Potentilla species and their extracts have been
highly valued in many diff erent ethnic cultures
for hundreds of years. They were used, prepared
with water, milk, honey, and in the form of alcoholic solutions, for the treatment of toothache,
sore throat, mouth ulcers, dysentery, for wound
healing, and to stop bleeding. Potentilla erecta, a traditional plant in Russian medicine, was
used to alleviate cancer symptoms. In vitro and
in vivo studies confi rm anti-diarrhoeal, anti-ulcer, anti-neoplastic, anti-viral, anti-microbial,
hypoglycemic, anti-infl ammatory, spasmolytic,
hepatoprotective and antioxidant eff ects of Potentilla species (1). Some Potentilla species are
used for creating homeopathic remedies by the
requirements listed in Homeopathic Pharmacopoeias. All of the tested Potentilla species extracts contain an antibacterial activity which is
linked with a high concentration of polyphenolic
compounds. Potentilla erecta (L.) Rauschel (Potentilla tormentilla Stokes), erect cinquefoil, contains up to 20%
of catechin tannins (2). They are easy to polymerize, condensate and oxidize giving red coloured compounds, phlobaphenes or tannin redness
by which they lose their phytochemical activity.
A signifi cant presence of organic acids and phenol carboxylic acids was noted in the above mentioned plant species.
Rhizome from an erect cinquefoil contains tannins. It is used in treating diarrhea and in intestinal catarrh. Mentioned rhizome in folk medicine
is used as a remedy for diabetes and externally in
the treatment of dry and wet eczema, lichens, infl ammations and skin furuncles. Decoct of potentillae erectae rhizoma is used for the treatment of
dental gum infl ammation, chronic infl ammation
of gums and in the case of pharyngeal catarrh (1).
Infusion, tincture (1:5 in 70% ethanol) as well as
dry and wet extract of potentillae erectae rhizoma,
is used in practice. Potentilla alba L., white cinquefoil contains a large
amount of hydrolysable and condensed tannins
(proanthocyanidins), fl avonoids (kaempferol and
quercetin), polyprenols, phenolcarboxylic acids,
tripertenes, polysaccharides as well as elementary
iodine and iodine anion. Underground parts also
contain saponins and fl avonoid (meletin) (3). Potentilla alba L. rhizomes have anti-infl ammatory, antioxidant and adaptogenic eff ects and
are used in the treatment of diarrhea and intestinal colic. It is recommended in the treatment of heart disease and as adaptogenic
remedy (4). Potentilla reptans L., creeping cinquefoil
Rhizome of Potentilla reptans is used as infusion
in diarrhoea treatment. Stronger decoct of the
rhizoma is used in toothache treatment. It can
be found in the composition of many cosmetic
preparations for wrinkle treatment. It also has a
strong eff ect in the treatment of haemorrhoids
(5). Pharmacological eff ect
Nowadays, tannin drugs are used in the treatment of infl ammations, various types of cancer,
bacterial viruses and fungal infections, diarrhoea,
diabetes mellitus, as well as for treatment of many
other dieseases.
Antimicrobial eff ect mechanism of polyphenolic
compounds is based on the following: in acidic environment condensed tannins are spontaneuosly oxidated to quinones and react with
nucleophilic groups of proteins, create covalent
bonds and form irreversible complexes. By this
way, tannins react with surface-layer proteins of
mucosa membrane and skin, with digestive and
other enzymes as well as with bacterial, fungal
and viral proteins (6). In one clinical study which has been performed
we can see high effi ciency of dry extract from rhizome of Potentilla erecta herbal in the treatment
of diarrhoea in children, caused by rotavirus (3).
The study was performed on 16 patients with ulcerative colitis. Patients received extract from rhizome of Potentilla erecta. During the treatment,
CAI (colitis activity index) was measured. At the
dose of 2400 mg exract/day, statistically signifi -
cant reduction of CAI occurred. Lower (1200 mg/
day) dose is not as effi cient as 2400 mg/day dose.
Higher (3000 mg/day) dose neither showed signifi cantly higher effi ciency of 2400 mg/day nor
signifi cant increase of adverse eff ects. Adverse
eff ects included mild gastrointestinal disorders for six patients. However, this was not a reason
to stop therapy. An interesting fact is that unchanged or metabolized tannins can not be detected in the serum of patients which indicated
that tannins from rhizome of erect cinquefoil are
not systemically absorbed (1).
Potentilla alba has recently been included in the
therapy of thyroid gland disease (thyrotoxicosis,
hyperthyreosis, nodular and toxic goiter, hyperplasia of the thyroid gland) and used as a remedy for above dieseases. Therapeutic effi ciency of
Potentilla alba has been proved in clinical studies.
In the studies covering toxic eff ect, extract from
rhizome and stem of Potentilla alba did not show
any toxic eff ects (7). Potentilla extracts show anticariogenic eff ects,
disrupt both colonization of the teeth by dental
pathogens and the subsequent formation of dental plaque. Test results of polyphenol complex on
anticariogenic activity were better in comparison to results of certain polyphenol compounds,
pointing to its sinergistic effect (8).
Extract from rhizome of Potentilla alba, depending
on the dose, influences the strength and length
of swimming by rodents. Swimming distance
covered by rodents after the application of extract from rhizome of Potentilla alba is signifi cantly longer from statistical point of view in relation
to control group. Adaptogenic herbs increase the
resistance of organisms on physical, biological,
chemical and physiological stress (4). Referenties 1. Tomczyk, M., Latte, K.P., Potentilla – A review of
its phytochemical and pharmacological profi le. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2009. 122,
184-204 2. Popović, T.M., Farmacological and phytochemical properties some species of genus
Potentilla. Racional therapy. 2009. 2, 1-5 3. Oszmianski, J., Wojdylo, A., Lamer-Zarawska,
E., Swiader, K., Antioxidant tannins from
Rosaceae plant roots. Food Chemistry. 2007.
100, 579-583 4. Shikov, A., Lazukina, M., Pozharitskaya, O.,
Makarova, M., Golubeva, O., Makarov Valery
and Djachuk, G., Pharmacological evaluation
of Potentilla alba L. in mice: Adaptogenic and
central nervous system efects. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2011. 1-6 5. http://www.perennialherbal.com/joomla16/
index.php/the-plant-blog/36-cinquefoil/Access 05. novembar 2012. 6. N. Kovačević, Elementary of Pharmacognosy
third edition, Serbian School Book, Belgrade,
2004, p.240. 7. http://www.endonorm.com/potentilla_alba.
html /Access 10. novembar 2012 8. Tomczyk, M., Wiater, A. and Pleszczynska, In
Vitro Anticariogenic Eff ects of Aerial Parts of
Potentilla recta and its Phytochemical Profi le.
Phytotherapy research. 2011. 25, 343-350 |