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Eriodictyon Californicum

Q: Is yerba santa effective for respiratory conditions?

Traditional use suggests benefits for respiratory conditions, but there is currently no rigorous clinical evidence from human trials to support these claims.

Q: Is it safe to use yerba santa supplements?

Safety data for medicinal doses are limited. While dietary use appears safe, caution is advised for supplemental use, especially without established safety profiles.

Q: How long does it take to see effects from yerba santa?

Animal studies observed effects after 28 days of daily treatment. However, human data are lacking, so the time to effect in humans is unknown.

Q: Are there any known drug interactions with yerba santa?

Currently, there are no documented drug interactions reported in the scientific literature for Eriodictyon californicum.

Also known as: Yerba santa, California yerba santa, Eriodictyon californicum

Overview

Eriodictyon californicum, commonly known as Yerba santa, is a shrub native to North America, traditionally utilized by indigenous populations for respiratory ailments and rheumatism. This botanical supplement is recognized for its rich content of bioactive flavonoids, including sterubin, chrysoeriol, apigenin, and hydroxygenkwanin, which are believed to contribute to its medicinal properties. While traditional use is well-documented, the scientific understanding of its efficacy and safety is still emerging. Most current evidence stems from phytochemical analyses and preclinical studies, particularly highlighting its antioxidant and potential neuroprotective activities. High-quality human clinical trials are scarce, indicating a need for further research to substantiate its therapeutic applications and establish standardized usage guidelines.

Benefits

The primary research-backed benefit of Eriodictyon californicum is its neuroprotective activity, largely attributed to the flavonoid sterubin. In a rotenone-induced Parkinson’s disease rat model, sterubin at 10 mg/kg significantly improved behavioral deficits and restored antioxidant markers such as glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, while reducing malondialdehyde levels over 28 days. This suggests a potential role in mitigating neurodegenerative processes, with strong evidence from this animal study (p < 0.05). Additionally, the plant exhibits significant antioxidant properties due to its rich polyphenol content, demonstrating radical scavenging activity in in vitro studies. Traditional uses suggest benefits for respiratory conditions by loosening mucus, but these claims lack clinical evidence. No high-quality human trials exist to confirm benefits in specific populations, and quantitative effect sizes are currently limited to animal models.

How it works

The neuroprotective effects of Eriodictyon californicum are primarily mediated through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Key flavonoids, particularly sterubin, act as free radical scavengers, helping to reduce oxidative stress. In preclinical models, it has been shown to restore endogenous antioxidant defenses (e.g., GSH, CAT, SOD) and decrease lipid peroxidation (MDA). The plant's compounds may also modulate neurotransmitter levels, including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, and inhibit neuroinflammation, which are crucial mechanisms in neurodegenerative conditions. While specific absorption and bioavailability data for its flavonoids are limited, these compounds generally have moderate oral bioavailability, influenced by metabolism and gut microbiota interactions.

Side effects

The safety profile of Eriodictyon californicum in humans is not well-established due to a lack of comprehensive clinical trials. While it has been traditionally consumed in foods and herbal remedies without widespread reports of adverse effects at typical dietary levels, there is insufficient data to document common, uncommon, or rare side effects specifically at medicinal doses. No known drug interactions or contraindications have been reported in the scientific literature. However, caution is advised regarding its use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as safety in these populations has not been established. Individuals with pre-existing conditions or those taking other medications should consult a healthcare professional before using Yerba santa supplements.

Dosage

There are no established minimum effective or optimal human dosages for Eriodictyon californicum due to the limited clinical research. Preclinical studies investigating its neuroprotective effects used sterubin, a key flavonoid from the plant, at an oral dose of 10 mg/kg in rats. Traditional use involves infusions or extracts of the leaves, but these methods lack standardized dosing protocols. Factors influencing absorption and bioavailability, as well as potential cofactors, have not been systematically studied in humans. Therefore, specific recommendations for dosage, timing, or upper safety limits cannot be provided based on current scientific evidence. Any use should be approached with caution and under professional guidance.

FAQs

Is yerba santa effective for respiratory conditions?

Traditional use suggests benefits for respiratory conditions, but there is currently no rigorous clinical evidence from human trials to support these claims.

Is it safe to use yerba santa supplements?

Safety data for medicinal doses are limited. While dietary use appears safe, caution is advised for supplemental use, especially without established safety profiles.

How long does it take to see effects from yerba santa?

Animal studies observed effects after 28 days of daily treatment. However, human data are lacking, so the time to effect in humans is unknown.

Are there any known drug interactions with yerba santa?

Currently, there are no documented drug interactions reported in the scientific literature for Eriodictyon californicum.

Research Sources

https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=404598 – This monograph from the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia provides comprehensive standards for the identity, purity, and quality control of Eriodictyon californicum. It details the plant's phytochemical constituents and traditional uses, serving as a foundational reference for quality assurance in herbal products.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10868181/ – This animal study, a well-designed RCT with 24 rats, demonstrated that sterubin (10 mg/kg) significantly reversed rotenone-induced Parkinsonian symptoms and oxidative stress markers over 28 days. The study included proper controls and measured multiple biochemical endpoints, strongly supporting sterubin’s neuroprotective potential.
https://www.scielo.br/j/qn/a/hsCdLvspKBKKGD9BNfKfhvf/?lang=en – This phytochemical analysis identified key flavonoids in Eriodictyon californicum leaves, including sterubin, chrysoeriol, and apigenin. The study's chemical profiling underpins the observed biological activities in preclinical studies, linking specific compounds to the plant's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.