Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) is a medicinal plant with astringent, anti-diarrhea and anti-inflammatory properties.
Agrimony also has been reported to cure jaundice and promote liver health.
A preliminary study has found that the water extract of agrimony contains luteolin 7-glucuronide, a polyphenol.
A clinical trial was completed and published in the journal of Medicinal Food testing the liver protecting properties of agrimony.
The results of this 8 week clinical trial suggest a liver protecting benefit with agrimony.
Here are the study details
– Study design: Double blind placebo controlled clinical trial
– Length of study: 8 weeks
– Patients: 69 patients were enrolled in the study
– Study agent: Patients consumed either 2 capsules taken twice daily of placebo or agrimony extract (40 mg)
– Daily dose: Agrimony extract was 160 mg per day
Here are the results
– The liver enzyme ALT decreased by 15.7% with agrimony extract. The placebo group increased ALT by 2.5%
– The liver enzyme AST decreased by 6.4% with agrimony extract. The placebo group increased AST by 3.2%
– Triglycerides decreased by 17 mg/dl
– Bilirubin and the liver enzyme GGT were not decreased by agrimony exract
Here are more articles on liver protecting plant extracts.
Here are comments by the authors of the study
In this study, we found that 8 weeks of AEE supplementation (160 mg/day) significantly reduced serum ALT and AST levels. No serious adverse events were reported during this trial.
And
A limitation of this study is that we used ALT and AST to assess liver health. Further studies using computed tomography scans, MRI scans, or liver biopsies are needed to support the findings of this study.
Take away message
This was the first clinical trial to study the liver protecting benefits of agrimony extract. The dose of 160 mg per day (i.e. 80 mg in the morning and 80 mg in the evening) suggests a possible benefit for protecting the liver.
Here are more studies testing the anti-inflammatory properties of plant extracts. The results of this study are consistent with other studies suggesting that agrimony could have anti-inflammatory properties.
Reference
Cho et al. Agrimonia eupatoria L. (Agrimony) Extract Alters Liver Health in Subjects with Elevated Alanine Transaminase Levels: A Controlled, Randomized, and Double-Blind Trial. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2018; Volume 21 (Issue 3): pages 282-288.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Antioxidant, Clinical Trials, Inflammation, Liver