Honeysuckle – proven benefits, uses

honeysuckle

The scientific name of the honeysuckle is Lonicera japonica Thunb.

Scientific names Common names
Caprifolium chinense S.Watson ex Loudon Honeysuckle (Engl.)
Caprifolium japonicum (Thunb.) Dum.Cours. Halls honeysuckle (Engl.)
Caprifolium roseum Lam. Japanese honeysuckle (Engl.)
Lonicera brachypoda Siebold.\ Madre silve (Span.)
Lonicera fauriei H.Lév. & Vaniot Woodbine (Engl.)
Lonicera japonica Thunb.
Lonicera shintenensis Hayata
Lonicera japonica Thunb. is an accepted name
Other vernacular names
CHINESE: Jin yin teng, Jin yin hua, Ren dong.
FRENCH: Chèvrefeuille du Japon
JAPANESE : Suikazura, Suikazura, Suikazura, Suikazura.
KOREAN : In dong deong gul.
RUSSIAN : Zhimolost’ iaponskaia.

Japanese honeysuckle, an ornamental plant, is a hardy, low-climbing or trailing shrub, up to 5 meters or more in length. Leaves are oblong, oblong-ovate, or ovate, 3 to 6 centimeters long, 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters wide, pointed or blunt at the tip, blunt at the base and borne on short petioles. Flowers are tubular, 3 to 4 centimeters long, white, but turning yellow with age, borne in pairs in axils of the leaves on young shoots. Corolla is smooth, the tube slender and widening gradually, the limb has two lips, the upper lip broad, erect and divided into four-strap segments, and the lower lip having one linear-strap-shaped recurved segment. The berries are black.

Distribution

– Ornamentally cultivated for its fragrant, attractive and profuse flowers.

– Native of Japan.

Constituents

• Vine contains saponin, tannin and ash.

• Vine, leaves and flowers considered antifebrile, corrective and astringent.

• Volatile oils in the flower and stems were highly similar to each other – palmitic acid and linoleic acid are the highest principles.

• Study yielded seven compounds: luteolin, luteoloside, quercetin, quercetin-3-0-beta-D-glucoside, quercetin-7-0-beta-D-glucoside, rutin, chlorogenic acid.
• Study of fractions of methanol extract of leaves yielded nine compounds identified as 5-O-caffeoylquinicacid (1), chlorogenicacid (2), 4-O-caffeoylquinicacid (3), luteolin-7-O-[α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 –> 6)] -β-D-glucopyranoside (4), luteoloside (5), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (7), 4, 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (8) and luteolin (9).

• Study of stems and leaves isolated four new iridoid glycosides, viz., L-phenylalaninosecologanin (1), 7-O-(4-b-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3-methoxy- benzoyl)secologanolic acid (2), 6 -O-(7a-hydroxyswerosyloxy) loganin (3) and (Z)-aldosecologanin (5), together with known compound (E)-aldosecologanin (4).

Medicinal properties of honeysuckle

• Considered antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiviral, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge.

•  Studies have shown antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-angiogenic, anticancer, antibacterial, wound healing, antidiabetic properties.

Parts utilized

Vine, leaves and flowers.

Uses
Edibility

• Flowers and leaves.

• Tea made from leaves, buds and flowers.

• Leaves cooked as vegetable. (See toxicity concerns below)

Folkloric traditional medicine remedies, benefits and uses

• In Chinese medicine, vine, flowers and leaves are used to increase vitality and lengthen life.

• Used for infections and poisoning.

• Considered antisyphilitic.

• Infusion of stems and flowers used for common colds, upper respiratory infections and flu-like symptoms.

• Infusion used in lotions for ulcers and abscesses.

• Flowers applied as wash for skin inflammations, rashes and sores.

• In Brazil, used as depurative and to facilitate childbirth.

Scientific studies on health benefits and uses of honeysuckle

Biflavonoids / Anticancer:

Biflavonoids isolated from Lonicera japonica and Benincasa hispida displayed different patterns of growth inhibition among the human cancer cell lines.

Acute and Subacute Toxicity Studies:

The ethanol extract of leaves of Lonicera japonica showed no toxicity on hematologic, blood chemistry and gross and histopathologic parameters.

Luteolin / Anti-Inflammatory / reduces pain, swelling and inflammation:

Luteolin, isolated from the flowers of Lonicera japonica, inhibited the induction of inflammatory cytokines, exerting a regulatory effect on mass cell-mediated inflammatory diseases, such as IBD, RA and allergy diseases.

Antipyretic / fever relief:

Study showed L japonica to have obvious antipyretic effects on IL-1ß-induced febrile rabbits and acts by inhibiting expression of EP3 mRNA in the POAH.

Anti-Angiogenic / Antinociceptive / Anti-Inflammatory:

Study on the ethanolic extract of L japonica showed antiangiogenic, antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activities.

Growth Hormone Release:

Study showed induction of rat growth hormone (rGH) by addition of methanol extract in rat pituitary cell culture.

Rottlerin / Apoptosis:

Study results suggested the photoactivated Lj extract-induced apoptosis is mediated by change in distribution of cytoskeleton. Rottlerin inhibited the photoactivated Lj-induced decrease in protein expressions of various kinases of prosurvival signaling pathway. Pretreatment with rottlerin prevented actin microfilaments and microtubules from damage during the photoactivated Lonicera japonica-induced CH27 cell death. Results indicate the cytoskeleton is the potential target in the photoactivated Lonicera japonica extract-induced CH27 cell apoptosis.

Volatile Oils / Flowers and Stems:

Study for volatile oils in flowers and stems of Lonicera japonica yielded 36 constituents. Palmitic acid and linoleic acid are the highest principles.

