Vipérine commune (Echium vulgare): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Questions fréquentes

How does Viper's Bugloss work medicinally?

Viper's Bugloss contains mucilage and tannins which provide demulcent and astringent effects, traditionally used to soothe respiratory catarrh and mucous membranes. However, the plant also contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). While the mucilage offers therapeutic potential, the PAs are metabolized by the liver into toxic pyrroles that can cause veno-occlusive disease. Consequently, its therapeutic mechanism is overshadowed by its potential for hepatotoxicity (Evidence Level C/Traditional).

Is Viper's Bugloss safe to take during pregnancy?

No, Viper's Bugloss is considered unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The plant contains unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are known hepatotoxins. These compounds can cross the placenta and pass into breast milk, posing significant risks of liver damage to the developing fetus or infant. Regulatory guidelines strictly advise against the internal use of PA-containing herbs in pregnant populations (Evidence Level D).

What is the recommended dosage for Viper's Bugloss?

Due to the risk of liver damage, there is no established safe dosage for long-term use. Traditional folk usage involved a tea prepared from the dried herb for short-term relief of respiratory symptoms, but modern herbalists generally advise against internal use. If used, it must be strictly short-term and low-dose, though avoiding the herb entirely is the safest clinical recommendation given the toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (Evidence Level C).

Does Viper's Bugloss interact with medications?

While specific pharmacokinetic studies are lacking, Viper's Bugloss poses theoretical interactions with hepatotoxic drugs. Because the herb contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that stress the liver, combining it with medications like acetaminophen, statins, or alcohol increases the risk of hepatotoxicity. Patients with liver disease or those taking liver-metabolized medications should strictly avoid this herb to prevent compounding liver strain (Evidence Level D).

What are the traditional uses of Viper's Bugloss?

Historically, European folk medicine utilized Viper's Bugloss for treating fevers, headaches, and respiratory catarrh. Under the Doctrine of Signatures, the plant was believed to treat snakebites because its spotted stem resembled viper skin. However, these uses are based on tradition rather than rigorous clinical trials. Modern interest focuses primarily on researching the toxicology of its pyrrolizidine alkaloids rather than its therapeutic applications (Evidence Level C/Traditional).

Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed

Cette fiche a été compilée à partir de résumés PubMed (NIH) avec l'assistance d'une IA. Chaque affirmation factuelle est citée par un article PubMed réel (voir la liste des sources). Elle n'a pas encore été révisée par un humain — confirmez auprès d'un professionnel de santé avant utilisation.

Compilé à partir de 30 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b

Résumé

Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare L.) is a member of the Boraginaceae family used traditionally for various inflammatory and respiratory conditions [PMID:34871767, PMID:41304864].

Contexte

Echium vulgare L. is a herbaceous plant originating in the Mediterranean and now distributed across Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania [PMID:34871767]. It is a member of the Boraginaceae family [PMID:30795405].

Usages traditionnels

It has been widely used to treat cough, urinary tract infection, fever, inflammation, muscle strain [PMID:34871767], as well as a wound-healing and anti-inflammatory agent, respiratory problems, mental health issues, and general abrasions or fissures of the hands [PMID:41304864].

Composés actifs

Bioactive components include pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) such as echimidine, lycopsamine, seneciphylline, and heliotrine [PMID:23886433, PMID:32870736], shikonin and its derivatives [PMID:42123800, PMID:27855956], polysaccharides [PMID:24950309], and phenolic compounds including rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid [PMID:27855956, PMID:37026584]. It also contains fatty acids such as gamma-linolenic (GLA), linoleic (LA), alpha-linolenic (ALA), and stearidonic acid (SDA) in its seeds [PMID:18066400].

Mécanisme d'action

Echimidine is bioactivated by the cytochrome P450 enzyme into reactive pyrrolic intermediates that form DNA and protein adducts [PMID:41417665]. Polysaccharides from the flowers exhibit radical scavenging abilities (·OH and ·DPPH) in vitro [PMID:24950309].

Preuves cliniques

Preuve DRadical scavenging/Antioxidant

Flower-derived polysaccharides showed significant radical scavenging abilities in vitro [PMID:24950309].

Sécurité et effets indésirables

The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are phytotoxins associated with food and feed poisonings [PMID:29709169]. Specifically, echimidine can cause hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, and developmental toxicity [PMID:41417665].

Synthèse des preuves

The available evidence consists primarily of phytochemical analyses, in vitro studies, and reviews. There are no human clinical trials provided; evidence is limited to laboratory and animal-based transfer studies.

Sources PubMed

1.PMID: 34871767 (2022) — Comparative analysis of the main medicinal substances and applications of Echium vulgare L. and Echium plantagineum L.: A review. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
2.PMID: 24950309 (2014) — Extraction, antioxidant and antilisterial activities of polysaccharides from the flower of viper's bugloss. · International journal of biological macromolecules
3.PMID: 32870736 (2020) — Transfer of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from ragwort, common groundsel and viper's bugloss to milk from dairy cows. · Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
4.PMID: 29709169 (2018) — Influence of Storage on the Stability of Toxic Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Their N-Oxides in Peppermint Tea, Hay, and Honey. · Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
5.PMID: 23886433 (2013)

Vipérine commune

Sources et citations

Calculer une dose sûre de Vipérine commune

Angelica dahurica

Marjoram Egyptian

Cleome Gynandra

Questions fréquentes

Résumé

Contexte

Usages traditionnels

Composés actifs

Mécanisme d'action

Preuves cliniques

Sécurité et effets indésirables

Synthèse des preuves

Sources PubMed

Sources gouvernementales

Vipérine commune

Sources et citations

Calculer une dose sûre de Vipérine commune

Plantes associées

Angelica dahurica

Marjoram Egyptian

Cleome Gynandra

Questions fréquentes

Résumé

Contexte

Usages traditionnels

Composés actifs

Mécanisme d'action

Preuves cliniques

Sécurité et effets indésirables

Synthèse des preuves

Sources PubMed

Sources gouvernementales