Active ingredients in Petasites
Petasin, a kind of sesquiterpene ester, appears to be a major active compound of
petasites hybridus extract. It has inhibitory activities on leukotriene generation in
eosinophils and neutrophils. This indicates that it may have anti-inflammatory and
anti-allergy properties. Petasites may be helpful for seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Petasites also helps reduce smooth muscle spasm.
Petadolex is standardized to contain 15% of butterbur's key ingredient, petasin. It's also guaranteed to be pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) free, so you can use it with confidence. PA's are toxic compounds that can harm the liver. Studies demonstrate patented Petadolex is safe and well tolerated.
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Petasites
Supplement Facts:
Purple Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) -
50 mg*
(Petadolex brand) Root Extract
standardized to contain 7.5 mg petasins and to be free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs)
Recommendations: One petasites softgel three times daily,
or 2 softgels 2 times daily
for the first few weeks. Thereafter, one softgel twice daily. However,
these are rough guidelines since each person is unique in their response.
* Petasites daily value not established
Petasites Safety
Petasites has not been studied extensively enough or for a long enough
period to determine its side effects. Burping was the only side effect noted in
a recent study published in the December 2004 issue of Neurology (see
below).
Petasites Dosage
Typically, Petasites extracts are standardized to contain a minimum of 7.5 mg of
petasin and isopetasin. The adult dosage ranges from 50-100 mg twice daily.
Medical uses for Petasites
Migraine Headache: Two clinical studies using 50 mg and 75 mg of a standardized
Petasites extract twice daily for 12 weeks demonstrated its effectiveness as a
prophylactic treatment for migraines. When used to treat migraines, administration is
prophylactic and supplementation should be carried out daily for a few weeks and then
tapered until migraine incidence begins to increase. Petasites may work by preventing
peptidoleukotriene biosynthesis.
Effectiveness of Petasites hybridus
preparations in the prophylaxis of migraine: a systematic review.
Phytomedicine. 2006 November. Agosti R, Duke RK, Chrubasik JE,
Chrubasik S. Headache Center Hirslanden, Münchhaldenstr. 33, 8008 Zürich,
Switzerland.
The objective of this review was to evaluate the strength of evidence of
effectiveness for Petasites hybridus in the prophylaxis of migraine.
Several databases and other sources were searched to identify randomised-controlled
trials investigating Petasites hybridus preparations. Two trials totalling
293 patients (60 and 233 patients) were included in this review. Both
trials investigated the proprietary Petasites root extract Petadolex. The
extract at higher dose (150 mg) showed a greater decreased frequency of
migraine attacks and a greater number of responders (improvement>50%)
after treatment over 3-4 months than the extract at lower dose (100 mg)
and placebo. Moderate evidence of effectiveness is, thus, available for a
higher than the recommended dose of the proprietary Petasites root extract
Petadolex in the prophylaxis of migraine. Further rigorous studies are
required to confirm effectiveness and safety in long-term use before
treatment with Petasites root extract can be recommended as an alternative
option in the treatment schedule for the prophylaxis of migraine.
Asthma or Bronchitis: Various parts of the petasites plant have
been used for centuries to treat bronchial asthma and whooping cough. Petasites’
possible effectiveness in treating respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis is
attributed to the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties of the petasin
constituent. (see below)
Gastrointestinal Disorders: A German study found extracts of
Petasites blocked ethanol-induced gastric damage and reduced ulcerations of the small
intestine caused by indomethacin, an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritic
conditions. The results of this study were attributed to inhibition of lipoxygenase
activity and leukotriene biosynthesis.
Petasites Research Update
An extract of the root of a plant called
butterbur ( Petasites hybridus ) significantly reduces the frequency of
migraine headaches. An article published in the December issue of
Neurology reports a trial that compared petasites with an inactive
placebo. Researchers compared the efficacy of two different doses of
petsites extract to that of a placebo in about 230 migraine patients.
They had experienced two to six attacks per month for the 3 months prior
to the study. The number of migraine headache attacks per month was
reduced by 45 percent in the group that took 75 milligrams of petasites
twice daily, compared with a reduction of 28 percent in the placebo group
during the 16-week trial. A group that took 50 milligrams of peatsites
twice daily experienced a 32 percent decrease, not significantly different
from placebo.
The butterbur extract was well tolerated, the team reports, with burping
as the only adverse event occurring more frequently in the active
treatment groups. There were no changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or
routine laboratory tests.
Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for
migraine.
Neurology. 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2240-4.
