Tylophora
Common name: Indian
ipecac
Botanical names:
Tylophora indica, Tylophora
asthmatica
Parts used and where
grown
Tylophora is a perennial climbing plant
native to the plains, forests, and hills of southern and
eastern India. The portions of the plant used
medicinally are the leaves and
root.
Tylophora has been used in
connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual health concern
for complete information):
| Health Concerns |
|
Asthma |
|
Diarrhea
Hay
fever |
Historical
or traditional use (may or may not
be supported by scientific
studies)
This plant has been traditionally used as
a folk remedy in certain regions of India for the
treatment of bronchial asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism,
and dermatitis. In the latter half of the 19th century,
it was called Indian ipecacuahna, as the roots of the
plant have often been employed as an effective
substitute for ipecac. The use to induce vomiting led to
tylophora’s inclusion in the Bengal Pharmacopoeia of
1884.
Active constituents
The major constituent in tylophora is the
alkaloid tylophorine. Laboratory research has shown this
isolated plant extract exerts a strong anti-inflammatory
action. Test tube studies suggest that tylophorine is
able to interfere with the action of mast cells, which
are key components in the process of inflammation. These
actions seem to support tylophora’s traditional use as
an antiasthmatic and antiallergic medication by
Ayurvedic practitioners.
These historical and laboratory findings
have been supported by several human clinical trials
using differing preparations of tylophora, including the
crude leaf, tincture, and capsule. One clinical trial
with asthma sufferers, found that tylophora leaf (150 mg
of the leaf by weight) chewed and swallowed daily in the
early morning for six days led to moderate to complete
relief of their asthma symptoms. In a follow-up trial
with asthma patients, an alcoholic extract of crude
tylophora leaves in 1 gram of glucose had comparable
effects to that of chewing the crude leaf.
Another trial found similar success in reducing
asthma symptoms using a tylophora leaf powder (350 mg
per day.) However, the tylophora was not as effective as
a standard asthma drug combination. One double-blind
trial failed to show any effect on asthma for
tylophora.
How much is usually
taken?
Tylophora leaf—200 to 400 mg of the dried
leaf per day or 1 to 2 ml of tincture per day—can be
used to treat asthma.
Are there any side effects or
interactions?
Patients using tylophora may experience
temporary nausea and vomiting, soreness of the mouth,
and loss of taste for salt, particularly with the fresh
leaf and tincture. The herb’s safety for use during
pregnancy and breast-feeding has not been established.
People with asthma should be closely monitored by a
qualified healthcare
professional.