Boraginaceae are widespread plants all over the world, they very often have a characteristic « scorpioid » inflorescence (scorpion-shaped).
The genus Borago comprises 3 or 4 species in Eurasia.
Borago officinalis is native to Central and Southern Europe, its borage appellation comes from the Arabic (= sudorific plant).
It is a fairly common plant, annual (it disappears in winter), it is recognized by its « hairy » appearance and its pretty blue flowers.
Borage is a traditional medicinal plant in Europe and North Africa, it is also consumed traditionally in Europe as a green vegetable or to flavor or decorate dishes.
For some decades, pharmacologists have drawn attention to the content of its leaves and stems in potentially toxic alkaloids (pyrrolizidine alkaloids), and the majority of herbal therapists now advise against their use in prolonged treatment.
Borage seeds contain a cosmetic and medicinal oil often free of toxic alkaloids.
La fleur de bourrache crédit Wikipedia
BORAGO OFFICINALIS BORAGE MEDICINAL PLANT AND CULINARY OIL SEED COSMETIC AND MEDICINAL ANTINFLAMMATORY RHEUMATISM ECZEMA DERMATOSIS DIABETES CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES
LEAVES STEM AND FLOWERS OF BOURRACHE
The leaves and stems contain:
- Mucilaginous substances and allantoin: healing, tissue regenerative, anti-inflammatory,
- anti-inflammatory and antioxidant flavonoids,
- mineral salts: calcium and especially potassium salts that promote diuresis,
- pyrrolizidine alkaloids: in very small quantities but toxic by accumulation for the liver (hepatotoxic) and the nervous system (neurotoxic), possibly carcinogenic and that may cause fetal malformations (teratogens).
THE OIL SEEDS OF BOURRACHE, BORAGE OIL
The small black borage seeds contain about 30% of oily fatty substances, whose composition of the main fatty acids is as follows:
Palmitic acid (saturated): 10%
Stearic acid (saturated): 4.5%
Oleic acid (unsaturated omega 9): 20%
Linoleic acid (unsaturated omega 6): 36%
Gamma linolenic acid (unsaturated omega 6): 21%
Alpha linolenic acid (unsaturated omega 3): 4.5%
Arachidic acid (saturated): 2.5%
The unsaponifiable contains phytosterols and vitamin E (tocopherols) powerful antioxidants, protective of tissue especially for the skin.
The percentage of borage oil fatty acids may vary depending on the variety of borage and the conditions of culture.
We can note the HIGH PERCENTAGE IN UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS .
Borage oil is interesting for cosmetological uses but also to limit various chronic inflammatory reactions.
Gamma linolenic acid, whose percentage in borage oil is high, is in fact rapidly transformed in the body into precursors of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, two chemical families of compounds modulating inflammatory and immune reactions.
Borage oil (as well as blackcurrant seed and evening primrose oils) is prescribed or tested in the following cases:
- dermatitis (eczema, atopic dermatitis),
- joint pain (rheumatoid arthritis),
- chronic bronchial asthma,
- and other conditions with inflammatory component (eg diabetes, cardiovascular disorders).
Borage oil also has cosmetological properties: « nourishing », rehydrating and protective for the skin.
The majority of borage oils do not contain toxic alkaloids (may be some chemical traces). They are removed during the extraction and purification of borage oil.
On the other hand, the seed cake contains alkaloids.
USES
LEAVES AND RODS OF BORAGE IN INTERNAL USE
In TRADITIONAL MEDICINE borage or its extracts were recommended:
- in infectious diseases especially viral (flu type),
- in diseases of the urinary tract: nephritis, urolithiasis (urinary calculus),
- in bronchopulmonary conditions.
Now HERBAL THERAPISTS no longer prescribe internal treatment of borage because of the chronic toxicity of alkaloids it contains.
Below is the summary of a very complete 2019 study (in English) on pyrrolizidine alkaloids:
Molecules. 2019 Feb; 24 (3): 498.
published on January 30, 2019
doi: 10.3390 / molecules24030498
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids: Biosynthesis, Biological Activities and Occurrence in Crop Plants
Sebastian Schramm, Nikolai Köhler, and Wilfried Rozhon
« Pyrrolizidine alkaloids represent one of the most important classes of naturally occurring toxins because of their wide distribution and high risk of unintentional consumption in contaminated natural products such as cereals, honey, milk, herbal teas and medicines.
Numerous studies have shown the hepatotoxic, genotoxic, cytotoxic, carcinogenic and neurotoxic potential of naturally occurring pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Possible symptoms of pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity are: hepatic veno-occlusive disease, cirrhosis of the liver, megalocystosis and cancer.
In addition, they can cause chronic pulmonary arterial hypertension and congenital anomalies.
Several cases of poisoning and outbreaks of poisoning caused by food contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been documented.
The two main sources of poisoning in humans are the consumption of cereal grains contaminated with weed seeds containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids and the use of edible plants or medicinal plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids for medicinal and dietary purposes. >>
Other traditional medicinal plants also contain these alkaloids: for example, comfrey (Symphytum officinale), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), eupatory (Eupatorium cannabinum).
LEAVES AND STEM OF BORAGE FOR EXTERNAL USE
The use of DECOCTION borage (filtered) or mashed borage (after cooking) for external use remains possible, it exploits the presence of anti-inflammatory compounds and healing softeners and alkaloids do not penetrate (or very little) in the body.
It can treat skin irritations, itching, small skin ulcerations slow to heal.
FOOD USE OF LEAVES AND FLOWERS OF BORAGE
The special taste (reminiscent of cucumber) of fresh leaves of borage, allows to flavor some dishes of raw vegetables.
The pretty blue flowers of borage are used to decorate and flavor salads or vegetable dishes. (can be used fresh or dry)
In both cases alkaloid intake is little, punctual and the risk to health is minimal.
However, avoid borage in case of liver disease (liver problems) or during pregnancy.
OIL OF SEEDS OF BORAGE
More than half of the triacylglycerols (fats) of borage seed oil have polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and gamma linolenic) which are transformed in the body into precursors of substances regulating inflammatory and immune responses.
It is therefore an oil of interest from the medical point of view.
Treatments comprising this borage oil are used:
- in case of chronic inflammation of the joints (eg rheumatoid arthritis),
- dermatoses with important local inflammatory components (eczema, atopic dermatitis),
- chronic bronchial asthma (asthma being both an allergic and inflammatory disorder),
- in conditions where inflammation of the tissues complicates the disease: type 2 diabetes, certain neurological and cardiovascular conditions.
Example of dosage: one capsule of 1g of borage oil, twice a day.
THE AUTOMEDICATION OF BORAGE OIL IS NOT RECOMMENDED, there must be a medical follow-up to avoid an overload in polyunsaturated fatty acids which can sometimes aggravate and not attenuate an inflammatory reaction.
Borage oil is a very good oil for SKIN CARE, nails or hair.
It can be used in direct application (skin, nails, hair and scalp) or mixed in cosmetic preparations: cream, balm, shampoo (a few drops of oil applied to the hair before adding the shampoo) .
CULTIVATION OF BORAGE
It is a very easy plant to cultivate, borage has a pleasant aspect with its beautiful blue flowers which attract bees.
There are horticultural varieties with other flower colors.
Borage is associated with vegetable crops, possibly preventing some pest attacks( companion plant).
It is sown in spring and the winter-surviving seeds ensure the durability of the plantation.
Borage may become invasive and take up too much space in the garden.
It is grown on a large scale for oil production, but since seed production is staggered, harvesting is complicated.
ABSTRACT
BORAGE A TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANT AND MEDICINAL OIL
Borage is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Europe and North Africa for a long time however its content of toxic alkaloids limits its use in modern medicine. The seeds oil contains a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids.
It is used to reduce inflammation in joint disorders, dermatosis, asthma, diabetes.
It is an interesting oil for the care of skin, nails or hair.
Leaves and borage flowers decorate and flavor salads of raw vegetables or traditional dishes.
Copyright 2023 : Dr Jean-Michel Hurtel
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