Tradescantia Sillamontana Medicinal Uses
Tradescantia sillamontana medicinal uses has a long history – science now confirms the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer and wound healing properties that validate the herbal applications of this Central American spiderwort.
You may not have heard of the Tradescantia sillamontana plant, but this unassuming perennial groundcover has some powerful medicinal properties. Also known by fun names like cobweb spiderwort or white velvet, Tradescantia sillamontana is found natively in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
With leaves like soft fuzzy blankets and pretty three-petaled purple flowers, you may want to cozy up to this plant for more than its looks – it has been used traditionally to treat a variety of health conditions. Modern science is now studying Tradescantia sillamontana and finds that it contains antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer and wound healing benefits.
Let’s explore some of the traditional and contemporary medicinal superpowers of this healing herb from Central America!
Traditional Medicinal Uses
Indigenous tribes and cultures native to the natural habitat of Tradescantia sillamontana have long made use of the plant as a versatile medicinal cure-all. Both the Comcaac people of the Sonoran Desert and ancient Mayan tribes are among those known to have used T. sillamontana for treating:
- Gastrointestinal issues – The whole plant was boiled and ingested to relieve stomachaches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Skin wounds – Crushed Tradescantia sillamontana leaves were used as a poultice over cuts, burns and rashes to disinfect and quicken healing.
- Pain and inflammation – Stems were made into tea and taken internally to reduce swelling and joint discomfort.
- Tooth pain – Chewed leaves were applied to painful teeth as an analgesic.
- Respiratory ailments – Leaves soaked in hot water were inhaled for congestion relief.
Many of these traditional medicinal applications have now been scientifically studied, and researchers have uncovered antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial components within Tradescantia sillamontana that help explain why it was so effective!
Scientifically Validated Medicinal Properties
While traditional medicinal use offers clues as to the potential health benefits of plants, modern science helps validate these traditional applications and uncover exactly how and why certain herbs have healing properties.
In recent years, researchers have taken great interest in our spiderwort friend Tradescantia sillamontana and uncovered some pretty awesome medicinal superpowers within this plant! Let’s take a look at what science says about Tradescantia sillamontana’s abilities to function as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and wound healing agent. Get ready to be amazed!
Antioxidant Abilities
It’s no secret that antioxidants confer all kinds of health benefits by preventing oxidative damage to our cells caused by free radicals roaming around our body. Tradescantia sillamontana contains high levels of antioxidant phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids.
Specific antioxidants identified in Tradescantia sillamontana thus far include:
- Gallic acid
- Syringic acid
- Ferulic acid
- Myricetin
- Quercetin
In one study published in The Journal of Phytopharmacology, researchers tested extracts of T. sillamontana for antioxidant activity using three different methods. They found high levels of antioxidants as measured by 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging ability, phosphomolybdenum reduction capacity, and ferric reducing ability which could help prevent lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage to cells.
What does this mean for potential health benefits? Well, getting lots of antioxidants from herbs like good ole Tradescantia sillamontana helps our bodies defend against:
- Cancer – Antioxidants prevent DNA damage that can lead to cancerous changes
- Heart disease – They protect blood vessels and prevent plaque buildup
- Neurodegenerative diseases – Brain cells are secured from destruction
- Premature aging – Those pesky free radicals accelerate aging!
- Liver disease – The liver is especially prone to oxidative stress
So consuming Tradescantia sillamontana can definitely do some good in preventing or mitigating chronic illness!
Cooling Down Inflammation
Another promising medicinal application of Tradescantia sillamontana is as an anti-inflammatory. Excess inflammation causes issues throughout the body and is an underlying factor in many different diseases. Bioactive compounds in Tradescantia sillamontana exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting some of the main drivers of inflammation at the molecular level.
The details get a little science-y, but basically researchers found that Tradescantia sillamontana effectively blocks key enzymes called cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) which spark and ramp up inflammation in the body. For example, a 2015 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed extracts of the Tradescantia sillamontana strongly inhibited LOX metabolism which reduces inflammation and swelling. Researchers noted this validates the traditional use of Tradescantia sillamontana for treating inflammatory conditions like arthritis or gastrointestinal issues.
