CULEN

Family: Moraceae

Taxon: Otholobium glandulosum (L.) J. W. Grimes

Synonyms: Culen glandulosum ined., Psoralea glandulosa L., Psoralea lutea Molina

Common names: congonha, culén, gualgua, hierba de San Agustin, hualhua, huashua, kalisaya, wallua

Price: £22.50 – 1lb / 454 gm Bag

Parts Used: Leaves

Culen is a deciduous shrubby bush found in the warmer humid valleys of the mid Andes Mountains in Peru, Chile, and Bolivia. It grows 3 to 5 m in height and has a trunk that is around 25 cm in diameter. Culen produces aromatic leaves that are about 2-5 cm long and small yellow to cream flowers on bracts.

Culen belongs to the Otholobium genus, although for many years it was classified in the Psoralea genus. In fact most of the literature published prior to the early 1990s refers to culen as Psoralea glandulosa. The plant is thought to originate in Chile, but it has been cultivated as a medicinal plant for many years all along the Andes Mountains. It can be found growing wild alongside the roads in the Junin District in Peru.

TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES

Culen is used in Bolivia as an emmenagogue with the leaves brewed into a tea to balance menstrual cycles and for various female complaints. In Brazil, the leaf tea (infusion) is considered to be antiasthmatic, antidiabetic, diaphoretic, emollient and vulnerary. In herbal medicine systems in Chile culen is used as an as an anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, appetitive, bronchodilator, carminative, diaphoretic, emetic, emollient, febrifuge, purgative, stomachic, and vulnerary. It is often relied on for enteritis, digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, intestinal worms, skin problems, syphilis, and wounds.

Culen was introduced into the United States in the late 1800s. It appeared in several early pharmaceutical texts and journals in the 1890s where it was reported with anthelmintic, emetic, tonic and vulnerary actions and recommended for for anorexia, debility, diarrhea, dyspepsia, fatigue, intestinal worms, and wounds.

PLANT CHEMICALS

Culen contains two well known furanocoumarin chemicals called psoralen and angelicin. These chemicals have long been documented with UV light-induced photosensitizing activity and have been used in various drugs for the photodynamic destruction of tumor cells and in other skin diseases like psoriasis and vitiligo. In addition, angelicin has been documented with anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing actions and has shown some promise in the possible treatment of sickle-cell anemia. Another main constituent in culen is a well known chemical called bakuchiol. Many of culen’s traditional uses can be explained by the documented properties and actions researched and verified for this particular chemical found in culen. Bakuchiol has been documented with liver-protecting, cholesterol-lowering, fever-reducing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anticancerous actions in various animal and test tube studies. In addition, bakuchiol has been reported with broad-spectrum antimicrobial actions against numerous types of bacteria, mycobacteria, fungus, and viruses.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH

Much of the research on culen follows closely with the reported actions of the plant’s main active constituents. In animal testing culen was reported with fever-reducing actions as well as anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor actions. In test tube studies, culen has demonstrated antibacterial, and antiviral actions.

Toxicity studies with animals indicate that culen leaves are non-toxic when administered orally. One research group gave mice up to 12 grams per kilogram of body weight without any noted toxicity.

CURRENT PRACTICAL USES

With culen’s documented antiviral actions against influenza and well as its fever reducing and bronchodilator actions, it makes a great natural cold and flu remedy. It is also well used in South America as a digestive tonic for many types of digestive disorders. The aromatic leaves makes a tasty, refreshing, and cooling tea or beverage to settle the stomach, and relieve gas and indigestion. Culen has also long been used for intestinal worms and parasites.

While culen is popular in the Andean regions of South America, it is not very well known here in the U.S. Only a few products are available in the American natural products market.

Traditional Preparation: Natural fresh or dried culen leaves are traditionally prepared in infusions. A handful of products in capsules or liquid extracts can be found in South American stores and pharmacies to provide easier use by consumers. See Traditional Herbal Remedies Preparation Methods page if necessary for definitions.

Contraindications: Culen contains furanocoumarin chemicals which might cause photosensitivity in some people.

Drug Interactions: None reported.

 

The above text has been authored by Leslie Taylor, ND and copyrighted © 2006. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, including websites, without written permission.

† The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information contained in this plant database file is intended for education, entertainment and information purposes only. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose, prescribe or replace proper medical care. The plant described herein is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, mitigate or prevent any disease. Please refer to our Conditions of Use for using this plant database file and web site.

Third-Party Published Research on Culen

All available third-party research on culen be found at PubMed. A partial listing of the third-party published research on culen is shown below: Photosensitizing Activity:

Mosti, L., et al. “Synthesis of angelicin heteroanalogues: preliminary photobiological and pharmacological studies.” Farmaco. 1998; 53(8-9): 602-10.

