| Botany
Small, erect, glabrous and branching
shrub, growing to 1.5 meters high. Leaves are glossy green, opposite,
up to 3 cm long, petioled, ovate, with a rounded tip. Flowers are in
clusters, fragrant, bright yellow, up to 1.5 cm across, in clusters
of 4 to 6 at the stem tips.
Distribution
Popularly cultivated in towns and
cities.
Flowers year-round.
Uses
Folkloric
• No reported folkloric medicinal
use in the Philippines.
• In Latin American
traditional medicine, used for asthma and allergies.
• In Mexican traditional
medicine, used for mental disorders, as a sedative and tranquilizer.
Studies
• Homeopathic Proving:
Statistical analysis showed no significant
differences, certain symptoms were observed, i.e., relaxing, sedative,
anxiolytic and anti-allergic. Results confirmed toxicological and clinical
effects of Galphimia glauca compared to placebo, but not enough to satisfy
the ICCH criteria for distinguishing between specific and unspecific
symptoms.
Bronchoconstriction inhibition / Asthma:
The ethylacetate fraction of the aerial
parts sigificantly and selectively inhibited the bronchoconstriction
induced by leukotrine D4 (LTD4).
• Anxiolytic: (1) Study
has yielded an active principle, galphimine B (GB, a nor-seco-triterpene).
Aqueous extract of Gg showed anxiolytic effectiveness, similar to that
produced by lorazepam, but with regards side effects, Gg showed a higher
tolerability than lorazepam. (2) Study evaluated the anxiolytic effects of galphimine B, A and E. Results showed the GRF (galphamine-rich fraction) had activity similar to the most active pure glaphamines (1 and 2), and the main determining factor for anxiolytic activity was the presence of free hydroxyl groups at C4,6,and 7 and the double bond A ring. (3) Studies have isolated the anxiolytic and sedative principle consisting of a mixture of norsecofriedelanes, named the galphimine series.
• Hay Fever / Pollinosis: Study
comparing Galphimia glauca to placebo in the treatment of pollinosis
showed a sigificant superiority of Gg over placebo, with effects comparable
to those of conventional antihistamines but with no side effects.
• Toxicological / Cytotoxic: Study
of extracts have yielded different triterpenes: galphimines. Galphimine
B possess anxiolytic activity and selectively inhibits dischargers of
dopaminergic neurons in rats. This study saw no deaths, no histopath
changes; behavioral parameters showed a diminution of spontaneous activity.
All the extracts inhibited colon cancer cell line growth with no genotoxic
effect.
• Phytochemicals / Weak Anti-Protozoal Activity: Study
isolated four new terpenoids with the known sterols and flavonol quercetin. Quercetin was the only isolate that showed any antiprotozoal activity, and weak at that.
Availability
Wildcrafted.
Ornamental cultivation.
Pellets, extracts and supplements in the cybermarket.
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