| Side Effects and Potential Health Benefits of Yucca |
Yucca schidigera is a medicinal plant native to Mexico. [6] Its
soapy leaves benefit sprains, inflammation and bleeding,
according to folk medicine. Native Americans used yucca to
treat hair loss and dandruff. Yucca contains saponins.
Preliminary study shows these saponins may benefit arthritis
and its extract may help fight cancer. [1,2]
Potential Health Benefits of Yucca
Yucca extracts may have anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory
effects.
The plant contains several physiologically active
phytochemicals. It is a rich source of steroidal saponins.
Saponins have diverse biological effects, including anti-
protozoal and anti-arthritic activities.
Yucca is also a rich source of phenolics, including resveratrol
and a number of other stilbenes (yuccaols A, B, C, D and E).
These phenolics have anti-inflammatory activities. They are
inhibitors of the nuclear transcription factor NFkappaB. NFkB
stimulates synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase
(iNOS), which causes formation of the inflammatory agent
nitric oxide. Yucca extracts and its phenolics are also anti-
oxidants and free-radical scavengers, which may aid in
suppressing reactive oxygen species that stimulate
inflammatory responses. [6,9]
Yucca extract may have benefits of cutting risks of cardiac
diseases.
Researchers from Poland showed that the phenolic
compounds (e.g. resveratrol, 1 to 25 microg/mL) and the
extracts of yucca decreased platelet adhesion and secretion.
[7] In addition, these compounds also inhibited free radical
generation in blood platelets in a different study. Thus,
researchers considered these phenolic compounds may be
beneficial in protecting against cardiovascular diseases. [11]
Yucca extract may have benefits of anti-fungal activities.
A crude steroidal glycoside extract from Yucca gloriosa
flower showed activities against a panel of human pathogenic
fungi, yeasts as well as dermatophytes and filamentous
species. [8]
Yucca extract may benefit people suffered from high
cholesterol.
Korean researchers demonstrated the cholesterol-lowering
activities of Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria extracts
in a study of hyper-cholesterolemic patients. [10]
Yucca Side Effects
Yucca has been used in some beverages and supplements,
no safety issues have been reported. [4] Probably, short-
term intake of small quantities is safe. However, yucca may
cause hemolysis (burst of red blood cells), and overdose of
yucca may cause loose stool and bleeding. [3, 5]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. MORE STUDIES ARE NEEDED
TO SUPPORT THE CLAIMS. CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY
QUESTION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2006 ZHION.
References 1. Bingham R, Bellew BA, Bellew JG. Yucca plant saponin in the
management of arthritis. J Appl Nutr 1975;27:45–50. 2. Foster S, Duke JA.
A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants: Eastern and Central North America. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Co., 1990, 18, 228. 3. Moore M. Medicinal Plants of the
Desert and Canyon West. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1989,
134–5. 4. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A. American Herbal
Products AssociationÂ’s Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press, 1997, 124. 5. Moore M. Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon
West. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1989, 134–5. [6] Cheeke P,
et al, Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of yucca schidigera: A
review. J Inflamm (Lond). 2006 Mar 29;3:6. [7] Olas B, et al, Inhibition of
blood platelet adhesion and secretion by different phenolics from Yucca
schidigera Roezl. bark. Nutrition. 2005 Feb;21(2):199-206. [8] Favel A, et al,
Antifungal activity of steroidal glycosides from Yucca gloriosa L. Phytother
Res. 2005 Feb;19(2):158-61. [9] Piacente S, et al, Yucca schidigera bark:
phenolic constituents and antioxidant activity. J Nat Prod. 2004 May;67(5):
882-5. [10] Kim SW, et al, Hypocholesterolemic property of Yucca schidigera
and Quillaja saponaria extracts in human body. Arch Pharm Res. 2003 Dec;26
(12):1042-6. [11] Olas B, et al, Inhibition of oxidative stress in blood
platelets by different phenolics from Yucca schidigera Roezl. bark. Nutrition.
