Hydrastis canadensis
L., goldenseal, is a slow-growing
woodland herb that is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
(Lonner 2007). The species is a native of North America, having a
range that extends
from southern New England, west through the extreme southwestern
portion of
Ontario, and south to Arkansas and northern Georgia
(Catling and Sinclair 2001). Other common names for this species
include yellowroot, orangeroot,
eyebalm, eyeroot, goldenroot, ground raspberry, Indian turmeric, yellow
puccoon
and jaundice root (Kluwer 2009).
According
to the Catling and Sinclair (2001), goldenseal is
characterized by a bright yellow perennial rhizome. A new hairy stem,
approximately 30 cm tall, emerges each year. The hairy green leaves are
up to 8
inches in diameter, usually with five lobes. The species blooms
in April or May, producing a single white flower about
½" across, consisting of three early deciduous sepals, no
petals, approximately
forty spreading stamens, and approximately twelve clustered pistils in
the
center (Hilty 2011). In July, a bright red
berry containing 10 to
30 black seeds is produced.
Often
combined with echinacea, supplements
that contain goldenseal currently rank among the top-selling botanicals
in the
United States (Gurley et. al. 2007). Much of the
plant material sold is derived from wild populations. As a result of its popularity, this
plant is either endangered - or at risk of being endangered - in some
parts of
the Unted States (Catling & Sinclair 2001; Lonner 2007).
Goldenseal
is valued for its rhizome and
roots that contain medicinal alkaloids such as berberine, canadine, and
hydrastine
(Catling & Sinclair 2001; Lonner 2007). These compounds have
antibacterial,
antifungal, and anti-yeast activity, especially against digestive
pathogens
(Lonner 2007). Native Americans used the root powder simmered in water
as a
wash for any kind of eye irritation or infection (Hobbs 1996). Folk
medicine
also used goldenseal in the treatment of gastrointestinal disturbances,
urinary
disorders, hemorrhage, and inflammations (Gurley et. al. 2007). Currently commercial formulations
prepared from the root are also used to treat AIDS and enhance the
immune
system (Catling & Sinclair 2001). Goldenseal capsules are suggested
for
treating sinus infections, colds, flus, hay fever, eye infections and
irritations, mild bowel irritations and inflammations, and upper
respiratory
and urinary tract infections (Hobbs 1996).
A
variety of studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of
goldenseal. Kaleena and Sharief (2008) performed an in
vitro study on human erythrocytes to
test its antioxidant properties. Results suggest that the
cytoprotection may be due to the plants direct free radical scavenging
activity.
This can modulate the antioxidant defense system and preserve the
functional
integrity of the erythrocytes.
Of
the three alkaloids found in
goldenseal, berberine has been researched the most. According to
Serafim et al.
(2008), berberine is responsible for apoptosis in different malignant
cell
lines. At low doses G1 arrest takes place and in higher doses G2 arrest
occurs.
This shows the multiphase effect of berberine. Kim et al. (2009)
found that berberine inhibits growth of breast cancer
cells.
An
in
vivo study in mice suggests an ethanolic extract of H.
canadensis has anti-cancer potentials for use as a supportive
complementary medicine in liver cancer (Karmakar et. al. 2010). In
contrast, a
two year toxicity study found that male and female rats and mice
developed
liver tumors after treatment with goldenseal root powder. The presence
of these
tumors could be due to the topoisomerase inhibition properties of
berberine
(Dunnick et. al. 2011). In addition goldenseal is also capable of
affecting
human cytochrome P450 activity in the liver (in vivo) (Gurley et. al. 2007).
Another
in vivo study in hamsters suggests that berberine is a
natural LDL-lowering
agent thanks to its ability to stabilize mRNA (Abidi et. al. 2006). In
addition, berberine was experimentally found to inhibit certain H1N1
influenza
strains and may be effectively treat influenza A
infections (Cecil et. al. 2011). Berberine found in the roots and three
other flavonoids,
sideroxylin, 8-desmethyl-sidedroxylin, and 6-desmethyl-sidedroxylin
found in
the leaves of goldenseal have antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus aureus by inhibiting the
NorA multidrug resistance pump (Junio et. al. 2011).
Goldenseal
should be
taken for limited periods, not more than 2 or 3 ten-day cycles every
few
months, because high doses or those given over an extended time can
impair an individual’s digestive system (Hobbs 1996). According to
Wolters Kluwer Health (Drugs.com 2009), the recommended
dose is 250 mg to 1g three times daily. Adverse reactions include
nausea,
anxiety, depression, seizures, or paralysis. Moreover, commercial
preparations of wild
harvested goldenseal were found to contain aluminum, cadmium, mercury,
and lead
due to heavy metal contamination (Lui et. al.2004).
