TRACE ELEMENTS IN MEDICINE (MOSCOW)
2016, 17(2): 15-23
TOPICAL PAPERS

CHAMAENERION ANGUSTIFOLIUM – A PROMISING SOURCE OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS

G.R. Bushueva1*, A.V. Syroeshkin2, T.V. Maksimova2, A.V. Skalny1,3

1 All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Grina str. 7-1, Moscow 117216, Russia
2 Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Miklukho-Maklaya str. 6, Moscow 117198, Russia
3 Orenburg State University, Pobedy ave. 13, Orenburg 460018, Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2016-17-2-15-23 

ABSTRACT. The review is devoted to Chamaenerion angustifolium L., or Ivan-chai, widespread in Russia. Ivan-chai is also called «Koporian tea» for the name of Koporje villages in the Leningrad region, the first place in Russia where it was used to produce the beverage instead of Chinese tea. When producing this tea, one did not use fermentation, the leaves were just sun-dried. In its organoleptic properties the Koporian tea resembled black Chinese tea and was popular with wide range of social classes in Russia. Chamaenerion angustifolium grows mainly in western regions of North America and Mexico, in the Russian Federation, Caucasus, Central Asia.
Chamaenerion angustifolium is widely known as an edible and valuable forage plant; is an excellent summer honey plant. Russian and foreign literature reported a lot of biologically active components found in this herb. There have been identified: phenylpropanoids and phenol carbonic acids, glycosylated and free flavonoids, coumarins, tannins. There are a number of data on the composition of fatty acids, monoterpenes, aliphatic acids, sterols, and triterpenoids. Currently, by use of GC-MS, 36 aliphatic and 5 triterpene acids, 16 free amino acids (3.2-3.4%) and 24 macro and trace elements are identified in vegetative parts of the plant.
Chamaenerion angustifolium has analgesic, antipyretic, vasodilator, anti-microbial effect due to the presence of coumarin in its composition. The combination of mucus and tannins of the pyrogallic group contributes to the normalization of the bowel, and is also used at inflammatory diseases of the prostate, stomach, bladder, kidney, in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The presence of pectin and a large number of organic acids contributes to the detoxification of the human body. Chamaenerion is a mood modulator; it reduces aggression, has a stress-protective and mild sedative effect.
The published data certainly allow Chamaenerion angustifolium to be considered an excellent storehouse of vitamins and essential trace elements.

KEYWORDS: Chamaenerion angustifolium, Epilobium angustifolium, flavonoids, ellagitannins, pharmacological activity.