Glechoma hederacea

Botany

G. hederaceais a creeping perennial that grows to 15 cm. Originally native to Europe and Western Asia, is now naturalised in many other temperate regions (1, 6). It is characterised by the presence of purple or yellow green square stems, and green opposite serrate shaped leaves, as well as blue-pink-violet flowers (3, 4).

G. hederacea thrives in shady places (1). It is often found alongside fences, hedges, roads and wet meadows or on the outskirts of woodlands throughout its native distribution (7).

Due to its vigorous growth in favourable conditions G. hederacea is often regarded as a weed (6).

History

G. hederacea was at one time a popular herb (6, 8). In the early part of the 16th century, it was used to clarify and flavour beer before the introduction of hops (8-10). This gave rise to its synonym Alehoof (8).

British herbalist John Gerard recommended G. hederacea for tinnitus (humming noise and ringing sound of the ears) and kidney diseases (9). Gerard also continued the teaching of Greek physician Dioscorides with its application for sciatica and eye inflammation (6, 10).

G. hederaceawas amongst the earliest herbs brought by European settlers to North America (10). The American physicians of the early 19th century had numerous applications for it and in England at the time, it was regarded as a cure-all (8).

The popularity of G. hederacea has diminished with time resulting in its exclusion from many Materia Medica in favour of other herbs. Despite this, the success of G. hederaceain treating respiratory catarrh with kidney and/or gastrointestinal involvement, has ensured that it remains in use amongst traditional herbalists (1, 8, 11).

Major Active Constituents

Flavonoids
Flavanol glycosides and flavones glycosides (12).
Seven known glycosides have been identified from the whole plants (13)

Terpenoids
Oleanoic acid, a-ursolic and ß-ursolic acid (14).

Volatile Oil
Including menthone, pulegone, pinocampone, monoterpenes (15, 16).

Bitter principle
Glechomin (4).

Lectin
Gleheda is found in the leaves of G. hederacea during early stages of maturation and is considered a potent insecticide. Lectins are common in the Fabaceae family and gleheda is thought to be related both evolutionarily and structurally to lectins found in legumes (17).

Other constituents
G. hederacea contains amino acids, including asparagic acid, glutamic acid, proline, tyrosine, valine (18), methionine, cysteine and serine (15, 19). Saponin (5), fatty acids, marrubiin, rosmarinic acid and wax (4, 10, 18).

Actions

The chemistry and some pharmacological actions of G. hederacea have been relatively well studied and provide insight and support for some of the herbal uses (1, 10, 18). These studies however, have not included human trials and medicinal use of G. hederacea is largely based on traditional herbal knowledge (10).

Anti-catarrhal, especially for use in the upper respiratory tract; mild expectorant; astringent; anti-inflammatory; diuretic; stomachic; vulnerary (1-5, 18, 19).

Pharmacology

A study using mouse peritoneal macrophages examined the effect of G. hederacea on nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) which were induced by interferon-gamma and lipolysaccharide. Results showed that G. hederacea inhibited production of NO (in a dose dependent manner), a pro-inflammatory cytokine and TNF-alpha. No effect was shown with IL-6 production and increased production of one IL. The study concluded that G. hederacea could be used to control inflammatory diseases that are mediated by macrophages (20).

Some anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated in animal models (10, 18, 19, 21).

Anti-cancer activity of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid isolated from G. hederacea was studied in vivo against Epstein Barr Virus tumour production in mouse skin. The inhibition of tumour promotion in mouse skin was successful and considered comparable to a known tumour promoter inhibitor, retinolic acid (22).
One study has looked at the free radical scavenging potential of 45 plant species. Results indicate that the n-hexane extraction of G. hederacea using a methanol extraction had considerable free radical scavenging activity (23).

Rosmarinic acid, a constituent of G. hederacea and a common compound in the Lamiaceae family, has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro (24, 25). Rosmarinic acid is attributed to some of the astringent activity of G. hederacea (18).

Aerial parts of G. hederacea (n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts) were screened in a study for antibacterial, free radical scavenging activity and general toxicity (26).

Clinical Outcome Studies

No clinical human trials on the actions of G. hederacea have been conducted to date (10, 18).

Indications

Indications are based on traditional knowledge and use (10, 18).
Respiratory catarrh; bronchitis; problems involving mucous membranes (ear, nose, throat and digestive system); chronic congestive conditions (glue ear and tinnitus); gastrointestinal disturbances (diarrhoea, gastritis, hyperacidity); cystitis (1-3, 5, 6, 18, 19).

Specific indications
Chronic bronchial catarrh (3, 18).

No documented contra-indications or cautions (10, 18).

The volatile oil component of G. hederacea contains pulegone which is known to be hepatotoxic and a gastrointestinal irritant (25). Although present in low concentrations, caution is recommended for use during pregnancy, lactation and in combination with other herbs containing pulegone (10, 18).

Hypothetical interactions have been proposed with some medications (oral contraceptives, iron, asprin, warfarin) based on the ascorbic acid content of G. hederacea (none of the above herb-drug interactions have documented cases) (10).

