Table of Contents

A Layman’s Review of the Scientific Literature on Bloodroot
By R. Hallowitz © 2005 Click Here

Abstracts of Professional Journal Literature on Bloodroot
Please click on the following section titles for the abstracts Antimicrobial (bacteria/fungi/parasites)

• Extensive studies on effectiveness vs. a wide range of microbial pathogens

1. Antimicrobial action of sanguinarine. J Clin Dent. 1989 Spring;1(4):96-101.

2. The evaluation of forty-three plant species for in vitro antimycobacterial activities; isolation of active constituents from Psoralea corylifolia and Sanguinaria canadensis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jan;79(1):57-67.

3. Sanguinarine induces K+ outflow from yeast cells expressing mammalian sodium pumps. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2001 Feb;363(2):203-8.

4. Interactions of sanguinarine and zinc on oral streptococci and Actinomyces species. Caries Res. 1991;25(3):185-90.

5. In vitro antifungal properties of mouthrinses containing antimicrobial agents. J Periodontol. 1997 Aug;68(8):729-33.

6. Two antimicrobial alkaloids from Bocconia arborea. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Aug;66(2):223-6.

• Leukoplakia and Sanguinarine use as a dentifrice

1. Sanguinaria-related leukoplakia: epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features of a recently described entity. Gen Dent. 2001 Nov-Dec;49(6):608-14.

2. Sanguinaria-associated oral leukoplakia: comparison with other benign and dysplastic leukoplakic lesions. Apr;89(4):455-64.
3. Viadent usage and oral leukoplakia: a spurious association. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 1999 Dec;30(3):182-96.

• Bloodroot may treat chronic gastritis and recurrent gastric and duodenal ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria

1. In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to isoquinoline alkaloids from Sanguinaria canadensis and Hydrastis canadensis. Phytother Res. 2003 Mar;17(3):217-21.

Antiviral

• Effectiveness against HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses

1. HIV-1 and HIV-2 reverse transcriptases: a comparative study of sensitivity to inhibition by selected natural products. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1992 May 29;185(1):370-8.

• Inhibits nuclear transcription factor

1. Sanguinarine (pseudochelerythrine) is a potent inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, and degradation. J Biol Chem. 1997 Nov 28;272(48):30129-34.

Anti Inflammatory Properties

Inhibits COX-2 enzyme --- thereby blocking production of prostaglandins (chemical messengers) that cause the pain and swelling of inflammation

1. Sanguinarine (pseudochelerythrine) is a potent inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, and degradation. J Biol Chem. 1997 Nov 28;272(48):30129-34.

Inhibits lipid peroxidation products (PLO) in turn inhibiting COX-2 enzymes

1. Dual inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase by a reconstituted_homeopathic remedy; possible explanation for clinical efficacy and favourable gastrointestinal tolerability. Inflamm Res. 2004 Apr;53(4):150-7. Epub 2004 Mar 18.

Decreases peripheral blood neutrophil functions that contribute to inflammation

• The effect of sanguinarine on human peripheral blood neutrophil viability and functions. Oral Microbiol Immunol. 1991 Feb;6(1):51-61.
  
  
• Effects of sanguinarium, chlorhexidine and tetracycline on neutrophil viability and functions in vitro. J Periodontal Res. 1997 Apr;32(3):335-44.

Blocks pro-inflammatory cytokines --- directly reduces inflammation

1. Sanguinarine (pseudochelerythrine) is a potent inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, and degradation. J Biol Chem. 1997 Nov 28;272(48):30129-34

Inhibits 5- and 12- lipoxygenase --- directly reduces inflammation

1. Benzophenanthridine alkaloids of Chelidonium majus; I. Inhibition of 5- and 12-lipoxygenase by a non-redox mechanism; Planta Med. 1996 Oct;62(5):397- 401.

2. Dual inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase by a reconstituted homeopathic remedy; possible explanation for clinical efficacy and favourable gastrointestinal tolerability; Inflamm Res. 2004 Apr;53(4):150-7. Epub 2004 Mar 18.

• Inhibits nuclear transcription factor --- directly reduces inflammation

1. Sanguinarine (pseudochelerythrine) is a potent inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, and degradation. J Biol Chem. 1997 Nov 28;272(48):30129-34.

