Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus)

Pharmacology:

• Constituents: Cramp bark contains proanthocyanidins and viopudial.^2,1 The squeezed berries of cramp bark contain polysaccharides, including galacturonic acid, galactose, arabinose, mannose, and rhamnose.⁶ Urosolic acid has been extracted from the flowers.⁷
• Antimicrobial activity: Viburnum opulus has exhibited disinfectant activity.⁵
• Antioxidant activity: In an animal study, Viburnum opulus increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and gluthatione peroxidase.² In an in vitro study, Viburnum opulus extract also showed antioxidant activity.³
• Antispasmodic activity: In vitro, viopudial isolated from Viburnum opulus has shown antispasmodic effects on smooth muscle.¹
• Astringent activity: In an in vitro study, Viburnum opulus extract showed astringent activity.⁴
• Gastroduodenoprotective activity: In a study of stressed rats, Viburnum opulus PA prevented gastroduodenal mucosal damage.²
• Hypotensive effects: In vitro, viopudial isolated from Viburnum opulus has shown hypotensive effects.¹
• Immunostimulating effects: Some polysaccharides from Viburnum opulus berries enhanced phagocytosis, in particular, the phagocytic index and the secretion of lysosomal enzymes with peritoneal macrophages.⁶

Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics:

• Insufficient available evidence.

References

1. Nicholson, J. A., Darby, T. D., and Jarboe, C. H. Viopudial, a hypotensive and smooth muscle antispasmodic from Viburnum opulus. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med  1972;140(2):457-461. 5037580
2. Zayachkivska, O. S., Gzhegotsky, M. R., Terletska, O. I., Lutsyk, D. A., Yaschenko, A. M., and Dzhura, O. R. Influence of Viburnum Opulus proanthocyanidins on stress-induced gastrointestinal mucosal damage. J Physiol Pharmacol 2006;57 Suppl 5:155-167. 17218766
3. Ryzhikov, M. A. and Ryzhikova, V. O. [Application of chemiluminescent methods for analysis of the antioxidant activity of herbal extracts]. Vopr Pitan  2006;75(2):22-26. 16729755
4. Smirnova, A. S. and Iadrova, V. M. [Comparative study of the astringent effect of liquid extracts from Viburnum opulus L]. Farmatsiia  1968;17(4):42-45. 5759831
5. Smetankina, P. P. [DISINFECTANT PROPERTIES OF VIBURNUM OPULUS.]. Vestn Dermatol Venerol  1963;37:75. 14068300
6. Ovodova, R. G., Golovchenko, V. V., Popov, S. V., Shashkov, A. S., and Ovodov, IuS. [The isolation, preliminary study of structure and physiological activity of water-soluble polysaccharides from squeezed berries of Snowball tree Viburnum opulus]. Bioorg Khim  2000;26(1):61-67. 10806553
7. Plouvier, V. [PRESENCE OF URSOLIC ACID IN THE BLOSSOMS OF VIBURNUM OPULUS L. VAR. STERILE DC (CAPRIFOLIACEAE)]. Ann Pharm Fr  1964;22:313-314. 14197758

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