Inhibition of Lipopolysaccharide Induced Lung Inflammation:

Study showed a protective effect of L. japonica against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced lung inflammation, which resembles a COPD-like acute disease.
Phytoremediation / Cadmium:

L. japonica has been reported as a new Cd-hyperaccumulator. Study investigated he effect of Cd stress duration on growth, photosynthesis and mineral nutrition of L. japonica was investigated. Study showed L. japonica could be used for phytoremediation contaminated soils by Cd.

Alteration of Antigen-Stimulated T Cell Functions:

Studies investigated the effect of L. japonica dried herb extract on T cell function in vitro. Lj inhibited proliferation, altered protein expression, and increased death of antigen-stimulated T lymphocytes. Lj may serve a role in regulated T cell function, but may also contribute to an ineffective immune response if used inappropriately.

Antioxidant / Leaves:

Studies of fractions of methanol extract of leaves yielded nine compounds. Antioxidant activity of the nine compounds by DPPH assay from high to low were 5 > 9 > 2 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 1 > 3 > 4. Compound 5, luteoloside, showed the strongest antioxidant activity with IC50 of 0.018 18 g x LÂ (-1). Antioxidant activity of luteoloside and luteolin were stronger than ascorbic acid (IC50 0.027 54 g x L.

Anti-Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Action:

Study evaluated active constituents and mechanism of its anti-upper respiratory tract infection action in children using experimental animals. Three Lonicera japonica decoction groups showed inhibition of xylene-induced ear edema in mice suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect.

Metabonomic Study / Hepatoprotective Effect:

A metabonomic approach evaluated the protective effects of L. japonica extract on acute liver injury induced by DMN (dimethylnitrosamine) in 21 male Wistar rats. Results showed a protective effect on the liver, with clear and consistent biochemical changes.

Wound Healing / Anti-Inflammatory / Aerial Parts:

Study evaluated an ethanol extract of aerial parts for healing efficiency in a rat excision wound model using a simple ointment base, 10% (w/w) LJEE ointment, with reference drug 0.2% (w/w) nitrofurazone ointment. Results showed the LJEE ointment possessed anti-inflammatory activity, which enhanced the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines that suppressed proinflammatory cytokine production. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities acted synergistically to accelerate wound repair.

Amelioration of Nutrional Steatohepatitis:

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by fat accumulation in the hepatic tissue with varying degrees of inflammation and progressive fibrosis. Study evaluated the effect of an ethanol extract on mice fed with methionine-choline-deficient diet to promote the development of NASH. LJEE significantly reduced hepatic malondialdehyde level and ameliorated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in MCDD-fed mice, which was associated with down-regulation of cytochrome P450 2E1 suppression of proinflammatory and profibrotic genes. Study showed a protective role for LJEE in ameliorating nutritional steatohepatitis.

Antibacterial / Leaves:

Study evaluated an ethanolic extract from leaves and flowers for antibacterial activity against strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Vibrio cholerae and Salmonella typhi. Leaf extracts and essential oil of flower showed potential activity against tested microorganisms. Phenolic compounds may significantly contribute to the antibacterial activity.

Antidiabetic / Flower Buds:

Study evaluated the protective effect of alcoholic extract of L. japonica flower buds in STZ-HFD-induced diabetic rats. Results showed significant decrease in blood glucose levels, plasma insulin, serum cortisol, as well as significant increase in hepatic glycogen, 11ß-HSD1 index. At 500 mg/kg, there was return of islets close to good vascular patters and improvement of endothelial dysfunction.

Cardioprotective / Caffeoylquinic Acids:

Study evaluated the protective effects of caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) from Jin Yin Hua against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced hypoxia and hypoxia-induced cytotoxicity using neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Seven CQAs (C1-C7) were isolated. Results showed C4 and C6 protect cardiomyocytes from necrosis and apoptosis during H2O2-induced injury, via inhibition of the generation of ROS and activation of caspase-3 apoptotic pathway. The CQAs may be a class of compounds which possess potent myocardial protective activity against ischemic heart disease related to oxidative stress.

Nephroprotective / Leaves:

Study evaluated the nephroprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Lonicera japonica leaves on gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Results showed significant nephroprotective activity which could be due to the presence of phytochemicals, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity.

Silver Nanoparticles / Antimicrobial:

Study evaluated the combination of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and extracts of Lonicera japonica for antimicrobial activity against pathogenic E. coli CCC44113. Results showed the antimicrobial activity of AgNPs-HWE (honeysuckle water extract) against E. coli was significantly enhanced. The mechanism may be due to AgNPs causing cell wall lysis and damage to cell membrane integrity, thus increasing the penetration of HWE into the bacterium and causing more damage to bacterial cells.

Anti-Inflammatory / Downregulation of Cytokines:

Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of L. japonica and the underlying molecular mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. Results showed LJ significantly inhibits LPS-stimulated production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), among others. Collectively, findings indicate the antineuroinflammatory properties of LJ is LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells is due to downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and downstream inhibition of NF-kB activation.

Anti-Diabetic / Silver Nanoparticles / Leaves:

Study reports on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous leaf extract of L. japonica. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited strong antioxidant activity. Antidiabetic activity was shown by effective inhibition against carbohydrate digestive enzymes such as α-amylase and α-glucosidase with IC50 of 54.56 and37.86 µg mL, respectively. Results suggest a potential nanomedicine for nanobiomedical application.

Toxicity

• Leaves contain saponins; although toxic, they are poorly absorbed and cooking, changing the water once, remove most of the saponins.

Availability

Wild-crafted.

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