Black Alder: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications

Anti-inflammatory

The diarylheptanoids and phenolic glycosides isolated from A.glutinosa showed significant anti-inflammatory effects. Among them, oregonin and hirsutenone were particularly effective in reducing NO (nitric oxide) and COX-2 production, two substances involved in inflammatory processes. Oregonin also has other anti-inflammatory effects. It inhibits the production of the iNOS enzyme (inducible nitric oxide synthase) by reducing the activity of certain transcription factors (NF-B-B and AP-1) that control the production of inflammatory molecules. Additionally, oregonin decreases lipid accumulation, inflammation, and ROS (reactive oxygen species) production in human macrophages, confirming its anti-inflammatory action. These discoveries suggest that these components could be useful in preventing and treating atherosclerosis, a disease linked to inflammation of blood vessels, by limiting NF-B-B factor activation.

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Antioxidant

Numerous reports indicate that extracts and isolated constituents of this genus (Alnus) possess significant antioxidant activity. Both oregonin and hirsutenone have been noted for their significant oxygen radical scavenging ability. Furthermore, the antioxidant properties of Black Alder extract are linked to an effective reduction in inflammatory processes.

Anticancer

An extract of leaf of Black Alder demonstrated activity against cervical and prostate adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. Hirsutenone, isolated from black alder leaves, showed activity against human colon cancer cells in vitro. The action mechanism is attributed to oxidative stress induction and topoisomerase II activation, causing DNA strand breaks leading to cell death. However, other diarylheptanoids isolated from the bark appear to reduce oxidative stress by decreasing ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and increasing the expression of enzymes involved in ROS elimination. The effects of these diarylheptanoids on cancer cells may be dose-dependent.

Antimicrobial

Ethanolic extracts from Alnus leaves demonstrated antimicrobial activity against E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, C.albicans. The isolated compounds from the extract, oregonin, and hirsutenone were also evaluated for their antibacterial activities and were found to be active against MRSA (S. aureus methicillin-resistant strains).

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Hepato-protective

Researchers Buniatian et al. examined how an ellagitannin-based preparation, extracted from Black Alder cones, could protect the liver. They tested this extract on acute liver lesions induced by carbon tetrachloride, a liver-toxic chemical. They found that this extract had a protective effect on the liver even at a very low dose (1 mg/kg), which is ten times less than the usual dose used for traditional flavonoid-based drugs. Substances found in Black Alder help to limit issues related to bile production, have an anti-inflammatory effect, stabilize cell membranes, and help restore the physiological antioxidant system.