Inhibits hyperproliferation of keratinocytes (eczema/psoriasis)

• Benzophenanthridine alkaloids of Chelidonium majus; II. Potent inhibitory action against the growth of human keratinocytes. Planta Med. 1996 Dec;62(6):491-4.
  
  
• Activation of prodeath Bcl-2 family proteins and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway by sanguinarine in immortalized human HaCaT keratinocytes. Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Aug 1;9(8):3176-82.

Inhibits inflammatory aspect of oral plaque formation

1. Antibacterial agents in the control of supragingival plaque--a review. Br Dent J. 1999 Mar 27;186(6):286-96.

Immune enhancer/Modulator (“adaptogen”)

Inhibits phospholipase D (PLD) activation

1. Chelerythrine and other benzophenanthridine alkaloids block the human P2X7 receptor. Br J Pharmacol. 2004 Jul;142(6):1015-9. Epub 2004 Jun 21.

• Decreases peripheral blood neutrophil functions
• The effect of sanguinarine on human peripheral blood neutrophil viability and functions. Oral Microbiol Immunol. 1991 Feb;6(1):51-61.
  
  
• Effects of sanguinarium, chlorhexidine and tetracycline on neutrophil viability and functions in vitro. J Periodontal Res. 1997 Apr;32(3):335-44.

Cancer Tumor Suppressive/Cancer Preventive

Antimicrobial/antiviral --- see detail above

Antiinflammatory --- see mechanism detailed above

• Cell cycle arrest --- stops cancer cell maturation prior to cell division

1.Sanguinarine causes cell cycle blockade and apoptosis of human prostate carcinoma cells via modulation of cyclin kinase inhibitor-cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase machinery. Mol Cancer Ther. 2004 Aug;3(8):933-40.

2.The effects of chelidonine on tubulin polymerisation, cell cycle progression and selected signal transmission pathways. Eur J Cell Biol. 2001 Jan;80(1):111-8.

3.Chelerythrine is a potent and specific inhibitor of protein kinase C. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1990 Nov 15;172(3):993-9.

• Promotes Apoptosis --- programmed cancer cell death

1.Activation of prodeath Bcl-2 family proteins and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway by sanguinarine in immortalized human HaCaT keratinocytes. Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Aug 1;9(8):3176-82.

2. Differential antiproliferative and apoptotic response of sanguinarine for cancer cells versus normal cells. Clin Cancer Res. 2000 Apr;6(4):1524-8.

3. Role of Bcl-2 family proteins and caspase-3 in sanguinarine-induced bimodal cell death. Cell Biol Toxicol. 2001;17(6):371-81.

4. Sanguinarine induces bimodal cell death in K562 but not in high Bcl-2-expressing JM1 cells. 1: Pathol Res Pract. 2001;197(11):717-26.

5. Bax, Bcl-2, and NF-kappaB expression in sanguinarine induced bimodal cell death. Exp Mol Pathol. 2001 Aug;71(1):89-98.

6. Induction of apoptotic DNA fragmentation and cell death in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells by pharmacological inhibitors of protein kinase C. Cancer Res. 1994 Apr 1;54(7):1707-14.

7. In vitro cytotoxicity of berberine against HeLa and L1210 cancer cell lines. Pharmazie. 2004 Jul;59(7):548-51.
8. Induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress by ellipticine plant alkaloids. Mol Cancer Ther. 2004 Apr;3(4):489-97.

• Inhibits Nuclear Transcription Factor

1. Sanguinarine (pseudochelerythrine) is a potent inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, and degradation. J Biol Chem. 1997 Nov 28;272(48):30129-34.

• Promotes Beneficial Intercalation

1. [Sanguinarine and ellipticine cytotoxic alkaloids isolated from well-known antitumor plants. Intracellular targets of their action] Tsitologiia. 1997;39(2- 3):181-208.

2. Extending nature's leads: the anticancer agent ellipticine. Curr Med Chem Anti-Canc Agents. 2004 Mar;4(2):149-72.

3. Interrelationship between affinity for DNA, cytotoxicity and induction of DNA-breaks in cultured L1210 cells for two series of tricyclic intercalators. Simplified analogues of ellipticine derivatives. Biochem Pharmacol. 1989 May 1;38(9):1395-406.

4. Ellipticine derivatives with an affinity to the estrogen receptor, an approach to develop intercalating drugs with a specific effect on the hormone-dependent breast cancer. J Med Chem. 1985 Jun;28(6):752-61.

