Dragon's Blood

Generic name: Croton Lechleri Muell. Arg.
Brand names: Blood Of The Dragon, Crofelemer, Drago, Dragon's Blood, Sangre De Drago, Sangre De Grado, SP-303

Usage of Dragon's Blood

Crofelemer is an antisecretory antidiarrheal proanthocyanidin oligomer extracted from the C. lechleri tree and is approved by the FDA for symptomatic relief of noninfectious diarrhea in patients with HIV/AIDS receiving antiretroviral therapy. Data in this monograph is mostly focused on use of the natural product C. lechleri (eg, sap, resin, plant extracts), primarily in animal and in vitro studies.(Frampton 2013, Hornby 2015)

Antibacterial/Antiviral effects

In vitro data

In in vitro studies, several phenolic compounds and diterpenes, as well as the essential oil from the plant, have demonstrated antibacterial activity.(Cai 1993a, Chen 1994, Rossi 2003)

The constituent taspine inhibited RNA-directed DNA polymerase activity from certain tumor virus types, including leukemia and sarcoma virus.(Gupta 2008, Sethi 1977)

Antioxidant activity

Antioxidant properties have been described for C. lechleri sap.(Gupta 2008, Lopes 2004, Rossi 2003)

C. lechleri sap has an exceptionally high and stable antioxidant content (at least 93% inhibition percentage of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH]), suggesting a potential role as an antioxidant agent or ingredient for consumer product formulations (eg, food, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals or cosmetics, paint or paper products).(Escobar 2018)

Avulsed teeth replantation

A 10% C. lechlerisap was found to be an effective medium to preserve viability of teeth for replantation.(Martins 2016)

Cancer

Animal and in vitro data

C. lechleri extracts increased apoptosis in Helen Lake tumor cell and other human cancer cell lines, and have inhibited tumor growth in mice.(Alonso-Castro 2012, Gonzales 2006, Gupta 2008, Montopoli 2012) Thaspine (taspine), a topoisomerase inhibitor, alone induced apoptosis in mouse models of colon cancer.(Fayad 2009) An inhibitory effect against mutagens has been demonstrated in vitro.(Gonzales 2006)

Conversely, leukemic cells from children were exposed to C. lechleri extracts and showed resistance to the extract and increased survival times.(Styczynski 2006)

Diarrhea

Animal data

Experiments in mice have shown that C. lechleri sap has activity on gastric smooth muscle cells.(Froldi 2009)

GI effects

Animal data

Reductions in the size of induced gastric ulcers in rats were achieved when sap from C. lechleri and Croton palanostigma was added to the rats' drinking water for 7 days. A decrease in bacterial counts of ulcers in the sap-drinking rats versus controls was also reported.(Jones 2003)

Immunomodulatory activity

In vitro data

An in vitro study demonstrated immunomodulatory activity of sangre de drago, with potent inhibitory activity on classical and alternative pathways of the complement system and inhibition of proliferation of activated T cells.(Gupta 2008)

Wound-healing effects

Animal and in vitro data

Anti-inflammatory properties have been described for C. lechleri sap. Anti-inflammatory actions of the taspine alkaloid from dragon's blood were first documented in 1979.(Perdue 1979) Later studies confirmed these actions, leading to further studies regarding wound healing. In one study, taspine was found to be the active cicatrizant principle by an in vivo test in mice; increased migration of human fibroblasts was suggested as the probable mechanism in this acceleration of the wound-healing process.(Vaisberg 1989) Another report evaluating taspine's wound-healing properties demonstrated positive results (with higher dosing, results were seen earlier rather than later) using such parameters as wound tensile strength and histology; taspine also stimulated chemotaxis for fibroblasts. Data from the report suggest that taspine promotes early phases of wound healing in a dose-dependent manner.(Porras-Reyes 1993) Another chemical constituent, a dihydrobenzofuran lignan also involved in wound healing actions, was isolated in 1993.(Pieters 1993) Additionally, an in vitro study evaluating the effect of C. lechleri sap demonstrated inhibition of cutaneous neurogenic inflammation.(Pereira 2010)

Clinical data

Clinical data regarding the use of C. lechleri sap for wound healing are lacking. C. lechleri offers limited use in dermatology and further investigations are necessary to gain additional insight into its potential clinical usefulness.(Pona 2019)

Dragon's Blood side effects

No major toxic effects have been reported from consumption of C. lechleri extract, and studies evaluating crofelemer report low levels of GI-related adverse effects (eg, abdominal pain, flatulence, dyspepsia).(Clay 2014, Cottreau 2012)

Before taking Dragon's Blood

Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. C. lechleri sap has been traditionally used as a vaginal bath before childbirth and for healing after an abortion; however, clinical data are insufficient to support these uses.(Duke 2002, Gupta 2008, Jones 2003)

How to use Dragon's Blood

Clinical data are lacking to provide dosing recommendations.

Warnings

Weak mutagenicity in Salmonella and yeast tests has been reported for the sap of C. lechleri(Jones 2003, Lopes 2004); in an Ames test employing Salmonella typhimurium, no mutagenicity of the plant essential oil was observed.(Rossi 2011) Because the constituent taspine may be cytotoxic, it should not exceed 5,000 ppm.(Itokawa 1991, Jones 2003, Vaisberg 1989) The acute oral median lethal dose of crofelemer in rats was determined to be greater than 300 mg/kg.(Jones 2003) Chronic mouse skin carcinogenesis models found no evidence of mutagenicity in topical sap applications.(Jones 2003)

What other drugs will affect Dragon's Blood

Case reports for interactions with C. lechleri extracts are lacking.

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