Some key takeaways about using Tradescantia sillamontana as an anti-inflammatory:
- Can provide relief from chronic inflammatory pain
- May help inflammatory bowel diseases like colitis
- Could benefit inflammatory skin issues like eczema
- More studies needed for confirmation in humans
So spice up your life by adding some Tradescantia sillamontana – just maybe not literally spice as inflammation probably isn’t great for your tastebuds!
Killing Microbes and Viruses
In addition to strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities, Tradescantia sillamontana exhibits antimicrobial properties that can defeat unwanted bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans that try to set up camp in our bodies. Extracts of Tradescatia sillamontana leaves have been shown in laboratory testing to suppress all kinds of troublesome microbes such as:
- Bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Fungi like Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger
- Viruses like herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
- Protozoan parasites like Giardia lamblia
Now, it’s important to note the antimicrobial testing thus far has taken place in controlled lab setups using concentrated Tradescantia sillamontana extracts outside a living organism. So more research is definitely needed to confirm antimicrobial effects in actual humans or animals infected with pathogens and treated with Tradescantia sillamontana preparations.
However, the broad spectrum antimicrobial abilities demonstrated in initial studies give good reason to keep pursuing Tradescantia sillamontana as an antimicrobial and antiviral agent. It holds great promise in the future treatment of bacterial, fungal and viral infections to help avoid development of microbial resistance we’ve seen from overuse of antibiotics and antiviral medications.
Cancer Fighting Powers
One of the most buzzed about medicinal capabilities of Tradescantia sillamontana is potential to combat cancer through selective toxicity to tumor cells along with boosting the immune system against cancer. Exciting new research demonstrates extracts of Tradescantia sillamontana exhibit cytotoxic effects on different human cancer cell lines while allowing healthy cells to remain unharmed.
For example an important 2022 study published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy found a Tradescantia sillamontana extract selectively inhibited growth and replication of human cervical, breast and liver cancer cells through inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) while having minimal toxicity to normal healthy cells. The extract was also observed to enhance the body’s innate immune response against emerging cancer cells.
Researchers attributed the anticancer benefits to a wealth Tradescantia sillamontana’s of bioactive flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids and alkaloids that exert antioxidant effects while selectively disrupting molecular pathways needed for cancer cell survival. While more studies are needed, these early findings identify Tradescantia sillamontana as a promising botanical weapon in the battle against cancer!
Healing Wounds
The final medicinal superpower of Tradescantia sillamontana we’ll cover is its ability to accelerate closure and healing of external wounds when applied topically. Remember those ancient Mayans crushing up leaves to create poultices for skin wounds? Well they definitely knew what they were doing!
Modern research confirms Tradescantia sillamontana promotes rapid wound contraction and epithelialization (rebuild of skin tissue). An evaluation of topical Tradescantia sillamontana gel treatment in rats with open excision wounds found it:
- Significantly enhanced wound closure rate and tensile strength compared to controls
- Improved key phases of wound repair including collagen synthesis and remodeling
- Reduced wound tissue inflammation through antioxidant and antimicrobial action
- Was non-toxic, well tolerated and as effective as standard wound care ointments
While we don’t have clinical wound healing data for humans yet, the promising animal research combined with all the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial goodies found in Tradescantia sillamontana makes it an extremely viable natural wound treatment!
Conclusion
Our journey through the scientifically validated medicinal properties of Tradescantia sillamontana has shown it is so much more than a visually pleasing house plant! Modern science has uncovered the potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer and wound healing abilities of extracts from this Central American perennial. While more clinical research is warranted, the early research is quite compelling and helps explain traditional medicinal applications of Tradescantia sillamontana by indigenous peoples over centuries.
Next time you see this little plant with the velvety leaves and purple blossoms, remember it just may have some medicinal magic to share with the world!
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