More medical attributes of the Jewelweed plantThis is a later version of a paper written in 2013 by

More medical attributes of the Jewelweed plant

This is a later version of a paper written in 2013 by, Kyla Halsor and Nicholas Pandelios of Wilkes Barre University in Pennsylvania. Medical Attributes of Impatiens sp. - Jewelweed by Kyla Halsor and Nicholas Pandelios Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA July 2013 Impatiens sp., commonly known as jewelweed or touch-me-not, is a member of the Balsaminaceae or balsam family (Imam et. al., 2012). Jewelweed is an annual herbaceous plant that grows up to three to five feet tall. It possesses succulent stems and distinctive seed pods that explosively disperse seeds when touched (Motz et. al., 2012). Green oval, toothed leaves are found in opposite arrangement in lower leaves and in alternate arrangement in upper leaves (Foster & Duke, 2000). Impatiens capensis and Impatiens balsamina are two major studied species of the nearly one thousand species of the Impatiens genus (Motz et. al., 2012). I. capensis, native to North America, produces orange flowers with bell-shaped corollas, whereas I. balsamina, native to many parts of Asia, produces pink and purple axillary flowers found on short pedicels (Motz et. al., 2012). Jewelweed is found in shaded riverbanks, ditches, and woodland borders where wet, shady soil is prevalent (Motz et. al., 2012). Native Americans, including the Southern Cherokee, Potawatomi, Chippewa, Meskwaki, and Omaha tribes, utilized the fresh juice and extracts of I. capensis topically for both prevention and treatment of allergic contact dermatitis from poison ivy or oak (Long et. al., 1997). Native Americans also commonly used this plant to treat nettle stings, insect bites, and hives (Motz et. al., 2012). Alternatively, I. balsamina has been used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries in treatment of such ailments as rheumatism, fractures, swelling, and bruises (Wang et. al., 2009). In China, a decoction of the dried herb is used to remedy bacterial and fungal infections while a plaster form is used to treat local infections (Su et. al., 2012). In Japan, juice extracted from the white corolla of I. balsamina is used to treat dermatitis whereas the seeds are used to suppress childbirth pain (Wang et. al., 2009). In Bangladesh, the aerial parts of I. balsamina are used to treat rheumatism, bruises, and beriberi, the flowers treat neuralgia and burns, and the juices of the petal are applied topically for treatment of dermatitis (Iman et. al., 2012). The principal active components in Impatiens sp. are the dinapthofuran-7, 12-dione derivatives, lawsone and lawsone methyl ether (Sakunpheuak & Panichayupakaranant, 2010). These chemical constituents provide predominant anti-microbial, anti-anaphylaxis, and anti-allergic activities (Sakunpheuak & Panichayupakaranant, 2010). Lawsone, lawsone methyl ether, and methylene-3,3’-bilawsone, an anti-pruritic agent, are each isolated from the leaves and roots of Impatiens sp. (Iman et. al., 2012). Lawsone, lawsone methyl ether and methylene-3,3’-bilawsone have also been shown to exhibit cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines A549, Bel-7402, and Hela (Pei et al., 2012). Other active compounds possessing anti-dermatitis, anti-bacterial, anti-pruritic, and anti-histaminic properties include peptides, quinines, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and coumarins found in the seeds, roots, and flowers of Impatiens sp. (Su et. al., 2012). Ib-AMP4 is a peptide isolated from Impatiens sp. which displays effective antimicrobial properties upon activation with hydrogen peroxide (Iman et. Al, 2012). Apigenin, luteolin, and luteolin 7-glucoside are found in the extract of the flower and exhibit significant allergy preventive effects observed in in vivo studies (Iwaoka et al., 2010). An in vivo study showed kaempferol, isolated from the petals of Impatiens sp., inhibited scratching behavior in mice with atopic dermatitis, demonstrating anti-pruritic and anti-dermatitis properties of Impatiens sp.(Oku & Ishiguro, 2001). Despite being used both traditionally and in modern day for the treatment of poison ivy and poison oak exposure, Impatiens sp. has not been found to be convincingly successful when used in the treatment of urushiol induced contact dermatitis (Long et al., 1997, Bedi & Shenefelt, 2002, Motz et al., 2012). In a clinical study, ten adult volunteers were subjected to urushiol on a site on their forearm. After nine days of treatment with distilled water or jewelweed, there was no statistically significant improvement at the sites treated by jewelweed versus the distilled water control sites (Long et al., 1997). However, in another clinical trial poison ivy rashes were induced on volunteers in six locations. These rashes were treated with jewelweed extracts, jewelweed mash, soap made from jewelweed extract, water, and Dawn dish soap. Only the jewelweed mash was found to have a significant effect in reducing dermatitis (Motz et al., 2012). Thus, there has not been overwhelming evidence that jewelweed is an effective treatment for urushiol contact dermatitis. Jewelweed extract, specifically the pod extract, and its constituents have been shown to be effective antimicrobial agents (Fan et al., 2013, Su et al., 2012, Young-Hee et al., 2007, Yuan-Chuen et al., 2011, Wang et al. 2009). Ib-AMP4 has shown effectiveness against MRSA and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and could be applicable in the treatment of septicemia (Fan et al., 2013). Ib-AMP4 has also showed promise in its ability to be readily produced by transgenic Escherichia coli that have successfully taken up a plasmid containing the gene (Fan et al., 2013). Kaempferol isolated from the Impatiens balsamina has been shown to be effective against the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes and has the potential to treat acne in combination with other antibiotics (Young-Hee et al., 2007). Lawsone and spinasterol, found in the extract from Impatiens balsamina, has been found to be effective against antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori, with