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Spilanthes acmella

Spilanthes Acmella is a traditional medicine for toothache, fever, and as an aphrodisiac; one study in rats suggests that it may increase testosterone, but it is an understudied herb.

Our evidence-based analysis on spilanthes acmella features 20 unique references to scientific papers.

Kamal Patel
Research analysis led by Kamal Patel.
All content reviewed by the Examine.com Team. Published:
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Summary of Spilanthes acmella

Primary Information, Benefits, Effects, and Important Facts

Spilanthes Acmella (Toothache Plant, Paracress) is a food product that has some history of medicinal usage related to its pain relieving properties. As the bioactives are absorbed topically and the leaves are used in salads, consumption of salads have been touted to help toothaches and other oral diseases where pain is a side-effect thereof.

It is currently in preliminary stages of research right now, with no human evidence. In rats, these pain relieving effects do appear to exist when applied to the skin (no evidence on oral consumption) and are fairly potent, but underperformed when compared to the reference drug.

Other properties of Spilanthese Acmella are as an aphrodisiac (which appears to be quite potent in rats, building up in efficacy over time rather than acute effects) and the diuretic effect, which only has one study on it currently but exhibited more potent effects than furosemide. The mechanism of diuresis appears to be similar to a loop diuretic.

Additionally, Spilanthes has been found to increase testosterone, FSH, and LH; similar effects were also noted with another herb containing the same molecular class of N-Akylamides (Anacyclus Pyrethrum) but currently this is one study.


Things To Know & Note

Is a Form Of

Primary Function:

Also Known As

Jambu Oleoresin, Acmella oleracea, Spilanthes oleracea, toothache plant, paracress

Caution Notice

Examine.com Medical Disclaimer

  • Most bioactives in Spilanthes Acmella appear to be highly polar and may need food to be absorbed

  • Take care when consuming Spilanthes Acmella with alcohol: may increase ethanol sensivity via inhibition of the enzyme CYP2E1

How to Take Spilanthes acmella

Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details

Based on the evidence in rats using 150mg/kg of an ethanolic extract, an estimated human dose is:

  • 1,600mg for a 150lb person

  • 2,200mg for a 200lb person

  • 2,700mg for a 250lb person

Scientific Research on Spilanthes acmella

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1Sources and Contents

1.1Sources

Spilanthes acmella is the more common name for the plant Acmella oleracea (and also has another name of Spilanthes oleracea; used less frequently). It belongs to the plant family of Asteraceae, and has been used in Ayurveda.[1]

Common terms used to refer to the plant include Jambu, toothache plant, or Paracress. It derives the name of 'toothache' plant from the compound 'spilanthol' which is sometimes used to reduce the pain associated with toothaches and can induce saliva secretions,[2] alongside the other compound Acmellonate.[3] Other traditional uses of this herb according to Indian medicine are the treatment of rheumatism and inflammation, a sialagogue for stammering, tongue paralysis, stomatitis, toothache and a treatment for fever, sore throat, and gum infections.[1] Beyond these health effects, it has been used as an aphrodisiac and sexual tonic.[1]

Spilanthes Acmella does appear to have anti-malarial and antilarvicidal properties,[4][5] once demonstrated as a tea (hot water extract).[6]

1.2Composition

As a herbal compound, Spilanthes Acmella contains a variety of molecules including the N-Akylamide class:

  • (2E,6Z,8E)-N-isobutyl-2,6,8-decatrienamide (aka. Spilanthol)[2] (at around 0.20% w/w)[5][1] with one study finding 0.07%[7]

  • (2E,4E,8Z,10Z)-N-isobutyl-dodeca-2,4,8,10-tetraenamide, most prominent at 0.71%[1]

  • (2E,7Z)-N-isobutyl-2,7-tridecadiene-10,12-diynamide (0.12%), (2Z)-N-phenethyl-2-nonene-6,8-diynamide (0.11%), (2E,4Z)-N-isobutyl-2,4-undecadiene-8,10-diynamide (0.25%), (2E,7Z)-N-isobutyl-2,7-decadienamide (0.04%), (2E,6Z,8E)-N-(2-methylbutyl)-2,6,8-decatrienamide (0.07%)[1] (z)-Non-2-en-6,8-diynoic acid isobutylamide (0.01%), (2E)-N-isobutylundeca-2-ene-8,10-diynamide (0.01%), and Spilanthic acid 2-methylbutylamide (0.04%)[7]