2003 Jul-Aug;19(7-8):633-40.
soapy leaves benefit sprains, inflammation and bleeding,
according to folk medicine. Native Americans used yucca to
treat hair loss and dandruff. Yucca contains saponins.
Preliminary study shows these saponins may benefit arthritis
and its extract may help fight cancer. [1,2]
Potential Health Benefits of Yucca
Yucca extracts may have anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory
effects.
The plant contains several physiologically active
phytochemicals. It is a rich source of steroidal saponins.
Saponins have diverse biological effects, including anti-
protozoal and anti-arthritic activities.
Yucca is also a rich source of phenolics, including resveratrol
and a number of other stilbenes (yuccaols A, B, C, D and E).
These phenolics have anti-inflammatory activities. They are
inhibitors of the nuclear transcription factor NFkappaB. NFkB
stimulates synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase
(iNOS), which causes formation of the inflammatory agent
nitric oxide. Yucca extracts and its phenolics are also anti-
oxidants and free-radical scavengers, which may aid in
suppressing reactive oxygen species that stimulate
inflammatory responses. [6,9]
Yucca extract may have benefits of cutting risks of cardiac
diseases.
Researchers from Poland showed that the phenolic
compounds (e.g. resveratrol, 1 to 25 microg/mL) and the
extracts of yucca decreased platelet adhesion and secretion.
[7] In addition, these compounds also inhibited free radical
generation in blood platelets in a different study. Thus,
researchers considered these phenolic compounds may be
beneficial in protecting against cardiovascular diseases. [11]
Yucca extract may have benefits of anti-fungal activities.
A crude steroidal glycoside extract from Yucca gloriosa
flower showed activities against a panel of human pathogenic
fungi, yeasts as well as dermatophytes and filamentous
species. [8]
Yucca extract may benefit people suffered from high
cholesterol.
Korean researchers demonstrated the cholesterol-lowering
activities of Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria extracts
in a study of hyper-cholesterolemic patients. [10]
Yucca Side Effects
Yucca has been used in some beverages and supplements,
no safety issues have been reported. [4] Probably, short-
term intake of small quantities is safe. However, yucca may
cause hemolysis (burst of red blood cells), and overdose of
yucca may cause loose stool and bleeding. [3, 5]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. MORE STUDIES ARE NEEDED
TO SUPPORT THE CLAIMS. CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY
QUESTION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2006 ZHION.
References 1. Bingham R, Bellew BA, Bellew JG. Yucca plant saponin in the
management of arthritis. J Appl Nutr 1975;27:45–50. 2. Foster S, Duke JA.
A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants: Eastern and Central North America. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Co., 1990, 18, 228. 3. Moore M. Medicinal Plants of the
Desert and Canyon West. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1989,
134–5. 4. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A. American Herbal
Products AssociationÂ’s Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press, 1997, 124. 5. Moore M. Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon
West. Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1989, 134–5. [6] Cheeke P,
et al, Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of yucca schidigera: A
review. J Inflamm (Lond). 2006 Mar 29;3:6. [7] Olas B, et al, Inhibition of
blood platelet adhesion and secretion by different phenolics from Yucca
schidigera Roezl. bark. Nutrition. 2005 Feb;21(2):199-206. [8] Favel A, et al,
Antifungal activity of steroidal glycosides from Yucca gloriosa L. Phytother
Res. 2005 Feb;19(2):158-61. [9] Piacente S, et al, Yucca schidigera bark:
phenolic constituents and antioxidant activity. J Nat Prod. 2004 May;67(5):
882-5. [10] Kim SW, et al, Hypocholesterolemic property of Yucca schidigera
and Quillaja saponaria extracts in human body. Arch Pharm Res. 2003 Dec;26
(12):1042-6. [11] Olas B, et al, Inhibition of oxidative stress in blood
platelets by different phenolics from Yucca schidigera Roezl. bark. Nutrition.
2003 Jul-Aug;19(7-8):633-40.