Posology

Dry herb:
2-4g tds (3, 18)
2g tds (10)
1.5-3g/d (2)

Liquid extract:
2-4mL tds: 1:1 25% (3, 18)
2-4mL tds: 1:1 25% (10)
20-40mL/wk: 1:2 (2)

References

1. Chevallier A. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: DK Publishing inc.; 2000.

2. Thomsen M. Phytotherapy desk reference: a clinical handbook. 3rd ed. Michael Thomsen; 2005.

3. Anonymous. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Association BHM, editor: British Herbal Medicine Association; 1983.

4. Wren RC. Potters New Cyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. England: CW Daniel Company Ltd; 1985.

5. Hoffmann D. The New Holistic Herbal. Haddington: Scotprint; 1990.

6. Anonymous. Magic and Medicine of Plants. Surry Hills Australia: Readers Digest Australia; 1994.

7. Gabriel I. Herb identifier and handbook. New York: Sterling publishing company; 1979.

8. Grieve MM. A Modern Herbal. Leyel MCF, editor. Great Britain: Mackays of Chatham PLC; 1931.

9. Gerard J. Gerard's Herbal: Historie of Plants. Woodward M, editor. United Kingdom: Senate; 1597.

10. Natural Standards Monograph [database on the Internet] 2008 [cited 16/08/2008]. Available from: <http://www.naturalstandard.com>.

11. Cook W. The Physiomedical Dispensatory. 1869 [cited 2008 27/08].

12. Zieba J. Isolation and identification of flavonoids from Glechoma hederaceae. Pol J Pharmacol Pharm [serial on the Internet]. 1973 [cited 16/08/2008]; 25(6):593-97.

13. Kikuchi M, Goto J, Noguchi S, Kakuda R, Yaoita Y. Glycosides from whole plants of Glechoma hederacea L. The Japanese Society Of Pharmacognosy 2008;62 (4):479-80.

14. Zieba J. Isolation and identification of nonheteroside triterpenoids from Glechoma hederaceae. Pol J Pharmacol Pharm [serial on the Internet]. 1973 [cited 16/08/2008]; 25(6):587-592.

15. Takemoto T, Kusano G, Hikino H. Constituents of ground ivy. Yakugaku Zasshi [serial on the Internet]. 1966 [cited 20/09/2008]; 86: 1162-65.

16. Stahl E, Datta SN. New sesquiterpenoids of the ground ivy (Glechoma hederaceae). Justus Liebigs Ann Chem [serial on the Internet]. 1972 [cited 20/09/2008]; 757.

17. Wang W, Peumans WJ, Rouge P, Rossi C, Proost P, Chen J, et al. Leaves of the Laminaceae species Glechoma Hederacea (ground ivy) contain a lectin that is structurally and evolutionary related to the legume lectins. The Plant Journal: For Cell And Molecular Biology 2003;33(2):293-304.

18. Barnes J, Anderson LA, Philipson JD. Herbal Medicines. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2007 [cited 19/09/2008].

19. Anonymous. British herbal Compendium. Bradley PR, editor. Dorset England: British Herbal Medical Association; 1992.

20. An HJ, Jeong HJ, Um JY, Kim HM, Hong SH. Glechoma hederacea inhibits inflammatory mediator release in IFN-gamma and LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. J Ethnopharmacol 2006;106(3):418-24.[Abstract online].

21. Mascolo N, Autore G, Capasso F, Menghini A, Fasulo MP. Biological Screening of Italian Medicinal Plants for Anti-inflammatory Activity. Phytother Res [serial on the Internet]. 1987 [cited 20/09/2008]; 1.

22. Tokuda H, Ohigashi H, Koshimizu K, Ito Y. Inhibitory effects of ursolic and oleanolic acid on skin tumour promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Cancer Letters [serial on the Internet]. 1986 [cited 16/08/2008]; 33(3): 279-85.

23. Kumarasamy Y, Byres M, Cox PJ, Jaspars M, Nahar L, Sarker SD. Screening Seeds of some Scottish Plants for Free Radical Scavenging Activity. Phytotherapy Research [serial on the Internet]. 2007 [cited 15/11/2008]; 21(7).

24. Mills S, Bone K. Principles And Practice Of Phytotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2000.

25. Heinrich M, Barnes J, Gibbons S, Williamson EM. Fundamentals Of Pharmacognosy And Phytotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2004.

26. Kumarasamy Y, Cox PJ, Jaspars M, Nahar L, Sarker SD. Biological activity of Glechoma hederaceae. Fitoterapia 2002;73(7-8):721-3.

27. Medline [database on the Internet] 2008. Available from: <http://www.scu.edu.au/library/online/database>

This monograph was authored in 2008 by Jessica Gatti, a student in Southern Cross University’s Bachelor of Naturopathy programme, and edited by Nena Aleschewski BNat. While the author and editor have strived to cite published information accurately, Southern Cross University will not be responsible for any inaccuracies that may have occurred.

This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you wish to use herbal medicine as part of your health care, seek the advice of an appropriately qualified practitioner.