  • (7Z,9E)-2-oxo-undeca-7,9-dienyl 3-methylbut-2-enoate (aka. Acmellonate) at less than 100ppm (1mg/kg or less)[3]

And other various compounds being:

  • The triterpenoid 3-acetylaleuritolic acid[8]

  • The coumarin Scopoletin[8]

  • Vanillic acid, trans-ferulic acid, and trans-isoferulic acid[8] the latter being a bioactive of Cimicifuga plants[8]

The bioactives appear to be N-akylamide compounds, which have been implicated in enhancing sexuality via Maca (Macamide[9]) and Anacyclus Pyrethrum (pellitorine[10]); these are different from most aphrodisiac compounds, which work via terpenoids or saponins. The N-akylamide class tends to be extracted in ethyl acetate:butanolic extracts due to their relatively high polarity.[7] Spilanthol can be concentrated in the ethanolic extract, which has once been found to contain 9.04% of total N-Akylamides yet 88.84% Spilanthol.[11]

The bioactives in Spilanthes are still being weeded out, but they appear to belong to the N-Akylamide class of molecules and Spinathol appears to be the bioactive currently seen as the 'primary' bioactive

2Pharmacology

2.1Enzymatic Interactions

Spilanthes Acmella may inhibit the CYP2E1 enzyme, as 0.067mM of Spilanthol has been shown to inhibit 55% and 75% of CYP2E1 activity in human liver microsomes and expressed 2E1 enzymes, respectively.[12] 

Since CYP2E1 is involved in processing ethanol after ingestion[13], care should be taken when consuming alcohol while using this supplement. Spilanthes Acmella could theoretically increase ethanol sensitivity by slowing the rate of clearance from the body.

3Neurology

3.1Pain

Spilanthes has been investigated for its pain relieving effects since it was observed that consuming a salad made from the leaves numbed the tongue.[14] The bioactive Spilanthol is well absorbed through the skin,[15] When applied intracutaneously, 10% and 20% Spilanthes Acmella produced 70.36% and 87.02% anesthesia within 5 minutes and when compared to 2% xylocaine as active control (which produced 97.22% anesthesia within 2 minutes) Spilanthes underperformed.[14]

Other possible bioactives include Acmellonate, which has demonstrated in isolation a weak numbing effect on the tongue.[3]

Possible pain killing effects when applied topically, apparently numbs the tongue when the herb itself is eaten as a salad

4Cardiovascular Health

4.1Triglyceride absorption

Spilanthes Acmella has once been demonstrated to inhibit Pancreatic Lipase activity when an ethanolic extract of the flowers were used, and Pancreatic Lipase was inhibited 40% in vitro at 2mg/mL Spilanthes.[16] It was compared to and significantly outperformed by Aframomum meleguetta (90% inhibition), also known as Alligator Pepper, where even 0.75mg/mL inhibited more pancreatic lipase than Spilanthes.[16]

4.2Blood Flow

Spilanthes Acmella appears to have endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant properties, with an ethyl acetate fraction possessing an EC50 value of 76.1ng/mL.[17] This extract has been shown previously to possess a Scopoletin content, which is both an anti-oxidant and vasorelaxant;[18] this may be the bioactive in Spilanthes underlying vasorelaxation.