5. Multimodal action of antitumor agents on DNA: the ellipticine series. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1987 Nov 15;259(1):1-14.

6. The anticancer drug ellipticine forms covalent DNA adducts, mediated by human cytochromes P450, through metabolism to 13-hydroxyellipticine and ellipticine N2-oxide. Cancer Res. 2004 Nov 15;64(22):8374-80.

7. [DNA intercalators: their interaction with DNA and other cell components and their use in biological research] Tsitologiia. 1991;33(10):3-31.

• Inhibits New Blood Vessel Formation in Cancer

1. Suppression of angiogenesis by the plant alkaloid, sanguinarine. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Apr 30;317(2):618-24.

Bloodroot may overcome chemoresistance/multidrug resistance of some cancers

1. The alkaloid sanguinarine is effective against multidrug resistance in human cervical cells via bimodal cell death. Biochem Pharmacol. 2002 Apr 15;63(8):1415-21.

• Bloodroot as a cancer preventive

1. Benzophenanthridine alkaloids of Chelidonium majus; I. Inhibition of 5- and 12-lipoxygenase by a non-redox mechanism; Planta Med. 1996 Oct;62(5):397- 401.

2. Dual inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase by a reconstituted homeopathic remedy; possible explanation for clinical efficacy and favourable gastrointestinal tolerability; Inflamm Res. 2004 Apr;53(4):150-7. Epub 2004 Mar 18.


Heart Disease Preventive

• Antimicrobial/antiviral --- see detail above
• Antiinflammatory --- see mechanism detailed above + inhibiting COX-2 enzymes in turn inhibits inflammatory white blood cells, which in turn inhibits plaque

1. Benzophenanthridine alkaloids of Chelidonium majus; I. Inhibition of 5- and 12-lipoxygenase by a non-redox mechanism; Planta Med. 1996 Oct;62(5):397- 401.

2. Dual inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase by a reconstituted homeopathic remedy; possible explanation for clinical efficacy and favourable gastrointestinal tolerability; Inflamm Res. 2004 Apr;53(4):150-7. Epub 2004 Mar 18.

• Cardiotonic (enhances the force of heart contractions)

1. Sanguinarine: a positive inotropic alkaloid which inhibits cardiac Na+,K+-ATPase. Eur J Pharmacol. 1979 Dec 20;60(4):373-7.

• Antiarrhythmic

1. Effect of sanguinarine on ventricular refractoriness. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1980 Aug;29(2):377-80

Safety

• 154 pp. FDA monograph dated 4/02 provides overwhelming evidence of safety

1. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration 21 CFR Part 356 [Docket No. 81N-033P] RIN 0910-AA01

History and Chemistry of Bloodroot
1. The history, chemistry and pharmacokinetics of Sanguinaria extract. J Can Dent Assoc. 1990;56(7 Suppl):7-12.

Bloodroot as a Herbivoricide
1. Biochemical activities of berberine, palmatine and sanguinarine mediating chemical defence against microorganisms and herbivores. Phytochemistry. 1997 Jan;44(2):257-66.

Agronomic Variances of Bloodroot

1. Environmental and genotypic influences on isoquinoline alkaloid content in Sanguinaria canadensis. J Chem Ecol. 2001 Sep;27(9):1729-47.

2. Growth characteristics of Sanguinaria canadensis L. cell suspensions and immobilized cultures for production of benzophenanthridine alkaloids. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 1992 Feb;36(5):611-7.

3. Elevational trends in defense chemistry, vegetation, and reproduction in Sanguinaria canadensis. J Chem Ecol. 2001 Sep;27(9):1713-27.

4. Differential enhancement of benzophenanthridine alkaloid content in cell suspension cultures of Sanguinaria canadensis under conditions of combined hormonal deprivation and fungal elicitation. J Nat Prod. 1993 Aug;56(8):1219-28.

5. Isolation and Characterization of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine: Tetrahydroberberine-cis-N-Methyltransferase from Suspension Cultures of Sanguinaria canadensis L. Plant Physiol. 1994 May;105(1):395-403.

6. Quercetin-induced benzophenanthridine alkaloid production in suspension cell cultures of Sanguinaria canadensis. Planta Med. 1994 Dec;60(6):553-