Burdock has been claimed to benefit in a wide variety of conditions, including arthritis, diabetes,
and hair loss. It is also a principal herbal ingredient in the popular cancer formula such as
Essiac and Hoxsey formulas.
Side Effects of Burdock
In general, use of burdock in recommended doses is safe. However, improper handling the
plant has occasionally been reported to cause allergic skin reactions. Unusual side effects or
overdose can include increased urine flow, stomach upset, kidney or liver damage, and
alternation of blood sugar levels [7].
Patients on diabetic treatments or blood pressure lowering therapies should be cautious on
using this herb. Discuss with doctor before use.
Potential Health Benefits of Burdock
Burdock is believed to have anti-cancer benefits.
Burdock has been used in Essiac as an alternative-medicine anti-cancer therapy. A review of
patients taking Essiac shows that there was no obvious toxicity. [2]
Arctiin, a plant lignan in burdock (Arctium lappa) seeds, is a possible environmental endocrine
disruptor compounds and have been shown to influence sex hormone metabolism as well as
protein synthesis, steroid biosynthesis. [2] Japanese researchers have shown that arctiin has
a protective effect on 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine -induced
carcinogenesis particularly in the mammary gland in rats. [3] However, it (at 0.1% arctiin) did
not any benefits on subsiding prostate carcinogenesis in SV 40 Tag TG rats. [1]
On the other hand, chlorogenic acid, a chemcial from burdock extract, shows inhibition on a
cancer model. [4]
Burdock extract may have benefit in liver injuries.
Chinese researchers showed its protective effects on ethanol and CCl(4)-induced liver damage
in rats. It could even restore the glutathione content and affect the histopathological lesions.
[5]
Burdock extract showed benefits in gastric ulcers in a rat study.
Russian researchers compared the mechanisms of the gastroprotective effect of plantaglucid,
befungin, plantain juice, extractions of birch bark (Betula pendula Roth,) and burdock seeds
(Arctium tomentosum Mill.) on various links of gastric ulcer pathogenesis. [6] They found the
effects were different.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USING BURDOCK
OR RELATED PRODUCTS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ZHION 2008.
Reference [1] Zeng Y, et al, Lack of significant modifying effect of arctiin on prostate carcinogenesis in
probasin/SV40 T antigen transgenic rats. Cancer Lett. 2005 May 26;222(2):145-51. [2] Essiac for cancer?
TreatmentUpdate. 1998 Jul;10(5):4-5. [3] Hirose M, et al, Effects of arctiin on PhIP-induced mammary,
colon and pancreatic carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats and MeIQx-induced
hepatocarcinogenesis in male F344 rats. Cancer Lett. 2000 Jul 3;155(1):79-88. [4] Kasai H, et al, Action of
chlorogenic acid in vegetables and fruits as an inhibitor of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine formation in vitro and
in a rat carcinogenesis model. Food Chem Toxicol. 2000 May;38(5):467-71. [5] Lin SC, et al,
Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa Linne on liver injuries induced by chronic ethanol consumption
and potentiated by carbon tetrachloride. J Biomed Sci. 2002 Sep-Oct;9(5):401-9. [6] Os'kina OA, et al, The
mechanisms of the anti-ulcer action of plant drug agentsEksp Klin Farmakol. 1999 Jul-Aug;62(4):37-9. [7]
Swanston-Flatt SK et al, Glycaemic effects of traditional European plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in
normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetes Res. 1989 Feb;10(2):69-73.
and hair loss. It is also a principal herbal ingredient in the popular cancer formula such as
Essiac and Hoxsey formulas.
Side Effects of Burdock
In general, use of burdock in recommended doses is safe. However, improper handling the
plant has occasionally been reported to cause allergic skin reactions. Unusual side effects or
overdose can include increased urine flow, stomach upset, kidney or liver damage, and
alternation of blood sugar levels [7].
Patients on diabetic treatments or blood pressure lowering therapies should be cautious on
using this herb. Discuss with doctor before use.
Potential Health Benefits of Burdock
Burdock is believed to have anti-cancer benefits.
Burdock has been used in Essiac as an alternative-medicine anti-cancer therapy. A review of
patients taking Essiac shows that there was no obvious toxicity. [2]
Arctiin, a plant lignan in burdock (Arctium lappa) seeds, is a possible environmental endocrine
disruptor compounds and have been shown to influence sex hormone metabolism as well as
protein synthesis, steroid biosynthesis. [2] Japanese researchers have shown that arctiin has
a protective effect on 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine -induced
carcinogenesis particularly in the mammary gland in rats. [3] However, it (at 0.1% arctiin) did
not any benefits on subsiding prostate carcinogenesis in SV 40 Tag TG rats. [1]
On the other hand, chlorogenic acid, a chemcial from burdock extract, shows inhibition on a
cancer model. [4]
Burdock extract may have benefit in liver injuries.
Chinese researchers showed its protective effects on ethanol and CCl(4)-induced liver damage
in rats. It could even restore the glutathione content and affect the histopathological lesions.
[5]
Burdock extract showed benefits in gastric ulcers in a rat study.
Russian researchers compared the mechanisms of the gastroprotective effect of plantaglucid,
befungin, plantain juice, extractions of birch bark (Betula pendula Roth,) and burdock seeds
(Arctium tomentosum Mill.) on various links of gastric ulcer pathogenesis. [6] They found the
effects were different.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USING BURDOCK
OR RELATED PRODUCTS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ZHION 2008.
Reference [1] Zeng Y, et al, Lack of significant modifying effect of arctiin on prostate carcinogenesis in
probasin/SV40 T antigen transgenic rats. Cancer Lett. 2005 May 26;222(2):145-51. [2] Essiac for cancer?
TreatmentUpdate. 1998 Jul;10(5):4-5. [3] Hirose M, et al, Effects of arctiin on PhIP-induced mammary,
colon and pancreatic carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats and MeIQx-induced
hepatocarcinogenesis in male F344 rats. Cancer Lett. 2000 Jul 3;155(1):79-88. [4] Kasai H, et al, Action of
chlorogenic acid in vegetables and fruits as an inhibitor of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine formation in vitro and
in a rat carcinogenesis model. Food Chem Toxicol. 2000 May;38(5):467-71. [5] Lin SC, et al,
Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa Linne on liver injuries induced by chronic ethanol consumption
and potentiated by carbon tetrachloride. J Biomed Sci. 2002 Sep-Oct;9(5):401-9. [6] Os'kina OA, et al, The
mechanisms of the anti-ulcer action of plant drug agentsEksp Klin Farmakol. 1999 Jul-Aug;62(4):37-9. [7]
Swanston-Flatt SK et al, Glycaemic effects of traditional European plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in
normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetes Res. 1989 Feb;10(2):69-73.
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Burdock Side Effects and Benefits