This intriguing double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial appears to indicate that propolis as an adjunct to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant medication, improves depressive symptoms over and above SSRIs alone.
Caveat: I have only been able to access the abstract of this study, so have not been able to assess the methodology. The abstract may be accessed here.
Citation
Varzaghani, V., Sharifi, M., Hajiaghaee, R., Bagheri, S., Momtaz, S., Tarassoli, Z., & Razmi, A. (2022). Propolis add-on therapy alleviates depressive symptoms; A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 1– 10. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7380.
Medour et al. (2002)[1] carried out an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant use in two rural municipalities in the province of Bouira, Northern Algeria. This is a biodiverse, mountainous, Berber-speaking region with a rich ethnobotanical knowledge system.
Bouira is a province of Northern Algeria. Image taken from the cited paper [1].
Data were compiled from 69 informants among the local population and on 136 plant species. Data were gathered and data analyses were provided on:
Socio-demographic profile of the informants.
Diversity of medicinal plants.
Toxic plants.
Plant parts used, mode of preparation and administration.
Diseases groups, treated diseases and number of use reports.
Relative frequency of citation of the plant species recorded.
Frequency of use of the plant species recorded.
The percentage of informants claiming the use of a certain plant species for the same major purpose.
Consensus among informants for plant use for the different disease categories recorded.
Among the many interesting data provided in this quantitative survey, the most interesting for me were those on the most used medicinal plants for various types of symptoms or conditions. These are summarised in the table below, taken from the cited paper [1].
Medicinal plants used for various types of symptoms or conditions. Table taken from the cited paper [1].
Of particular interest to me personally are the reported uses of several plants commonly found in my own bio-region of Ibiza, Balearic islands, Spain, namely:
[1] Meddour, R., Sahar, O., Abdoune, N., & Dermouche, M. (2022). Quantitative ethnobotanical investigation of medicinal plants used by local population in the rural municipalities of Haizer and El Asnam, province of Bouira, Northern Algeria. Mediterranean Botany, 43, e71190. https://doi.org/10.5209/mbot.71190
This interesting paper presents an overview of the existing literature published since the year 2000, seeks to identify some repeatedly found seasonal trends and discusses some possible explanations for these trends.
Coriandrum sativum L.: Image from Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Original book source: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany.
Simple Summary
The following is a simple summary of this recent review paper:
Mahleyuddin, N.N.; Moshawih, S.; Ming, L.C.; Zulkifly, H.H.; Kifli, N.; Loy, M.J.; Sarker, M.M.R.; Al-Worafi, Y.M.; Goh, B.H.; Thuraisingam, S.; et al. Coriandrum sativum L.: A Review on Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Cardiovascular Benefits. Molecules 2022, 27, 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27010209.
1. Traditional Uses in Various Old-World Regions
Fruits (seeds)
Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, and joint pain.
Some liver diseases (roasted seeds).
Dyspeptic complaints, as a digestive.
Loss of appetite, as an appetiser.
Convulsions.
Anxiety, insomnia.
As a diuretic.
“Melancholia”.
To lower blood glucose levels.
Influenza.
Bad breath.
Bad odour from genitalia.
Leaves
Mouth ulcer.
Eye redness.
“Melancholia”.
Digestive complaints, poor digestion.
To lower blood glucose levels.
Aerial parts
Viral infection.
Neurasthenia.
Whole plant
Measles.
Diabetes.
Aerophagy.
Gastroenteritis.
As a diaphoretic.
As a diuretic.
As a carminative.
As a stimulant.
Essential oil
Aa an aphrodisiac.
As an analgesic.
As an antimicrobial, mouth infections.
As a digestive stimulant.
Gastric ulcers.
Unspecified part(s)
As a diuretic, some renal diseases.
Anxiety; as a sedative and muscle relaxant.
2. Main Phytochemical Constituents
Fruits (seeds)
Carotenoids including β-carotene.
Tocols: α-, β-, γ- δ- tocopherols, and α-, γ-tocotrienols.
Fatty acids: Petroselinic linoleic, palmitic and oleic acids.
3. Physiological Effects of Phytochemicals from C. sativum
Flavonoids: A flavonoid-rich fraction was found to have hypotensive activity.
Quercetin (a flavonoid): A quercetin-rich aqueous ethanolic extract inhibits α-amylase, α-glucosidase and lipase, and thus potentially has antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects.
Polyphenols: A polyphenol-rich extract inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme thus potentially has a antihypertensive effect.
Isocoumarins: Isocoumarin aglycones and (to a lesser degree) isocoumarin glycosides (cilantroside A and B) have been found to have neurotrophic / neuroprotective effects by stimulation of nerve growth factor. The aglycones of isocoumarins also showed anti-inflammatory effects.
Phenolic glycosides: The phenolic glycosides daphnin and benzyl-O-β-d-glucoside have also been found to stimulate nerve growth factor.
Sterols: Plant sterols have hypocholesterolaemic effects.
Essential oil: Prominent activities against diabetes, microbial infections, and inhibitory to acetylcholinterase.
Other: A linalool, ascorbyl palmitate and petroselinic acid-rich petroleum ether extract of coriander seeds reduces oxidative stress, is hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic, and preventative against diabetic nephropathy.
4. Cardiovascular Benefits of C. sativum
A systematic review was carried out of studies investigating the potential cardiovascular benefits of C. sativum.
Studies have demonstrated the cardioprotective benefits of C. sativum. These include its effect as an antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-atherogenic, antiarrhythmic, as well as the improvement of other factors that may lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as altered lipid profile, hyperglycaemia and cardiac biomarkers or enzymes.
Most of the studies included in the review were in vivo studies carried out on laboratory animals. Only two were human studies. These latter demonstrated hypolipidaemic, hypocholesterolaemic, hypotensive and antioxidant effects of coriander seed powder. As to plant parts, the majority of the studies included investigated the effects of the seeds. The two studies on the leaves showed hypolipidaemic, hypotensive, normoglycaemic and antioxidant effects.
The authors comment that more in vitro studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms of action.
botanic bob 