Health Benefits of Anamu

Overview

The botanical name of Anamu is Petiveria alliacea L., which belongs to the Phytolaccaceae family. Amazon Rainforest is the native place of this perennial shrub. Anamu also grows in Central America, Southeastern United States, Caribbean, and some tropical regions. In folk medicine, different plants parts of Anamu used to treat different diseases.

The herbal history described that in the Mayan era Anamu used as an immunity booster and treat multiple respiratory disease conditions such as cold, influenza, etc. In the folk medicinal system, this herb is recommended for oral intake in case of whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, fevers, hoarseness, nervous spasms, paralysis, cystitis, venereal diseases, headaches, fevers, influenza, and menstrual disorders treatment. Traditionally, this herb is externally applied as pain relief in case of ear-ache, headaches, tooth-ache, etc. Some significant traditional applications of Anamu are as follows:

• The wide application of this medicine in the traditional medicinal system include inhalation of Anamu vapor helps in the movement of the limbs of paralyzed individuals.
• Anamu root dosage form also reduces the risk of abortions.
• Liquid dosage form prepared from Anamu leaves is used as the nose and eye drops to cure sinusitis.
• Macerated Anamu leaves preparation facilitates child delivery by inducing muscle contraction.
• A leaf decoction has an analgesic property and used to treat muscular pain and skin disease. vapor intake of leaf decoction used to treat edema.
• Chewing of Anamu leaves prevents dental caries
• Anamu bark infusion helps to treat rheumatism, colic, syphilis, cancer, bronchitis, asthma colds, and fever.

Phytochemicals present in Anamu

Anamu root contains diverse types of phytochemicals, including flavonoids, triterpenes, steroids, and several sulfur-containing amino acids. Anamu contains different types of essential oils like eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, cis-and trans-stilbenes, and dillapiole.

What is the Mode of action of Anamu followed to prevent and cure diseases?

The different phytochemicals present in Anamu exerts different mechanism of actions to impart a variety of mechanism of action.

• Organosulfur compounds present in Anamu have an antimicrobial property and active against Aspergillus niger, C. albicans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum, Penicillium chrysogenum, and S. aureus. The Anamu roots have potent antifungal property due to the presence of polysulfides phytochemicals.
• The cytotoxic effect of Anamu has induced by arresting G2 phase of the cell cycle and prevents cancer cell proliferation. The anticancer activity of Anamu is also followed programmed cell death through apoptosis.
• Anamu has cell mediation property and responsible for the immunomodulating activity. Anamu can modulate different cytokines release. An animal research report demonstrated that Anamu root extract enhances natural killer cell activity and increases the production of different cytokines like IL-2 and IFN-γ and provide protection against Listeria monocytogenes infection.
• β-sitosterol and daucosterol are two phytochemicals present in Anamu have exhibited immunomodulatory activity.
• Th1 immune response against bacterial infection leads to increase expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The anti-inflammatory activity of Anamu obtained due to suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and control infection.
• It is well known that cancer chemotherapeutic agent has multiple side effects. Alteration of immunity is one of the major side effects of many chemotherapeutic agents. 5-fluorouracil is a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, which has myelosuppression. A published research report showed that treatment with Anamu increases the natural body defense mechanism by increasing leukocyte count and antibody-forming cells.
• Anamu leaf extract has alpha-amylase inhibitory properties, which provides a hypoglycemic effect in diabetic condition.

Different Forms of Anamu

• Both internal and external dosage forms are available to treat different disease conditions. Aerial and root preparation of Anamu is available in herbal stores. Anamu root powder and decoction preparation, infusion of leaves are different dosage forms of Anamu.
• Internal preparations are taken orally to treat fevers, influenza, headaches, hoarseness, cystitis, venereal diseases and also control diarrhea.
• External application of this medication acts as antiseptic, and also treat headaches, earaches, toothache.
• Fumigation or vapor bath of the plant helps in restore the movement ability to paralyzed limbs.
• Aqueous and alcoholic extract of Anamu is available as cancer adjuvant therapy for leukemia and breast cancer treatment.

Uses of Anamu

Anti Cancer Property

Anamu can be added to cancer treatment, as it prevents cellular damage by deregulation of the cytoskeleton proteins. In-vitro research result found that the water extract of Anamu whole plant is toxic against leukemia, lymphoma and several other cancer cells.

Treat and Prevent Infection

The whole plant extract had shown that Anamu enhances immune system activity against both bacterial and fungal infections. The antibacterial property of Anamu is effective against Aspergillus niger, C. albicans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Penicillium chrysogenum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, S. ureus, and Microsporum gypseum.

The antifungal activity of Anamu leaves is effective against Candida species, including Candida parapsilosis, Candida kefyr, and Candida albicans.

Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effect

Infection associated inflammation can be treated by Anamu herbal remedy. It is also effective to prevent tumor formation due to its strong anti-inflammatory effect. Anamu root extracts have significant anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect. These benefits may make this herb as an alternative treatment of arthritis drugs.

Recently researchers revealed that this herb may have anti-HIV activity due to its antiviral effect and prospective AIDS treatment for the future.

Antidiabetic

The leaf extract of Anamu can minimize effectively reduce post-prandial glucose levels in diabetics. Animal research has proven its efficacy.

Immunity Booster

Anamu root extract stimulates the immune system and improves our body defense mechanism. It is effective to prevent cancer and multiple infections.

Respiratory Disorder

The whole Anamu extract is an effective treatment option for both upper and lower respiratory disorders. Anamu extract is recommended to treat whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia.

Nervous System Disorders

The whole Anamu extract is taken internally to calm down neurological excitement. It also helps to treat neuronal spasms and paralysis.

Gynecological Issues

Anamu extract has uterine contraction property, which helps in child delivery. This herb is also recommended for menstrual complaints.

Safety and Precautionary Measures

Pregnant women should avoid Anamu containing products as it can cause abortion. Apart from this, other Anamu associated side-effects are dizziness, drowsiness, headache, hypotension. Therefore, consumers should avoid driving or operate any heavy machinery after taking Anamu containing products. Individuals should not concurrently consume alcohol. This may increase the intensity of drowsiness.

Anamu has blood thinning property and increase bleeding risk. Individuals having blood disorders like hemophilia should not use this herbal medicine. Even individuals who are taking warfarin should avoid this herbal product, as concurrent administration of these medications increases the intensity of drug action.

Anamu has hypoglycemic property, therefore diabetic patients who are taking anti-diabetic medications should avoid this herbal product to avoid very low blood glucose levels.

The physiological system of every individual differs. Therefore, the intensity of side effects differ. Depending upon the disease condition, the dose may alter.

References

• PETIVERIA ALLIACEA EXTRACTS USES MULTIPLE MECHANISMS TO INHIBIT GROWTH OF HUMAN AND MOUSE TUMORAL CELLS. 
• A Systematic Review of the Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Petiveria alliacea L. In The Treatment of Chronic Diseases.
• Petiveria alliacea. Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. 
• Antimicrobial and anticancer potential of Petiveria alliacea L. (Herb to “Tame the Master”): A review.
• Petiveria alliacea extracts uses multiple mechanisms to inhibit growth of human and mouse tumoral cells.
• Petiveria alliacea