Smartweed or Polygonum hydropiperoides benefits

How Smartweed or Polygonum hydropiperoides benefits were found?

Smartweed or Polygonum hydropiperoides belong to the Polygonaceae family. All the herbs belong to the Polygonum genus are referred to as the multiple nodules present in the stem. The name of this genus is derived from the Greek language – word poly indicates multiple and goni means knee or joint. In 1789, Antoine Laurent de Jussieu had first mentioned this herb name in his book Genera Plantarum. [2]

Smartweed is an annual herb and moist soil like waterlogged areas are a favorable condition to grow this herb. This herb is not only used for medicinal purposes but also used as fodder for ducks, small birds, small mammals, and aquatic animals. This plant also helps to maintain aquatic ecological balance. Australia, New Zealand, North America, Temperate Asia are the places where this plant is widely found.[2]

Smartweed has white seasonal flowers, which are mainly grown in July to August months. [1]

In the traditional medicinal system, all the plant parts of the smartweed have used. Flavonoids are the major phytochemical of this plant exert numerous health benefits. Along with the folk medicinal application, Smartweed is also used for cooking purposes or as a spice due to its peppery taste. Traditionally this herb recommended for rheumatism, epilepsy, gout, and toothache. The juice of this plant helps to eradicate the worms from the ear canal. Following are some of the traditional medicinal application of this herb:

• In the European folk medicinal system, this herb is used for the treatment of menstrual obstruction and amenorrhea.
• In Peru, the folk medicinal application of this herb is given for combating bacterial infections.
• Leaf juice is used by Garo tribes to live in Bangladesh for Menstrual pain treatment. They also used leaf paste for the stoppage of bleeding.

Traditionally leaf juice of this plant leaves used to lessen the loss of appetite, gastric ulcer, liver enlargement, dysmenorrhoea, toothache. Roots of this plant are also used as anthelmintic, carminative, tonic, diuretic, and stimulant. In the folk medicinal system, leaves and seeds are recommended for cancer treatment. High vitamin C content in Smartweed fresh leaf helps to cure scurvy. The leaf of this plant used as herbal tea, which is a useful remedy for digestive disorders like dyspepsia, diarrhea, dysentery, colic and intestinal worms. [3]

What are the phytochemicals present in Smartweed or Polygonum hydropiperoides?

Smartweed contains phytochemicals are flavonoids, glycosides, phenylpropanoids, sesquiterpenes, and sesquiterpenoids. [4] The plant is harvested from wild sources during the flowering period and then shade dried under 40ºC. But the dried plant contains less amount of active constituents as some of the bioactive constituents destroyed during drying. Therefore, it is preferable to use fresh plant or plant parts for medicinal purposes. [2]

What is the Mode of action of Smartweed or Polygonum hydropiperoides health benefits?

• Smartweed contains ten different verities of flavonoids, which have potent antioxidant properties. Research finding reported that the active constituents present in Smartweed has free radical scavenging property and leaf extract of P. hydropiper can act against DPPH free radicals. [4]
• Polygonolide present in Smartweed roots is a type of isocoumarin, which exerts anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the inflammatory mediator production. [3]
• Quercetin is a type of flavonoids present in a high concentration of this herb has antioxidant property and exerts gastro-protective action. [3]
• Polygodiol present in the essential oil of smartweed has an antimicrobial effect, which is effective against both bacteria and fungi. This phytochemical enhances the production of reactive oxygen species in the microorganism and also reduces cytoplasmic and mitochondrial glutathione levels.[3]
• Smartweed has an anti-proliferative effect, which exerts a cytotoxic effect. [3]
• The action of Smartweed on neurological health includes AchE inhibitory effect. [3]
• It also acts on the immune system by increasing the phagocytic activity and also provide beneficial pathophysiological changes in human neutrophils and monocytes. [3]

What are the different forms of Smartweed or Polygonum hydropiperoides?

Mainly smartweed herbal dosage forms are available in the traditional folk medicinal system. Liquid dosage forms, powder of plant are common dosage forms of smartweed. Some combination of herbal formulations also contains smartweed.

