Growth inhibiting activity of volatile oil from Cistus creticus L. against Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. in vitro.
Hutschenreuther A, Birkemeyer C, Gr�tzinger K, Straubinger RK, Rauwald HW.
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Leipzig, Germany.
Abstract
Borreliosis patients from self-help groups reported considerable pain relief after ingestion of Cistus creticus leaf preparations.
C. creticus leaf extracts of different polarities such as aqueous, ethyl acetate, hexane extracts as well as the volatile oil fraction obtained by steam distillation were tested for their antibacterial activity against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss) in vitro using the antibiotic amoxicilline as standard and polysorbate 80 as solubilizer for lipophilic extracts.
Comparison of the four plant preparations shows that the volatile oil exerts the strongest growth inhibitory effect. Even concentrations of 0.02% (w/v) volatile oil in cultivation media reduced the total number of bacteria to 2% in comparison to a growth control after an eight-day cultivation period. While the aqueous extract did not reduce bacterial growth, incubation with hexane and ethyl acetate extracts clearly inhibited microbial growth.
The main volatile components of the three active extracts tested were analyzed by GC-MS. The number of different labdane-type diterpenes as well as the total relative amount of diterpenes in the samples tested was highest in the essential oil of C. creticus.
Identification of ten different volatile labdane-type diterpenes was assigned to the essential oil of C. creticus. Among these, manoyl oxide, 13-epi-manoyl oxide, 3-acetoxy-manoyl oxide and the monoterpene carvacrol were determined to be major constituents, accompanied by minor amounts of 3-hydroxy-manoyl oxide, all of which are known to exert antimicrobial activity.
PMID: 20432627 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
------------------------------------------------ Cistus is a flowering plant more commonly known as rock rose. There are around 20 species of the plant. General info available here.
The first reference I ran across for this plant was just last week when I was researching herbs used for babesia. I found a slide presentation from a German doc titled �Holistic Treatment of Lyme Disease� � pages 26 & 27.
Then I got my new book in the mail yesterday, �Healing Lyme Disease Naturally�. Page 233 is quoted here � �Rockrose (cistus incansus), a small, resinous shrub found in the macchia thickets of the Mediterranean, is considered to be a miracle drug among Lyme disease self-help groups. The great amounts of polyphenol neutralize free radicals and strengthen the endogenous immune system. Taken as a tea or decoction, it is claimed to protect from tick or mosquito bites.�
I went to PubMed and on the first page found the abstract above. Under the species cistus there are 175 pubmed articles. It does look like as with most plants there is considerable difference in the chemical composition of the various species � have not researched the chemistry at this point.
A quick google search does find a number of sources for cistus essential oil � not sure which species. But it might be worth trying as a topical essential oil.
Interesting! I actually have a piece of it. I was wondering what it was for a long time.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
| IP: Logged |
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
quote: Borreliosis patients from self-help groups reported considerable pain relief after ingestion of Cistus creticus leaf preparations.
Bea, this is very interesting.
When I looked it up I saw that Bach Flower Remedies makes a Rock Rose, although I'm not sure if it's Cistus creticus.
Thank you for the sources, now I'm curious if the tea will do anything.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
NanaDubo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14794
posted
Biopure carries Rock Rose Tea.
Posts: 1129 | From Maine | Registered: Feb 2008
| IP: Logged |
chiquita incognita
Unregistered
posted
Hi Friends Usually, extracts are more potent than teas. So if you do the teas, you may need to take a lot of them.
Sometimes if I am doing a tea for therapeutic purposes, I will drink 3 cups daily.
But that's a statement that has to be qualified because some plants are stronger than others. I wouldn't do thyme tea that much, for example (one of the constituents in the thyme *oil* can be a skin or organ lining irritant. Yet it can also benefit in many ways. It's less likely to be an issue with the tea than with the oil, and most people would be fine with the tea. But some people could react to it if they happen to be very sensitive).
So it depends on the herb we are talking about.
I don't know of any issues with rock rose but you never know. I would have to research it a bit. It's probably fine but to research it a bit is also a good idea.
You could try Henriette's Herbal Homepage
IP: Logged |
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
quote:Originally posted by NanaDubo: Biopure carries Rock Rose Tea.
Hah, this is from BioPure!
I ordered some, but have nothing to report yet. This vendor did not charge for shipping.
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
I ordered some. It came in a plastic lined paper sack, so I transferred it to a wide mouth container with a screw lid.
I worked out how to brew it and strain out the solids. I add sugar. It tastes like a meadow.
I haven't been drinking it with any sort of regularity, because I'm not that enamoured of the flavor.
It's high in antioxidants, which might be why it does something for some people. It's alot of stuff...it's going to last forever, at the rate I'm drinking it, haha.
Nothing to report yet.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
I've been taking the cistus tea from BioPure as part of a number of things intended to address biofilm. My pendulum says it is not just good for me, but quite excellent these days.
I like the smell which to me is just a very subtle mint, but I don't experience it as having any taste, good or bad.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
| IP: Logged |
posted
I've tried the cistus tea for a couple weeks and haven't noticed any reaction, but it tastes fine. Friends who've tried this also said they didn't notice any reaction to it.
I'm just starting Cistus essential oil (I'm using the Young Living brand - not sure if it really matters), 1-2 drops/day in a capsule.
I have friends who are reporting noticeable herxes from Cistus oil and they are saying that they can't tolerate more than 2 drops/day. My oil smells sort of like the tea, but MUCH stronger, almost smells like varnish.
Posts: 57 | From oregon | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
I have been using cistus from biopure as well, from Dr. K's recommendation/discussion at his seminar. He put it that it was for biofilm, I had not heard of any antiborrelia properties until reading this thread. I have found it a very excellent addition to my program. By the way, biopure sells cistus incanus--so perhaps a little different than the cistus creticus mentioned above.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic