FEVERFEW

Description

Also known as magarza, it is a herbaceous, perennial and aromatic plant belonging to the composite family. It is very aromatic when crushed. The stems are erect, more or less branched, the younger ones slightly pubescent. The leaves are petiolate and elliptical. The inflorescences are composed of numerous heads grouped in rounded panicles on peduncles up to 8 cm long.

Part used

The dried aerial part, whole or fragmented.

Active principles

• Sesquiterpene lactones: parthenolide, the most abundant and considered by some authors the most important for the activity of the plant. Other lactones are 3 β-hydroxyparthenolide, seco-parthenolide, canine and artecanine.
• Essential oil (0.3-0.8%), the main components of which are camphor, chrysanthemyl acetate and certain acetylenic compounds.
• Lipophilic methoxylated flavonoids: santin and tanetin (trimethoxides of 6-hydroxykempferol) and jaceidin and centaureidin (trimethoxides of quercetagenin).

Pharmacological action

Preventive of migraine attacks. Although the mechanism of action is not completely clarified, it could be related to the anti-inflammatory effect (inhibition of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase and inhibition of arachidonic acid release); increase of pain threshold and intervention in the contraction-relaxation mechanisms of blood vessels.

In several double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies, it has been observed that feverfew leaf can reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, the need for analgesics and associated vomiting.

Indications

• Prevention of migraine attacks.
• Others: headaches, arthritis, arthralgias, dyspepsia, intestinal parasites, menstrual disorders.

Contraindications

• Pregnancy and lactation.
• Allergy to other plants of the composite family.

Precautions

• Treatments of at least two months in a row are recommended.
• The fresh plant can produce contact dermatitis, attributed to the content of sesquiterpene lactones.

Drug interactions

Heparin, oral anticoagulants.

Side effects

They are rare. In sensitive people or in prolonged treatment may appear digestive disorders (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, flatulence).

Bibliography

-.Monografía de la SEFIT (Sociedad Española de Fitoterapia).

-.Manual de Fitoterapia. Encarna Castillo García e Isabel Martínez Solís. 2ª edición Elsevier.

-.European Medicines Agency (EMA) - Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). European Union herbal monograph on Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz Bip., herba. Final – Revision 1. Amsterdam: EMA. Doc. Ref.: EMA/HMPC/48715/2017. Published: 14/8/2020.

-.European Medicines Agency (EMA) - Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). List of references supporting the assessment of Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz Bip., herba. Final – Revision 1. Amsterdam: EMA. Doc. Ref.: EMA/HMPC/48714/2017. Published: 14/8/2020.

-.Wider B, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Feverfew for preventing migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Apr 20; 4:CD002286.

-.Saranitzky E, White CM, Baker EL, Baker WL, Coleman CI. Feverfew for migraine prophylaxis: a systematic review. J Diet Suppl. 2009; 6 (2): 91-103

-.Awanga DVC. The Quest for the Anti-Migraine Principles of Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz Bip. Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants 2009; 15 (1): 98-105.

-.Diener HC, Pfaffenrath V, Schnitker J, Friede M, Henneicke-von Zepelin HH. Efficacy and safety of 6.25 mg t.i.d. feverfew CO2-extract (MIG-99) in migraine prevention - a randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled study. Cephalalgia 2005; 25: 1031-1041.

-.Sur R, Martin K, Liebel F, Lyte P, Shapiro S, Southall M. Anti-inflammatory activity of parthenolide-depleted feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium). Inflammopharmacology 2009;17: 42-49.