Damiana or Turnera diffusa benefits

How Damiana or Turnera diffusa benefits were found?

Damiana or Turnera diffusa is a wild shrub found in the Caribbean, north-eastern Brazil, Mexico, Mesoamerica, and Texas. Latin Americans often used this herb as a “love Potion” due to its potent aphrodisiac property. Apart from this, they also traditionally used Damiana to treat diabetes, kidney, menstrual and pregnancy disorders. Traditionally this herb is also considered a tonic, diuretic, laxative, nerve tonic. A combination of Damiana extracts and tequila are apparently used as love potions.[1,2]

Damiana is enlisted in British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for specific indications including anxiety neurosis associated with impotency, to treat atonic constipation, coital inadequacy, depression, and nervous dyspepsia. In Latin American societies, Damiana leaf infusion formulation is considered as a traditional remedy for the gastrointestinal and respiratory system, and reproductive organs disorder and also for the treatment of gonorrhoea. Not only folk medicine, the application of damiana in homoeopathic medicinal system is evidential. In homeopathic medicine, 85% ethanol extract of damiana, which is also known as Mother tincture of damiana is recommended to treat sexual debility, and nervous prostration. [2] BPC, USP, DAB are different pharmacopeias include Damiana containing herbal products. [3]

What are the phytochemicals present in Damiana or Turnera diffusa?

Turnera diffusa species contain some specific phytochemicals like cyanohydrin glucoside linamarin; cyanogenic glucoside deidaclin. [4] Flavanone pinocembrin is the flavonoids present in Turnera diffusa species. This herb also contains teuhetenone A, a nor-sesquiterpene as a bioactive phytochemical. [1] Some unique phytochemicals of Turnera diffusa include tetraphyllin B, gonzalitosin I, arbutin, damianin, tricosan-2-one, hexacosanol, a volatile oil containing α-pinene, β-pinene, p-cymene and 1,8-cineole; and β-sitosterol. [2]

What is the Mode of action of Damiana or Turnera diffusa health benefits?

• Researchers expected that Turnera diffusa might inhibit phosphodiesterase-5 obtained and exert aphrodisiac activity. [3]
• diffusaacts as a monoamine oxidase A inhibitor and the acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor. [1,2]
• The presence of bioactive phytochemical teuhetenone A exerts its hypoglycemic property. [1,2]
• The flavanone pinocembrin acts as an aromatase inhibitor, which increases testosterone levels and improves libido. [1,2]
• Flavonoids present in diffusahas antioxidant property. [1,2]
• Flavonoids are known to influence the metabolism, e.g., by inhibiting oxidases or activating antioxidative enzymes. [1,2]
• Velutin, a dimethoxylated hydroxy flavone is a phytochemical present in diffusa has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. It inhibits NF-κB activation as well as p38 and JNK phosphorylation. It also down-regulates TNF-α and IL-6. [1,2]
• The detailed cytotoxic effect of diffusa associated with flavonoids. This phytochemical influences the metabolism by inhibiting oxidases or activating antioxidative enzymes. [1,2]
• Apigenin, chrysin, and luteolin are different flavones, which restrict the proteasome catalytic activities in tumor cells and induce cell death in myeloma cells (cancer growth. [1,2]
• diffusa has strong cytotoxic effect against cancer cell as it acts as proteasome inhibitors and also compounds present in damiana induces reactive oxygen species in myeloma cells.[1,2]
• Flavanone naringenin decreases the viability of malignant tissue. [1,2]

What are the different forms of Damiana or Turnera diffusa?

Damiana-containing herbal tea is a tonic beverage. A liquor of Damiana (T. diffusa) is used in Latin America to boost sexual activity. A combination of Yohimbine, Arginine with Damiana gives better aphrodisiac action. [3]

A combination of Yerbe Maté, Guarana and Damiana is recommended 3 tablets with 100ml water 15 minutes before meal help to suppress food intake. [5]

Damiana or Turnera diffusa Uses

Sexual health

diffusa is well established aphrodisiacs due to its phosphodiesterase-5 inhibiting effect. Both male and female get benefited due to its stimulating property. Users experience increased sexual arouse with T. diffusa. This herb is also effective remedy for Erectile Dysfunction.[3]

Anti-inflammatory effect

Velutin presence in T. diffusa down-regulate TNF-α and IL-6 expression. Thus, this herb is effective to suppress inflammation. [1]

Anti-tumor

Presence of flavones has anti-tumor activity, which also responsible for cancer cell death. [1]

Anxiolytic

Damiana has anxiolytic properties as apigenin and flavone have anti-anxiety properties. [2]

Mild sedative

Damiana has a mild sedative effect due to the presence of apigenin. [2]

Anticonvulsant activity

The presence of apigenin in damiana exerts anticonvulsant property. [2]

Analgesic activity

Damiana can reduce pain, as apigenin has analgesic properties. [2]

Anticancer

The cytotoxic, antitumor and anti-inflammatory property of T. diffusa effective against cancer progression. This herbal remedy is effective against breast cancer, nasopharynx carcinoma. [1]

Diabetes induced kidney problem solution

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder and often negatively affect different organ functioning. Kidney failure is one of the serious health issue associated with diabetes. The fast oxidative stress accumulation due to chronic illness may the reason of organ failure. An animal research reported diabetes affected rat’s kidney was isolated and investigators found increased level of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and protein nitrosylation levels in kidney mitochondria. These free radicals in kidney leads to oxidative stress. The potent antioxidant property of Damiana helps to reduce malondialdehyde, nitric oxide levels and subsequently reduce the risk of kidney disease. [6]

Weight management

Damiana can suppress appetite and help in weight management. A combination formulation Yerbe Maté, Guarana and Damiana is effective to control caloric intake,  which is beneficial for appetite regulation. This benefit is clinically tested. Research finding reported that intake of this formulation significantly reduce food intake by suppressing appetite. [5]

Damiana or Turnera diffusa side effects

Damiana is considered as a safe in mild to moderate doses. However, anima study result reported 200 grams of damiana extract intake causes convulsions. Damiana has a drug interaction tendency, therefore consult your doctor before including this herbal regimen in your daily diet. [7]

When should I avoid Damiana or Turnera diffusa?

• People who have a tendency of low blood pressure or intake hypertensive medication should avoid Damiana, as it can also cause further lowering of blood pressure level. Similarly, diabetic patients have administered blood sugar lowering medications should also avoid Damiana intake, as it can cause serious hypoglycemic condition.
• Damiana may blood thinning property, so avoid to intake this herbal regimen two weeks before any surgical intervention.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid intake of Damiana due to lack of safety data. [7]

References

1. Cytotoxic Properties of Damiana (Turnera diffusa) Extracts and Constituents and A Validated Quantitative UHPLC-DAD Assay.

2. Pharmacological evaluation of Bioactive Principle of Turnera aphrodisiaca.

3. Damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd.) – a traditionally used aphrodisiac as modern PDE-5 inhibitor.

4. The Genus Turnera.: A Review Update.

5. Acute effects of a herb extract formulation and inulin fibre on appetite, energy intake and food choice. 

6. Antioxidant effects of damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult.) in kidney mitochondria from streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

7. The Health Benefits of the Damiana Plant.