Damiana

Zusammenfassung

Damiana (Turnera diffusa) ist eine alte Arzneipflanze, die bereits von den Maya nicht nur gegen Asthma, sondern auch als Aphrodisiakum verwendet wurde. In Mexiko und verschiedenen anderen mittel- und südamerikanischen Ländern werden die Blätter auch heute noch gegen Muskelschwäche, als Tonikum, bei gastrointestinalen Beschwerden, Diabetes, Ödemen, Malaria und Hautkrankheiten, aber vor allem auch als Aphrodisiakum verwendet.

Die phytochemischen Untersuchungen der Inhaltsstoffe ergaben, dass die Blätter Flavonoide (u. a. Acacetin und Apigenin), viele Terpene (ätherisches Öl), Phenolglykoside (Arbutin), cyanogene Glykoside (u. a. Tetraphyllin B) sowie Gerbstoffe und Koffein enthalten.

Pharmakologische Untersuchungen zeigten neben einer angstlösenden, einer dosisabhängig schmerzlindernden und einer spasmolytischen Wirkung auch eine aphrodisierende Wirkung, und in vitro eine leichte Östrogenwirkung sowie eine Hemmung der Aromatase. Letztere hat eine verringerte Östrogenproduktion und einen erhöhten Testosteronlevel zur Folge, was einige Effekte der traditionellen Anwendung als Aphrodisiakum erklären könnte, da durch die Erhöhung des Testosteronspiegels das sexuelle Verlangen zunehmen kann.

Die bisherigen Studien, erfahrungsheilkundlichen Erkenntnisse und traditionellen Anwendungen von Damiana deuten auf ein hohes Potenzial der Heilpflanze im Hinblick auf ihre aphrodisierenden, antibakteriellen und anxiolytischen Eigenschaften hin. Weitere Forschungsarbeiten sind jedoch notwendig, um diese Tendenzen zu belegen.

Summary

Damiana

Damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd.) is an ancient medicinal plant that was used by the Maya not only for asthma but also as an aphrodisiac. In Mexico and various Latin American countries, the leaves are still used today against muscle weakness, as a tonic, in gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, edema, malaria and skin diseases, but especially as an aphrodisiac. The phytochemical studies of the ingredients revealed that the leaves contain flavonoids (including acacetin and apigenin), many terpenes (essential oil), phenol glycosides (arbutin), cyanogenic glycosides (including tetraphyllin B), as well as tannins and caffeine. Pharmacological studies have revealed that damiana possesses anxiolytic, dose-dependent analgesic and spasmolytic as well as aphrodisiac effects, where as in vitro studies associate the plant with mild estrogenic activity and inhibition of aromatase. The latter leads to decreased estrogen production and elevated testosterone levels. This partially accounts for damiana’s traditional aphrodisiac use which effectively increases testosterone levels and thus sexual desire. Hitherto, studies on damiana which are based on experience and traditional use point to a high potential of the medicinal plant with regard to aphrodisiac, antibacterial and anxiolytic properties. However, further research is necessary in order to corroborate these observations.

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