Ivy Leaf Extract

Published On - 11 January 2021

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About Hedera helix

Hedera helix belongs to a family called Araliaceae. This plant is a common evergreen plant native to Europe but can be easily grown in other regions. Its stems seem to be 30m long, and also, it may also be on top of trees. As a natural, Hedera helix can be found in open woods but also can be found in developed areas around the buildings. Flowers of the Hedera helix are yellowish green, which grow in the terminal, as racemose or umbels as 5-7mm in size, having five short sepal and fleshy petals.

Ivy Leaf Extract Medicinal Usage

Ivy leaf extract is produced from the plant known as Hedera helix, collected during springtime. Ivy leaf extract consists of the whole or cuts aerial leaves of the plant Hedera helix. In the old times, this plant was believed to be used for the intoxication effects of alcohol and also for the preparation process of the surgery due to its antiseptic actions. Many people, especially mothers, know that ivy leaf extract is used for cough treatment due to seeking the most natural and safest syrup. In the old times, the aqueous extraction of ivy leaves was used to treat respiratory disorders due to its expectorant, emollient, immune health-supportive, and bronchospasmolytic effects. (1) In 1988, using ivy leaf extract is standardized by a commission. Today, ivy leaf extract’s various formulations also consist of medicinal products such as tablets, syrup, drops, and suppositories. (2)

The Molecules Behind

So, what is the content of ivy leaf extract that cures cough? The molecule known as Hederacoside C is the main content of the ivy leaf extract. There is another important molecule known as alpha-hederin present in the ivy leaf extract. These molecules are belonging to the saponin group which are known as strongly bitter tasting surface active agents and can form complexes with proteins and lipids (for example cholesterol). (3)  The ivy leaf extract’s Hederacoside C and alpha-hederin content help treat some diseases like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic pulmonary disease. When ingested, these molecules make the body secrete substances known as surfactants that cause mucous to be more watery. This way, it becomes easier to clear mucous from the lungs, which causes a clear pathway to breathe in and out.

Clinical Studies

There are lots of clinical studies that prove these therapeutic effects of ivy leaf extract on humans also proves that it can be used in children.  In a clinical study consisting of 9,657 people whom 5,181 were children, had been given preparation of ivy leaf orally for 7 days, resulting in improved symptoms of the 9,174 people. (4) In 2013 an animal study was published about the Hedera helix. It reported that the Hedera helix helps remove toxins, lowers, or prevents the muscle spasms occurrence, helps control allergic symptoms, and inhibits tumor growth. (5) In another study, whether to test the efficacy of ivy leaf extract cough drops on the treatment of chronic airway obstruction in children who has bronchial asthma disease, five randomized controlled trials were made. As a result of this study, it was seen that ivy leaf extract drops showed an improvement of respiratory functions of children that are suffering from chronic bronchial asthma rather than the placebo group. (6)  To sum up, these studies show that ivy leaf extract has a lot to offer to human health, especially for the curing process of the cough. It is also safe to use for whole family members including children, which is an important thing for a natural product.

Bionorm’s Ivy Leaf Extract

While choosing an ivy leaf extract product, one should be sure that the product is free of pesticides and other chemicals to have the maximum healthy efficacy. For this condition to be provided, the whole process from the plant’s growth should be tracked till the end product. Bionorm’s GMP and ASMF certified ivy leaf extract is produced from natural Hedera helix leaves. To produce a high-quality ivy leaf extract, all of the process from the plant’s growth to the end is tracked by the experienced staff of Bionorm. The extract contains more than 10 percentage Hederacoside C inside. The quality of this product also meets the requirements of the pharmacopeia. To have more information about our ivy leaf extract, check the link https://bio-norm.com/urun/ivy-leaf-extract/.

Resources

  1. Song, K. J., Shin, Y.-J., Lee, K. R., Lee, E. J., Suh, Y. S., & Kim, K.-S. (2015). Expectorant and Antitussive Effect ofHedera helixandRhizoma coptidisExtracts Mixture. Yonsei Medical Journal, 56(3), 819. doi:10.3349/ymj.2015.56.3.819
  2. Yu, M., Shin, Y. J., Kim, N., Yoo, G., Park, S., & Kim, S. H. (2014). Determination of Saponins and Flavonoids in Ivy Leaf Extracts Using HPLC-DAD. Journal of Chromatographic Science, 53(4), 478–483. doi:10.1093/chromsci/bmu068
  3. Schoenlechner, R., Siebenhandl, S., & Berghofer, E. (2008). Pseudocereals. Gluten-Free Cereal Products and Beverages, 149–VI. doi:10.1016/b978-012373739-7.50009-5
  4. Fazio, S., Pouso, J., Dolinsky, D., Fernandez, A., Hernandez, M., Clavier, G., & Hecker, M. (2009). Tolerance, safety and efficacy of Hedera helix extract in inflammatory bronchial diseases under clinical practice conditions: A prospective, open, multicentre postmarketing study in 9657 patients. Phytomedicine, 16(1), 17–24. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2006.05.003
  5. Rai, Anuradha. (2013). The Antiinflammatory and Antiarthritic Properties of Ethanol Extract of Hedera helix. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 75. 99-102. 10.4103/0250-474X.113537.
  6. Hofmann, D., Hecker, M., & Völp, A. (2003). Efficacy of dry extract of ivy leaves in children with bronchial asthma – a review of randomized controlled trials. Phytomedicine, 10(2-3), 213–220. doi:10.1078/094471103321659979