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a standardized special root extract from
the plant Petasites hybridus as a preventive therapy for migraine. METHODS: This
is a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized trial comparing Petasites extract 75
mg bid, Petasites extract 50 mg bid, or placebo bid in 245 patients with
migraine. Eligible patients met International Headache Society criteria for
migraine, were ages 18 to 65, and had at least two to six attacks per month over
the preceding 3 months. The main outcome measure was the decrease in migraine
attack frequency per month calculated as percentage change from baseline over a
4-month treatment period. RESULTS: Over 4 months of treatment, in the
per-protocol analysis, migraine attack frequency was reduced by 48% for
Petasites extract 75 mg bid (p = 0.0012 vs placebo), 36% for Petasites extract
50 mg bid (p = 0.127 vs placebo), and 26% for the placebo group. The proportion
of patients with a > or =50% reduction in attack frequency after 4 months was
68% for patients in the Petasites extract 75-mg arm and 49% for the placebo arm
(p < 0.05). Results were also significant in favor of Petasites 75 mg at 1, 2,
and 3 months based on this endpoint. The most frequently reported adverse
reactions considered possibly related to treatment were mild gastrointestinal
events, predominantly burping. CONCLUSIONS: Petasites extract 75 mg bid is more
effective than placebo and is well tolerated as a preventive therapy for
migraine. Petasites 50 mg PO bid was not significantly more effective than
placebo on the primary study endpoints.
Petasites hybridus (Butterbur root) extract in the treatment of asthma - an open
trial.
Danesch UC.
Altern Med Rev. 2004 Mar;9(1):54-62.
The efficacy and tolerability of a petasites root extract (Petadolex) for the
treatment of asthma was analyzed in a prospective, non-randomized, open trial.
Subjects included 64 adults and 16 children/adolescents treated for two months
with the extract, followed by two months during which the intake of the extract
was optional. Concomitant asthma medication was permitted. The number, duration,
and severity of asthma attacks decreased, while peak flow, forced expiratory
volume (FEV1), and all measured symptoms improved during therapy. In addition,
more than 40 percent of patients using asthma medications at baseline reduced
intake of these medications by the end of the study. This study suggests the
Petasites hybridus extract Petadolex is an effective and safe therapy for the
treatment of asthma.
A placebo-controlled evaluation of petasites
and fexofenadine on objective and subjective outcomes in perennial allergic
rhinitis.
Clin Exp Allergy. 2004;34:646-9.
Summary Background There are presently no placebo-controlled data
regarding the effects of petasites on subjective and objective outcomes in
patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Objective We performed a
placebo-controlled evaluation of the effects of petasites and fexofenadine (FEX) on
subjective and objective outcomes in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis.
Methods Sixteen patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and house dust mite
sensitization were randomized in double-blind cross-over fashion to receive for
1 week either petasites 50 mg twice daily, FEX 180 mg once daily and placebo (PL) once
daily, or PL twice daily. The peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) response to
adenosine monophosphate (AMP) challenge administered as a single 400 mg/mL dose
was measured over a 60-min period after challenge, and domiciliary total nasal
symptom score was recorded. Results Pre-challenge values for mean+/-SEM PNIF
(L/min) were not significantly different comparing all groups; petasites (138+/-8), FEX
(140+/-9), and PL (138+/-8). The maximum % PNIF fall from baseline after nasal
AMP challenge was significantly attenuated (P<0.05) compared to PL (46+/-3),
with petasites (34+/-3) and FEX (39+/-3). The area under the 60-min time-response curve
(%.min) was also significantly attenuated (P<0.05) compared to PL (1734+/-156),
with petasites (1052+/-258) and FEX (1194+/-161). There was also a significant
reduction in total nasal symptom score with petasites (1.8+/-0.4) and FEX
(1.8+/-0.4), compared to PL. There were no significant differences
between petasites and FEX for any outcomes. Conclusion: petasites and FEX, in comparison to PL,
were equally effective in attenuating the nasal response to AMP and in improving
nasal symptoms, highlighting a potential role for petasites in the treatment of
allergic rhinitis.
Safety of a patented special petasites root extract for migraine prevention.
Headache. 2003 Jan;43(1):76-8.
To report on the safety of a patented special petasites root extract
used for migraine prevention. Two placebo-controlled clinical trials
have been conducted supporting the beneficial use in humans. Results
from acute, subchronic and chronic animal toxicity studies as well as from
mutagenicity studies are reported. Safety data gained from clinical trials,
postmarketing surveillance studies and pharmacovigilance are evaluated and
discussed. The patented special petasites root extract is safe for
the treatment in humans.
Petasites hybridus -- 60 patients received randomly either the Petasites preparation (50 mg BID) or placebo for 12 weeks. A total of 33 patients were allocated to the petasites group and 27 patients to the placebo group. In all, 58 patients completed the study. Compared to placebo, Petasites hybridus significantly reduced the frequency of migraine attacks and days with migraine per month as well as the frequency of accompanying symptoms. Petasites hybridus reduced the frequency of attacks by 46% after 4 weeks, 60% after 8 weeks and 50% after 12 weeks of treatment (placebo group: 24%, 17% and 10%, respectively). No adverse drug reactions were reported in either the drug or placebo group. The efficacy and excellent tolerability of the Petasites hybridus extract observed in this study suggest that this plant preparation can be of clinical benefit to migraine patients.
Different varieties of Petasites
Petasites hybridus - Petasites japonicus or Japonica petasites -
Petasites vulgaris