Fumitory

Generic name: Fumaria Officinalis L.
Brand names: Common Fumitory, Drug Fumitory, Earth Smoke, Fumaderm (Germany), Fumitory, Pitpapara

Usage of Fumitory

GI effects

Animal data

Experiments using isolated GI tract tissue have demonstrated both antispasmodic and prokinetic activities of Fumaria extracts. Cholinergic, muscarinic, and calcium channel involvement has also been demonstrated, with a concentration-response relationship described.Gilani 2005, Najeeb-ur-Rehman 2012, Najeeb-ur-Rehman 2012

Clinical data

A randomized, placebo-controlled, blind clinical study found a decrease in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)–associated pain with Fumaria; however, there was no difference over placebo using the global assessment measures of IBS. Increased abdominal distension was also associated with the use of Fumaria.Gilani 2005, Rahimi 2012

Hepatobiliary disorders

Animal data

Hepatoprotective properties of Fumaria species have been reported in animal studies; however, a precise mechanism of action has not been elucidated.Hentschel 1995, Hussain 2012, Orhan 2012, Tripathi 2010 Monomethyl fumarate demonstrated hepatoprotective activity against thioacetamide in vitro; in carbon tetrachloride, acetaminophen, and rifampin in vivo; and was comparable with silymarin, a recognized hepatoprotective.Rathi 2008

Clinical data

F. officinalis is approved in Germany for colic pain affecting the gallbladder and biliary system, in addition to the GI tract; however, quality clinical trials are lacking.Zacharewicz 1979

Dermatological effects

Animal data

An anti-inflammatory mechanism has been proposed in combination with inhibition of the proliferation of keratinocytes, but there are few experiments in animals.Nibbering 1997

Clinical data

A derivative of fumaric acid is approved in Germany for systemic treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.Altmeyer 1996, Altmeyer 1994, Mrowietz 1998, Papadopoulou 2010 One clinical study evaluated the effect of F. parviflora 4% topical cream in eczema, with reduction in area and severity scores noted for the Fumaria preparation.Jowkar 2011

Other uses

The potential for fumaric acid derivatives in the management of multiple sclerosis has been reported.Papadopoulou 2012

Anxiolytic effects have been reported in studies conducted in rats,Singh 2013 as well as bronchodilatory effects in vitro.Gilani 2005 Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects have been studied in rodents.Molokhova 1973, Rao 2007

Antibacterial, antifungal, and antitrematode activity has been described for some Fumaria species.Gupta 2012, Ferreira 2011

A protective effect of F. parviflora ethanolic extracts on lead-induced testicular toxicity was demonstrated in rats.Dorostghoal 2013

Older studies described improved biochemical indices in diabetic rats fed a Fumaria dietJelodar 1998 and reduced experimental ischemia and arrhythmias in dogs.Rao 1998

Fumitory side effects

Information is limited. Increased abdominal distension was associated with the use of Fumaria in 1 study, and GI complaints and flushing were reported in other clinical studies.Brinkhaus 2005, Papadopoulou 2010

Before taking Fumitory

Avoid use of Fumaria during pregnancy and lactation because of the lack of pharmacological and toxicity data.

How to use Fumitory

Specific therapeutic studies using plant extracts to provide dosage guidance are limited.

A German preparation of dimethyl ester fumarate and ethyl hydrogen fumarate salts is used in psoriasis at dosages up to 720 mg/day.Papadopoulou 2010

Warnings

A single case report of acute hepatotoxicity, possibly associated with Fumaria, has been published.Bonnet 2007 Monomethyl fumarate was found to be nonhepatocytotoxic in rat studies.Rao 1998

Researchers using a 50% ethanol extract of F. indica found no evidence of hematological, biochemical, or histological toxicity in both short-term and long-term studies in rodents.Gupta 2012, Singh 2013, Singh 2011 However, some Fumariaceae alkaloids (eg, protopine) may exhibit toxicity.Singh 2011

What other drugs will affect Fumitory

None well documented.

The chemical constituent sanguinarine, found in S. canadensis and Fumaria species, has been suggested to have an antiplatelet effect,Molokhova 1973 but this effect has not been associated with Fumaria and case reports are lacking.

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