5Inflammation and Immunology

5.1Mechanisms

Hexane and Chloroform extracts of Spilanthes Acmella appear to suppress Nitric Oxide production in stimulated macrophages at 80mcg/mL by 72% and 85% respectively, and isolated Spilanthol appears to dose-dependently prevent macrophage activation (assessed by nitric oxide and morphology after LPS stimulation) with 90uM reducing Nitric Oxide production to 60% and 360uM nearing 20% production.[19] These inhibitory properties were accompanied by less iNOS and COX2 mRNA and protein content, less cytokine production from macrophages, and less NF-kB activation in the nucleus (90uM and 180uM reducing activation to 57% and 38% of control); these were thought to all be secondary to general anti-oxidant properties.[19]

Possible anti-inflammatory effects, otherwise unexplored in animal models

6Interactions with Sexuality

6.1Male Sexuality

Spilanthes Acmella confers aphrodisiac effects in male rats dose-dependently improving mount latency and frequency, intromission latency and frequency, and improvements in ejaculation frequency and decreasing the post-ejaculatory interval (remission).[1] Although exact quantification of these improvements was not given, estimates derived from graphs suggest that after 28 days of 150mg/kg, the improvements were reductions in mount latency (51%), intromission latency (47%), post-ejaculatory latency (48%) and increases in mount frequency (110%), intromission frequency (amount of entries into female within 30 minutes of observation; 350% increase, from 2 to 9), ejaculation frequency (amount of ejaculations in 30 minutes; 66% improvement) . These benefits were more significant 28 days after supplementation relative to 14 days, suggesting a build-up effect.[1]

In regards to pro-erectile properties, one study which established a 293% increase in the penile erection index (PEI) to Viagra (5mg/kg) noted a 202% increase with Spilanthes Acmella[1] and appears to still exist up to 2 weeks after supplement cessation; suggesting long elimination rates of the active compounds, as when measured 14 days after cessation the Viagra group normalized and the highest dose of 150mg/kg Spilanthes remained 177% above baseline.[1] These effects were dose-dependent in nature, built up over 28 days (more potency on day 28 of supplementation relative to day 14), and a subsequent in vitro test in DS-1 cells noted that the increase in Nitric Oxide was 52% as potent as Viagra at the same dose.[1]

Appears to beneficially influence all parameters of male sexuality to a degree more than Viagra except for pro-erectile properties, of which Viagra outperformed. Preliminary evidence suggests that it is fairly potent

7Interactions with Hormones

7.1Testosterone

With controls at 1.73 ± 0.11 ng/mL testosterone, supplementation increased testosterone levels by 20%, 68%, and 115% at 50mg/kg bodyweight, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg respectively after 28 days of supplementation.[1]

At least one study suggesting increases in testosterone after supplementation

7.2Follicle Stimulating Hormone

With control at 1.41 ± 0.09 mIU/mL Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), FSH increased 23%, 79%, and 120% at doses of 50mg/kg bodyweight, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg respectively of the ethanolic extract.[1]

7.3Luteinizing Hormone

With control at 4.63 ± 0.11 mIU/mL for luteinizing hormone (LH), it increased by 5%, 13%, and 48% at following consumption of 50, 100, or 150mg/kg of th ethnaolic extract of Spilanthese Acmella.[1]

8Interactions with Organs

8.1Bladder

Spilanthes Acmella has been touted to have diuretic properties in Sri Lankan medicine,[20] and when the flowers were tested at oral doses of 500, 1000, or 1500mg/kg in rats with 13mg/kg furosemide as an active control the highest dose of Spilanthes Acmella induced urine output within 1 hour after ingestion with similar potency to furosemide (523% relative to 405% with Furosemide) yet continued to have potency over 5 hours, eventually outperforming Furosemide in overall urine output.[20] This diuretic effect by the highest dose was accompanied by an increase in urinary sodium (51%) and potassium (213%) although the ratio did not appear significantly altered, and a decrease in urinary pH existed with no changes in proteinurea, glucoseurea, or urine color.[20]

Appears to be a very potent diuretic when the flowers are consumed at high doses, stronger than furosemide in one study

9Safety and Toxicology

In studies on rats using dosages of up to 150mg/kg bodyweight, no toxic effects or hinderances to functionality are noted with an ethanolic extract over 28 days of supplementation.[1] 10-fold this dose (1500mg/kg) ethanolic extract of the flowering buds with similar bioactives has failed to exert toxicity acutely when given to rats in a single dose.[20]

