyloric ligation, hypothermic restraint stress, indomethacin and cytodestructive agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl) in rats. The extract in doses of 1 and 2 g/kg body weight had a significant antiulcerogenic activity on the models used. Besides, ethanol-induced depleted gastric wall mucus and non-protein sulfhydryl contents were replenished by pretreatment with Parsley extract. Acute toxicity tests showed a large margin of safety for the extract. The phytochemical screening of Parsley leaves revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, sterols and/or triterpenes.