By Daibhaid A. O'Broder

Indian Paint, Red Puccoon, RedRoot, Tetterwort, Lexat, Viadent

Sanguinaria canadensis

Sanguinarine is an alkaloid that is extracted from the rhizome or rootstock of the Sanguinaria canadensis. This herb is a perennial that is native to North America and is proliferate in the southern climates.

The plant itself contains several pharmacologically active alkaloids, including derivatives that are isoquinalone in nature, specifically: sanguinarine, homochelidonine, sanguidimerine, chelerythrine, and protopine. Coptisine, sanguiruibine, and berberine can also be extracted from the rhizome and plant itself.

Rhizome

This flowering perennial is a member of the poppy family and while the leaves appear to bear the markings of the sassafras, it is no where near being an herb that is non-lethal. It is a creeping rhizome with large leaves, folded at first, and flowers in the spring. The leaves appear rounded with radiating veins, somewhat again of the sassafras tree in nature. It is a small bushy plant that grows no taller than 24 inches (60 cm) and bears a solitary whitish flower.

The singular component, Sanguinarine, is the most extensively studied agent in bloodroot; it is poorly absorbed in the GI Tract. The herb has a broad antimicrobial as well as anti-inflammatory property. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of sanguinarine range from 1 to 32 mcg/ml for most species of bacteria, that promote dental plaque (Godowski, 1989).

Sanguinarine also negatively converts to charged iminium ions that permits the compound to bind to plaque (Godowski, 1989). In addition, a mild CNS depression and pavpaverine-line action on the smooth muscles and cardiac muscle has been noted as well.

It is commonly found in:

Toothpaste's and Oral rinses.

Is has been used as an expectorant but, because of the toxicity of the herb it has fell into disuse. Other claims are that it has bee used as an emetic, a laxative, and a digestive stimulant.

The efficacy of sanguinarine as an antiplaque agent has been well documented in various clinical trials. (Godowski, 1989; Kopczk et al., 1991). In contrast, a recent study of periodontal disease treatments show no significant advantage to suing a sanguinarine dentrifice and oral rinse in conjunction with initial periodontal therapy, such as oral hygiene instruction, scaling, and root planing (Cullinan et al., 1997).

Because it does have the ability to chemically corrode and destroy tissues, the herb has been used as a treatment for skin cancers and other such fungal growths as ringworm and nasal polyps. In humans, it has been tested topically for the treatment of ear and nose carcinomas. A dilution of a concentration of sanguinarine has been successfully used as mouthwashes.

Tincture: 0.3 to 2 ml three times daily.

Extract: (1:1 in 60% alcohol): 0.06 to 0.3 ml three times daily.

Sanguinarine products containing Zinc: increased antimicrobial efficacy of sanguinarine (Eisenberg et al., 1991). Avoid concomitant use.

AVOID USE DURING PREGNANCY. Use Cautiously under medical supervision on abraded or healing tissue.

Most clinical data support using sanguinarine as an ingredient in toothpaste or oral rinses to control dental plaque. However a study by Cullinan et al. (1997) showed no benefit of sanguinarine when used in combination with routine periodontal care. It is also questioned as to the use of sanguinarine because the agent offers no advantages over periodontal care and has potentially dangerous side effects if ingested orally.

Sanguinarine's efficacy in the treatment of topical cancers and fungal infections has not demonstrated in controlled tests; therefore it cannot be recommended without additional studies. Oral administration of this herb is associated with destruction of dental tissue and cannot in good conscience be recommended for use.

Copyright ©2000 O'Broder, AOID Publishing, All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction of this monograph in any form without specific permission of the author is a definitive violation of this Copyright.