Care should be taken when consuming Spilanthes acmella with alchohol, since it may increase ethanol sensivity via inhibition of the enzyme CYP2E1.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Sharma V, et al. Spilanthes acmella ethanolic flower extract: LC-MS alkylamide profiling and its effects on sexual behavior in male rats. Phytomedicine. (2011)
  2. ^ a b Ramsewak RS, Erickson AJ, Nair MG. Bioactive N-isobutylamides from the flower buds of Spilanthes acmella. Phytochemistry. (1999)
  3. ^ a b c Ley JP, et al. Isolation and synthesis of acmellonate, a new unsaturated long chain 2-ketol ester from Spilanthes acmella. Nat Prod Res. (2006)
  4. ^ Pandey V, et al. Strong larvicidal activity of three species of Spilanthes (Akarkara) against malaria (Anopheles stephensi Liston, Anopheles culicifacies, species C) and filaria vector (Culex quinquefasciatus Say). Parasitol Res. (2007)
  5. ^ a b Pandey V, Chopra M, Agrawal V. In vitro isolation and characterization of biolarvicidal compounds from micropropagated plants of Spilanthes acmella. Parasitol Res. (2011)
  6. ^ Spelman K, et al. The traditional medicine Spilanthes acmella, and the alkylamides spilanthol and undeca-2E-ene-8,10-diynoic acid isobutylamide, demonstrate in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity. Phytother Res. (2011)
  7. ^ a b c Mbeunkui F, et al. Isolation and identification of antiplasmodial N-alkylamides from Spilanthes acmella flowers using centrifugal partition chromatography and ESI-IT-TOF-MS. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. (2011)
  8. ^ a b c d Prachayasittikul S, et al. Bioactive metabolites from Spilanthes acmella Murr. Molecules. (2009)
  9. ^ Cicero AF, Bandieri E, Arletti R. Lepidium meyenii Walp. improves sexual behaviour in male rats independently from its action on spontaneous locomotor activity. J Ethnopharmacol. (2001)
  10. ^ Sharma V, et al. Effects of petroleum ether extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum DC. on sexual behavior in male rats. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. (2010)
  11. ^ Boonen J, et al. LC-MS profiling of N-alkylamides in Spilanthes acmella extract and the transmucosal behaviour of its main bio-active spilanthol. J Pharm Biomed Anal. (2010)
  12. ^ Raner GM, et al. Effects of herbal products and their constituents on human cytochrome P450(2E1) activity. Food Chem Toxicol. (2007)
  13. ^ a b Heit C, et al. The role of CYP2E1 in alcohol metabolism and sensitivity in the central nervous system. Subcell Biochem. (2013)
  14. ^ a b Chakraborty A, et al. Preliminary studies on local anesthetic and antipyretic activities of Spilanthes acmella Murr. in experimental animal models. Indian J Pharmacol. (2010)
  15. ^ Boonen J, et al. Transdermal behaviour of the N-alkylamide spilanthol (affinin) from Spilanthes acmella (Compositae) extracts. J Ethnopharmacol. (2010)
  16. ^ a b Ekanem AP, et al. Antiobesity properties of two African plants (Afromomum meleguetta and Spilanthes acmella) by pancreatic lipase inhibition. Phytother Res. (2007)
  17. ^ Wongsawatkul O, et al. Vasorelaxant and antioxidant activities of Spilanthes acmella Murr. Int J Mol Sci. (2008)
  18. ^ Iizuka T, et al. Vasorelaxant effects of Acer nikoense extract and isolated coumarinolignans on rat aortic rings. Biol Pharm Bull. (2007)
  19. ^ a b Wu LC, et al. Anti-inflammatory effect of spilanthol from Spilanthes acmella on murine macrophage by down-regulating LPS-induced inflammatory mediators. J Agric Food Chem. (2008)
  20. ^ a b c d Ratnasooriya WD, et al. Diuretic activity of Spilanthes acmella flowers in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. (2004)

This page is regularly updated, to include the most recently available clinical trial evidence.

Each member of our research team is required to have no conflicts of interest, including with supplement manufacturers, food companies, and industry funders. The team includes nutrition researchers, registered dietitians, physicians, and pharmacists. We have a strict editorial process.

This page features 20 references. All factual claims are followed by specifically-applicable references. Click here to see the full set of references for this page.

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