Madder – Side Effects and Precautions of Use
30 July 2007Taxonomic class
Rubiaceae
Common Trade Names
Multi-ingredient preparations: Madder Whole Root, Nephrubin, Rubia Teep, Rubicin, Uralyt
Common Forms
Available as dried root, fluidextract, and root powder.
Source
The crude drug is obtained from the dried roots of Rubia tinctorum. The plant is native to parts of the Mediterranean, Europe, and Asia and naturalized to areas of North America.
Chemical components
Madder root contains anthraquinone derivatives (ruberythric acid, alizarin, and purpurin), glycosides (including alizarinprimeveroside and lucidinprimeveroside, which is converted to lucidin), an iridoid (asperuloside), resin, and calcium.
Actions
Madder is claimed to have antispasmodic, diuretic, and renal calculusÂÂinhibiting properties. R. tinctorum preparations have proved to be genotoxic in rats and to form DNA adducts in murine liver, kidney, duodenum, and colon tissue . No acute or subacute toxicity was found when fresh madder root extract was added to the diet of mice over a 3-month period however, rats that for 2 years were fed a diet that contained madder root experienced dose-dependent increases in benign and malignant liver and kidney tumor formation . Purpurin has been reported to possess antimutagenic properties .
Reported Uses
Madder was traditionally used to treat amenorrhea, jaundice, paralysis, renal disorders, and sciatica. It is now used in herbal medicine to prevent or treat calcium-containing calculi in the kidneys and bladder. Calcium oxalate crystallization and stone formation have reportedly been inhibited in the kidneys of rats and rabbits by dietary intake of fresh madder root. In a rabbit model, administration of anthraquinone derivatives from R. tinctorum was found to reduce the rate of calculus formation in the bladder .
Dosage
The German Commission E reports a dose of 30 mg of hydroxyanthracene derivatives P.O., calculated as ruberythric acid. Other sources suggest 20 gtt of fluidextract or 1 capsule (from dried root tincture) P.O. t.i.d. for up to 2 months.
Adverse Reactions
Other: red color of bone, breast milk, perspiration, saliva, tears, or urine.
Interactions
None reported.
Contraindications and precautions
Madder is contraindicated in pregnant or breast-feeding patients because of mutagenic potential.
Special considerations
Caution the patient about the dangers associated with madder use, especially if treatment is prolonged.
Madder has been shown to be carcinogenic, genotoxic, and mutagenic in rodents.
Instruct women to report planned or suspected pregnancy.
Advise women to avoid using madder during pregnancy or when breast-feeding.
Inform the patient who wears contact lenses that madder consumption may stain the lenses.
Points of Interest
Madder was formerly cultivated for the red dye (alizarin) obtained from its roots. Cloth dyed with madder has been found on Egyptian mummies. Madder also was used to color the trousers of French soldiers and Turkish fezzes. The production of synthetic alizarin ceased the demand for the natural product.
Alizarin colors bone red and was used as a histologic stain in the 1800s to trace bone development and bone cell function.
Commentary
Because of a lack of documented human safety and efficacy and the potential for carcinogenicity and genotoxicity, the use of madder is strongly discouraged.
Tagged under:amenorrhea, anthraquinone, antispasmodic, calcium oxalate, herbal medicine, Herbal Medicines, kidney tumor, kidneys, liver, madder root preparations
on September 14th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Please,
where can I find “RUBIA TEEP” in Frankfurt?
Some Pharmacies told me that they dont have this medicine.
I wait forward
Marcos Caetano