Smartweed or Polygonum hydropiperoides Uses

This plant has multiple medicinal properties like antipyretic, astringent, emmenagogue, diuretic, stimulant, styptic. Every plant part has some specific medicinal application; for example:

• Plant juice is used as flies repellent and also for body lice treatment of cattle and sheep. The other applications of Smartweed plant juice include treatment of wounds, liver enlargement, gastric ulcer, skin diseases, intestinal worms, dysentery, loss of appetite, body pain, headache, toothache, painful carbuncles, dysmenorrhoea, and abortion.
• The crushing plant is applied to the stoppage of bleeding.
• Leaves of smartweed are recommended to alleviate stomach pain, tooth, headache due to its carminative, anti-inflammatory, stomachic and diaphoretic properties. Young tender leaf juice of this plant is a common remedy for liver pain.
• Raw or cooked stem and leaves are used to strengthen fragile capillaries due to the presence of rutin phytochemicals. Both of these plant parts are prevents bleeding.
• Roots are used as tonic and stimulant.
• Most of these plants have antibacterial properties.
• The seeds are used as a diuretic, treat burning and pain sensation in the stomach, laxative, bladder pain syndrome, and erysipelas. [1,3]

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment

The anti-inflammatory property of smartweed is beneficial for Rheumatoid arthritis treatment. The whole plant parts extract topically applied to the affected joint to reduce the soreness and swelling. [3]

Antiulcer

The gastro-protective action of Smartweed helps to prevent gastric ulcers due to its urease inhibitory and anti-proteus activities.[3]

Infection control

The broad-spectrum antibacterial effect of this herb is effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial infection. It gives protection from bacterial infections caused by Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, E.coli, Pseuodomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, and Staphylococcus aureus.  This herb is also effective against fungal infections like Epidermophyton floccosum. [3]

Respiratory disorders

Traditionally smartweed is recommended for respiratory support. Herbal concoctions of smartweed effective to treat upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, cough, and asthma. It also acts as an expectorant and clears the respiratory passage.[3]

Prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia disease protection

Smartweed has neurocognitive disease protection activity by preventing the modulation of superoxide anion release from neutrophils. This mechanism helps to prevent dementia.

β-sitosterol isolated from Smartweed acts against choline-esterase due to its antioxidant property. An animal research result reported that β-sitosterol treatment can gradually improve working memory, motor coordination, and spontaneous behavior changes. These beneficial effects are helpful for Alzheimer’s disease. [3]

Gastro-intestinal benefits

This herb improves gastrointestinal motility, which helps to prevent constipation and improve digestion.[3]

Anti-pyretic

Smartweed can reduce body temperature due to its antipyretic action.[3]

Anti-diabetic

Diabetic patients can include Smartweed supplementation in their daily diet to control their blood sugar level.[3]

Anticancer

Smartweed has a cytotoxic effect and prevents malignant cell proliferation. An animal research study reported that consumption of Smartweed reduces tumor cell growth, and viable tumor cell number, and also improve the life-span of cancer patients. [3]

Jaundice and cholera

The plant juice extracted from plant parts is an effective treatment for both Jaundice and cholera. [3]

Mosquito repellant

The phytochemicals present in Smartweed has Mosquito repellant. It kills the larva of Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. [3]

Smartweed or Polygonum hydropiperoides Side effects

A mild to moderate dose of Smartweed is safe to use. But an increased dose of this herb can cause digestive system irritation. The sap secreted from the fresh plant of Smartweed causes skin irritation. [3]

When I should avoid Smartweed or Polygonum hydropiperoides?

Individuals who have gastrointestinal disorders should avoid Smartweed, as it can cause gastric irritation. During pregnancy and lactation, women should avoid Smartweed due to a lack of evidential support for safe use during this period. Patients who intake warfarin or blood clotting medications should avoid Smartweed, as this herb may reduce the efficacy of warfarin. [3]

References

1. Taxonomy and Traditional Medicine Practices of Polygonaceae (Smartweed) Family at Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
2. Smartweed.
3. Pharmacological, Phytochemical, Biological Evaluation and Future Prospects of Polygonum Hydropiper. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research.
4. Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Aspects of Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Delarbre.