Bloodroot

Generic name: Sanguinaria Canadensis L.
Brand names: Black Paste, Bloodroot, Bloodwort, Coon Root, Indian Paint, Moh's Paste, Paucon, Red Puccoon, Redroot, Snakebite, Sweet Slumber, Tetterwort

Usage of Bloodroot

Animal food supplement

Animal data

The use of bloodroot as a food supplement in animals has been explored due to its purported appetite-stimulating and antioxidant effects.Croaker 2016 In pigs fed a sanguinarine and chelerythrine mix over 90 days, elevations in liver enzymes were observed, but no other adverse effects occurred.Kosina 2004

Antimicrobial activity

In vitro data

Bloodroot extracts exhibited antimicrobial properties, primarily in the oral cavity but also in the GI tract, against Helicobacter pylori and cholera bacterium.Giuliana 1997, Godowski 1989, Mahady 2003, Nandi 1983

Clinical data

Clinical applications beyond the use of sanguinarine in mouthwashes have not been investigated, and toxicity with use of these products has been reported (see Toxicology).Croaker 2016

Cancer

Animal and in vitro data

In vitro studies in human cancer cells and studies in animal models suggest that bloodroot extracts and sanguinarine may have potential clinical applications in the treatment of various cancers. Studies have shown antiangiogenic, cytotoxic, and apoptosis-inducing properties, and reviews of the literature have been published.Achkar 2017, Basu 2016, Croaker 2016 In an in vitro study comparing the potential anticancer activities of the plant alkaloids sanguinarine and chelerythrine in human breast adenocarcinoma cells, sanguinarine demonstrated more chemotherapeutic activity than chelerythrine, indicating it may be a promising candidate for development of new therapies for breast cancer.Almeida 2017

Clinical data

Clinical trials are lacking. There is inconsistent evidence to support the use of bloodroot in nonmelanoma skin cancer; use for this condition is not recommended.Croaker 2016, Eastman 2014, Saltzberg 2009

Immune system

In vitro data

Increases in cytokine production and suppression of cyclooxygenase-1 have been demonstrated in human mononuclear cells.Jeng 2007, Senchina 2009, Senchina 2009

Bloodroot side effects

Use of bloodroot as an escharotic agent in the form of a salve or paste has led to localized tissue damage and disfiguring scarring in several case reports. Tissue damage cannot be limited, and evidence is lacking to support use in nonmelanoma skin cancer; bloodroot is not recommended for this condition.Affleck 2007, Eastman 2014, Laub 2008, McDaniel 2002, Saltzberg 2009, Wang 2012

Epidemic edema has been reported in India due to edible cooking oils contaminated with sanguinarine-containing Argemone mexicana seeds.Das 1997, Shenolikar 1974,

Before taking Bloodroot

Avoid use due to documented adverse reactions, including emmenagogue effects and uterine-stimulant action.Ernst 2002 Studies in pigs have shown antiangiogenic effects on ovarian follicle development.Basini 2007

How to use Bloodroot

Clinical studies are lacking to provide dosage guidelines. Bloodroot may be emetic at dosages as low as 30 mg in humans.Duke 2002 Formerly, sanguinarine-containing toothpastes and mouthwashes were offered as alternatives to chemical-based oral antiseptics, but use has largely been discontinued because of toxicity concerns.Croaker 2016, Eversole 2000

Warnings

In rats, short-term toxicity studies of sanguinarine and Sanguinaria extracts found minimal oral toxicity (median lethal dose [LD50] of 1,200 to 1,700 mg/kg), likely due to its very limited gastric absorption. Sanguinarine was considerably more toxic via acute intravenous administration (LD50 of 29 mg/kg). A dermal LD50 of more than 200 mg/kg in rabbits was estimated,Becci 1987 and no reproductive or developmental effects in rats and rabbits were reported.Keller 1989

Despite its DNA intercalating ability, sanguinarine was not mutagenic in the Ames test. Phototoxic effects against mosquito larvae have been reported.Arnason 1992, Kevekordes 1999 In pigs fed a sanguinarine and chelerythrine mix over 90 days, mild elevations in liver enzymes were observed, but there were no histological changes or apparent adverse effects.Kosina 2004

A correlation between use of sanguinarine-containing toothpastes and preneoplastic oral leukoplakia has been reported in epidemiological studies and is supported by in vitro studies.Croaker 2016, Vlachojannis 2012

Sanguinarine dental products remain available and are promoted, especially via the Internet, but caution is warranted. The mouth rinse product Viadent has been withdrawn from the market in North America due to concerns regarding its carcinogenic potential.Croaker 2016

In one study, a correlation between elevated blood levels of sanguinarine and the incidence of gall bladder cancer was observed, although some analytical methods used may be problematic.Croaker 2017

What other drugs will affect Bloodroot

None well documented. Inhibition of platelet aggregation has been shown in vitro, but no case reports of clinical interactions with antiplatelet drugs have been published.Jeng 2007

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