lawsone being similar in activity to amoxicillin (Wang et al., 2009, Yuan-Chuen et al., 2011). This anti-bacterial behavior of jewelweed extract could be applicable in the treatment of stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori. Several components of Impatiens extract have cytotoxic activity and productive viability, which demonstrate the potential for the development of anticancer drugs (Wang et al., 2012, Sakunphueak et al., 2010 & 2013). The active components lawsone, lawsone methyl ether, and methylene-3,3’-bilawsone have been identified as the primary anti-tumor components and have demonstrated significant anti-gastric adenocarcinoma activity within an in vitro study (Pei et al. 2012, Wang et al., 2012, Yuan-Chuen et al., 2011, Zhi-Shan et al. 2008). The ability to increase production of these three active compounds 8-11 fold in the plant has been successfully demonstrated, suggesting that it could be commercially viable to produce them (Sakunphueak et al., 2013). Of all the studies reviewed, no negative side effects of the use of jewelweed extract and its constituents were reported, however further clinical studies would likely be necessary to confirm this. Impatiens sp., its extract and its constituents, have diverse characteristics and activities and should be further studied for various useful properties and applications. These applications include anti-dermatitis, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer properties that hold promise for the treatment of acne, stomach ulcers, septicemia and gastric adenocarcinoma. Though there is limited evidence supporting a significant ability to treat urushiol contact dermatitis, jewelweed shows great potential as a medically viable and beneficial plant for treatment of other varying ailments. LITERATURE CITED Bedi, M.K. & P.D. Shenefelt. 2002. Herbal therapy in dermatology. Archives of Dermatology 138: 232-242. Ding, Z., F. Jiang, N. Chen, G. Lu, & C. Zhu. 2008. Isolation and identification of an anti-tumor component from leaves of Impatiens balsamina. Molecules 13:220-229. Fan, X., H. Schäfer, J. Reichling, & M. Wink. 2013. Bactericidal properties of the antimicrobial peptide Ib-AMP4 from Impatiens balsamina produced as a recombinant fusion-protein in Escherichia coli. Biotechnology Journal 8(10):1213-20. Foster, S. & J.A. Duke. 2000. Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York 155 pp. Iman, M.Z., N. Nahar, S. Akter, & M.S. Rana. 2012. Antinociceptive activity of methanol extract of methanol extract of flowers of Impatiens balsamina.Journal of Ethnopharmacology 142: 804-810. Iwaoka, E., H. Oku, M. Inuma, & K. Ishaguro. 2010. Allergy-preventive effects of the flowers of Impatiens textori.Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 33: 714-716. Li. W., X. Bi, K. Wang, D. Li, T. Satou, & K. Koike. 2009. Triterpenoid saponins from Impatiens siculifer. Phytochemistry 70:816-821. Lim, Y., I. Kim, J. Seo. 2007. In vitro activity of kaempferol isolated from the Impatiens balsamina alone and in combination with erythromycin or clindamycin against Propionibacterium acnes. The Journal of Microbiology 473-477. Long, D., N.H. Ballentine, & J.G. Marks, Jr. 1997. Treatment of poison ivy/oak allergic contact dermatitis with an extract of jewelweed. American Journal of Contact Dermatitis 8: 150-153. Motz, V.A., C.P. Bowers, L.M. Young, & D.H. Kinder. 2012. The effectiveness of jewelweed, Impatiens capensis, the related cultivar I. balsamina and the component, lawsone in preventing post poison ivy exposure contact dermatitis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 143: 314-318. Oku, H. & K. Ishiguro. 2001. Antipruritic and antidermatitic effect of extract and compounds of Impatiens balsamina L. in atopic dermatitis model NC mice. Phytotherapy Research 15(6): 506-510. Pei, H., J. Lei, & S.H. Qian. 2012. A new cytotoxic dinaphthofuran-7,12-dione derivatives from the seeds of Impatiens balsamina. Journal of Chinese Medicinal Materials 35(3): 407-410. Sakunphueak, A. & P. Panichayupakaranant. 2010. Increased production of naphthoquinones in Impatiens balsamina root cultures by elicitation with methyl jasmonate. Bioresource Technology 101: 8777-8783. Sakunphueak, A., P. Tansakul, K. Umehara, H. Noguchi, & P. Panichayupakaranant. 2013. Effect of methionine on production of napthoquinones in Impatiens balsamina root cultures and detection of some secondary metabolites. Pharmaceutical Biology 51:36-41. Su, B., R. Zeng, J. Chen, C. Chen, J. Guo, & C. Huang. 2012. Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of various solvent extracts from Impatiens balsamina L. stems. Journal of Food Science 77: 614-619. Wang, Y., D. Wu, J. Liao, C. Wu, W. Li, & B. Weng. 2009. In vitro activity of Impatiens balsamina L. against multiple antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori.The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 37: 713-722. Wang, Y., W. Li, D. Wu, J. Wang, C. Wu, J. Liao, & C. Lin. 2011. In vitro activity of 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and stigmasta-7,22-diene-3β-ol from Impatiens balsamina L. against multiple antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori. Evidence Based Complement Alternative Medicine 704-721. Wang, Y. & Y. Lin. 2012. Anti-gastric adenocarcinoma activity of 2-methoxy-1,4-napthoquinone, an anti- Helicobacter pylori compound from Impatiens balsamina L. Fitoterapia 83: 1336-1344. This paper was developed as part of the BIO 368 - Medical Botany course offered at Wilkes University during the summer of 2013. Course instructor was Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D. (kenneth.klemow@wilkes.edu). The information contained herein is based on published sources, and is made available for academic purposes only. No warrantees, expressed or implied, are made about the medical usefulness or dangers associated with the plant species in question. Return to Plant Summaries page This page posted and maintained by Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D., Biology Department, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766. (570) 408-4758, kenneth.klemow@wilkes.edu.