Lampronti, I., et al. “Accumulation of gamma-globin MRNA in human erythroid cells treated with angelicin.” Eur. J. Haematol. 2003 Sep; 71(3): 189-95.

Liver Protecting Activity:

Cho, H., et al. “Bakuchiol: A hepatoprotective compound of Psoralea corylifolia on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in HEPG2 cells.” Planta Med. 2001; 67(8): 750-751.

Cholesterol Lowering Activity:

Abzalova, M., et al. “Effect of drupanol (bakuchiol) on some indexes of lipid metabolism in experimental animals.” Dokl. Akad. Nauk. Uzssr. 1984; (2): 50-51.

Antioxidant Activity:

Yeh, J., et al. “Antioxidative components of buu-kuu-jy (Psoralea corylifolia L. seeds).” Shipin. Kexue. (Taipei) 1993; 20(6): 574-585.

Anti-inflammatory & Fever Reduction Activity:

Backhouse, C., et al. “Active constituents isolated from Psoralea glandulosa L. with antiinflammatory and antipyretic activities.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2001; 78(1): 27-31.

Ferrandiz, M., et al. “Effect of bakuchiol on leukocyte functions and some inflammatory responses in mice.” J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 1996; 48(9): 975-980.

Backhouse, N., et al. “Antiinflammatory and antipyretic activities of Cuscuta chilensis, Cestrum parqui and Psoralea glandulosa.” Int. J. Pharmacog. 1996; 34(1): 53-57.

Cytotoxic & Antimutagenic Activity:

Wall, M., et al. “Plant antimutagenic agents. 2. Flavonoids.” J. Nat. Prod. 1988; 51(6): 1084-1091.

Kubo, M., et al. “Cytotoxicity of Corylifoliae fructus. I. Isolation of the effective compound and the cytotoxicity.” Yakugaku. Zasshi. 1989; 109(12): 926-931.

Bhakuni, D., et al. “Screening of Chilean plants for anticancer activity.” Lloydia.1976; 39(4): 225-243.

Antimicrobial Activity (Virus, Bacteria, Mycobacteria, & Fungi):

Bondarenko, A., et al. “Antimicrobial and antiviral activity of essential oil from Psoralea drupacea and its activity.” Rast. Resur. 1974; 583.

Bondarenko, A., et al. “Extraction from Psoralea drupaccea of bakuchiol and its antimicrobial activity.” Tr. Sezda. Mikrobiol. Ukr. 4th ed. (Ed Zatula Dg) “Naukova Duma” Kiev USSR (1975) pp. 208.

Erazo, S., et al. “Antimicrobial activity of Psoralea glandulosa L.” Int. J. Pharmacog. 1997; 35(5): 385-387.

Kaul, R. “Kinetics of the antistaphylococcal activity of bakuchiol in vitro.” Arzneim-Forsch. 1976; (26): 486-513.

Bondarenko, A., et al. “Psoralea drupacea as a promising source of the antibiotic bakuchiol.” Rast. Resur. 1977; 460-473.

Prikhod’ko, V., et al. “Antimicrobial activity and toxicity of the antibiotic bakuchiol.” Mikrobiol. Zh. (Kiev) 1980; 42(5): 646-650.

Katsura, H., et al. “In vitro antimicrobial activities of bakuchiol against oral microorganisms.” Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2001; 45(11): 3009-3013.

Newton, S., et al. “The evaluation of forty-three plant species for in vitro antimycobacterial activities; Isolation of active contituents from Psoralea corylifolia and Sanguinaria canadensis.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2002; 79(1): 57-67.

Prikhod’ko, V., et al. “Study of the antimicrobial properties of bakuchiol in in vitro experiments.” Mikrobiol. Zh. (Kiev) 1979; 41(4): 400-403.

Noronha, R., et al. “Composition for skin care containing a combination of bakuchiol and pyridinecarboxaldehyde.” German Patent, 1985. Ger Offen #3,417,234.

Rao, P. N. “Prospecting plant aids in AIDS management.” Curr. Sci. 2000 May; 78(10): 56-58.

Ingredients: 100% pure culen leaves(Otholobium glandulosum). No binders, fillers or additives are used. This plant is non-irradiated and non-fumigated, and has grown naturally in Peru without pesticides or fertilizers.

Suggested Use: This plant is best prepared as an infusion (tea): Use one teaspoon of powder for each cup of water. Pour boiling water over herb in cup and allow to steep 10 minutes. Strain tea (or allow settled powder to remain in the bottom of cup) and drink warm. It is traditionally taken in 1 cup dosages, 2-3 times daily. For more complete instructions on preparing herbal infusions see the Methods for Preparing Herbal Remedies Page.

Contraindications: Culen contains furanocoumarin chemicals which might cause photosensitivity in some people.

Drug Interactions: None reported.