A member of the mint family, the bugleweed is a powerful medicinal herb you should be stocking up on

Bugleweed (Ajuga bracteosa), a plant widely distributed in northern India and Pakistan, has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various diseases. In a study released in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a team of researchers looked at the plant’s medicinal properties. The group, composed of scientists from The University of Poonch, Capital University of Science and Technology, Quaid-i-Azam University, and the University of Gujrat in Pakistan, assessed the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant, and anticoagulant properties of various extracts of bugleweed using in vitro and in vivo assays.

For the study, researchers used an extract from the aerial parts (the parts that are exposed like the stems) and the roots of bugleweed, using chloroform and methanol, and tested its active biological properties in mice models. They found that all extracts of the bugleweed plant were potent antioxidants and antidepressants. Moreover, the bugleweed methanolic extract had the highest values of flavonoids and phenolic contents. It also significantly decreased edema and reduced ferric ions, and it exhibited significant antioxidant and anticoagulant activities. In addition, the bugleweed methanolic root extract demonstrated the highest total antioxidant capacity. The researchers said that these beneficial effects of the bugleweed extracts could be attributed to the plant’s polyphenols and phytoecdysteroids contents.

The research team concluded that the methanolic extract of aerial parts of bugleweed exhibited promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant, and anticoagulant properties and can potentially be used as a powerful elixir.

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Many other benefits of bugleweed

Bugleweed is a plant with a stalk that grows three to six inches with bright purple flowers. The plant’s leaves are quite broad and grow about three inches off the ground. Both the flowers and leaves of bugleweed are often used for medicinal purposes. The following are some of the benefits of the bugleweed plant:

• Bugleweed supports respiratory health – Bugleweed is commonly used to relieve respiratory distress, including excessive coughing, shortness of breath, and sore throats, because of its anti-inflammatory compounds. It can relieve the respiratory tracts and ease irritation. At the same time, it also helps to eliminate phlegm and mucus.
• Bugleweed helps improve sleep – Bugleweed, as a soothing agent, helps people get better, uninterrupted sleep. It interacts with the hormones in the body to help balance the circadian rhythm and promote healthy rest.
• Bugleweed relieves anxiety – The soothing effects of bugleweed is beneficial to people who suffer from chronic stress and anxiety.
• Bugleweed helps prevent hormonal disorders – According to research, bugleweed helps regulate thyroid and estrogen levels and prevent hormonal disorders. (Related: Understanding thyroid disorders and how to treat them naturally.)
• Bugleweed protects the heart – Bugleweed normalizes the heart rate and lower blood pressure, thus protecting the heart against heart diseases, such as atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.
• Bugleweed speeds up wound healing – Applying bugleweed extract topically on a small cut or wound can help accelerate healing. This can be attributed to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that promote cell growth, prevent infection, reduce pain, and relieve inflammation.
• Bugleweed is good for overall health – The antioxidant property of bugleweed extract promotes overall health. Moreover, its phytochemical compounds remove the dangerous free radicals in the body that harms cells.

Read more news stories and studies on enhancing health with natural medicines by going to AlternativeMedicine.news.

Sources include:

Science.news

OrganicFacts.net