Hydrastis canadensis L. is a native woodland herb with many medicinal benefits, but it is at risk of being overharvested. It contains compounds that have antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-yeast activity. Goldenseal is suggested for treating sinus infections, colds, flus, hay fever, eye infections and irritations, mild bowel irritations and inflammations, and upper respiratory and urinary tract infections. Research also demonstrates goldenseal has anti-cancer potential by treating breast and liver cancer. It can also be used to reduce LDL and inhibit disease-causing agents such as the H1N1 virus and Staphylococcus aureus. Patients should be cautious while administering this botanical due to its wide variety of side effects.
Abidi,
P, W. Chen, F.B.
Kraemer, H. Li, & J. Liu. 2006. The medicinal plant goldenseal is a
natural
LDL-lowering agent with multiple bioactive components and new
mechanisms. Journal of Lipid Research. 10:2134-47.
Catling,
P. M. & A. Sinclair. 2001. Cultivating the
Increasingly Popular Medicinal Plant, Goldenseal: Review
and Update. Goldenseal. United States Department of Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_hyca.pdf.
Cecil,
C.E., J.M. Davis,
N.B. Cech, & S.M. Laster. 2011. Inhibition
of H1N1 influenza A virus growth and induction of
inflammatory mediators by the isoquinolie alkaloid berberine and
extracts of
goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). International
Immunopharmacology. Epub ahead of print.
Drugs.com 2009. "Complete Goldenseal Information from Drugs.com." Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side Effects. Wolters Kluwer Health, 2009. Web. 03 July 2011. http://www.drugs.com/npp/goldenseal.html.
Dunnick, J.K., B. Singh, A. Nyska, J. Peckham, G.E. Kiessling & J.M. Sanders. 2011. Investigating the potential for toxicity from long-term use of herbal products, goldenseal and milk thistle. Toxicologic pathology. 39(2): 398-409.
Gurley, Bill J., S. Ashley, B.W. Gary, D.K. Williams, B. Philip, C. R. Yates, L. B. Stuart, M. A. Hubbard, Y. Tong & S. Cheboyina. 2007. Effect of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and kava kava (Piper methysticum) supplementation on digoxin pharmacokinetics in humans. Drug Metabolism and Disposition: The Biological Fate of Chemicals. 35(2): 240-5.
Hilty, J. 2009. "Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)." Illinois Wildflowers. Web. 3 July 2011. http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/goldenseal.htm.
Hobbs, C. 1996. The Dynamic Duo: Echinacea and Golden Seal. Herbal Medicine. http://www.healthy.net/hwlibraryarticles/hobbs.echydra.htm.
Junio,
H.A., A.A. Sy-Cordero, K.A. Effefagh, J.T. Burns, K.T. Micko,
T.N. Graf,
S.J. Richter,
R.E. Cannon,
N.H. Oberles,
& N.B. Cech.
2011. Synergy-directed
fractionation of botanical medicines: A case study with goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). Journal
of Natural Products. Epub ahead of print.
Kalenna, P.K. & D. Sharief. 2008. Protective effect of Hydrastis canadensis extract on human erythrocytes: An in vitro study. Journal of Herbal Medicine and Technology. 2(2): 61-63.
Karmakar, S. R., S. J. Biswas, & A. R. Khuda-Bukhsh. 2010. Anti-carcinogenic potentials of a plant extract (Hydrastis canadensis): I. Evidence from in vivo studies in mice (Mus musculus). Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 11(2): 545-51.
Kim, J.B, J.H. Yu, E. Ko, K.W. Lee, A.K. Song, S.Y. Park, I Shin, W. Han, & D.Y. Nob. 2010. The alkaloid berberine inhibits the growth of Anoikis-resistance MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines by including cell cycle arrest. Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology. 17(6): 436-40.
Lonner, J. 2007. Medicinal Plant Fact Sheet: Hydrastis canadensis / Goldenseal. A collaboration of the IUCN Medicinal Plant Specialist Group, PCA-Medicinal Plant Working Group, and North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. Arlington, Virginia: PCA-Medicinal Plant Working Group.
Lui, C. Z., S. J. Murch, J. C. Jain, & P.K. Saxena. 2004. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.); In vitro regenerations for germplasm conservation and elimination of heavy metal contamination. Society for In Vitro Biology. 40(1): 75-79
Serafim, T.L., P.J. Oliveira, V. A. Sardao, E. Perkins, D. Parke, & J. Holy. 2008. Different concentrations of berberine results in distinct cellular localization patterns and cell cycle effects in a melanoma cell line. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 61(6): 1007-18.
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