Learning about plant synergy

Plant Synergy
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Can be an increased therapeutic effect or a reduction of side effects. Synergistic interactions between the components of individual or mixtures of herbs are considered a vital part of their therapeutic efficacy.
Plant and constituent synergies are brought about
by several mechanisms, which may include:
▪ protection of active compounds from gastric or hepatic degradation
▪ facilitation of active transport across cell and organelle walls
▪ enhanced hepatic and intestinal metabolism (promoting bioavailability of drugs speeding a drug’s clearance, and shortening half-life), inhibition of multidrug resistance efflux pumping
▪ eliminating adverse effects and enhancing potency of drugs

examples of synergy:

Isoflavones from crude extract of Pueraria lobata achieves greater plasma concentrations than does equivalent dose of pure daidzin.
Pure hypericin & pseudohypericin have considerably less antidepressant activity that do their equivalent amounts in St. John’s Wort extract.
Sennoside A & C have similar laxative effects in mice, however a mixture administered in 7:3 ratio (reflecting senna leaf) has nearly 2x laxative activity.

Ginseng & Ginkgo
In a double-blind, crossover trial using 20 young healthy volunteers, a product containing Panax ginseng with ginkgo, was found to be more effective in improving cognitive function than either alone, as measured by the performance in various arithmetic tasks.
(Scholey and Kennedy 2001)

Molecular Oral Microbiology Journal, Volume 20, Issue 2, April 2005, Pages 101–105
Antimicrobial activity of Croton cajucara Benth linalool-rich essential oil on artificial biofilms and planktonic microorganisms
Celuta S. Alviano et al, Linalool-rich essential oil from Croton cajucara Benth inhibits the growth of reference samples of Candida albicans, Lactobacillus casei, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sobrinus, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans cell suspensions. The purified linalool fraction was only inhibitory for C. albicans.

J Nat Prod. 2011 Jul 22; 74(7): 1621–1629.
Synergy Directed Fractionation of Botanical Medicines: A Case Study with Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) Hiyas A. Junio, et al
The flavonoids sideroxylin, 8-desmethyl-sideroxylin , and 6-
desmethyl-sideroxylin. synergistically enhanced the antimicrobial
activity of the alkaloid berberine against Staph. aureus by
inhibition of the NorA multidrug resistance pump.
The flavonoid synergists are present at higher concentration in
extracts from H. canadensis leaves, while the antimicrobial
alkaloid berberine is present at higher levels in H. canadensis
roots. Thus, it may be possible to produce an extract with optimal
activity against S. aureus using a combination of goldenseal roots
and leaves.

Synergic anti-oxidant efficiency of ginger and green tea phytomolecular complex
Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 2015, 5(11):46-52
Selvakumar K., et al
The interactions of the molecules in the ginger and green tea
extracts have the tendency to change the functional property in
terms of synergism towards anti-oxidant activity.
In this research study, an understanding about anti-oxidant
efficiency of ginger and green tea phytomolecules was analysed
individually and in combination to reveal the synergic effect of the
beverage. The result of the study has revealed that, the
combination of ginger‒green tea complex has positive synergic
effect and its consumption can improve health.

Herbal synergies
Proving Plant Synergy
Is difficult…often anecdotal or clinical evidence. Necessitates the testing of each individual constituent and comparing the activity with an equivalent dose in the mixture.
Herbalists use preparations & mixtures which are not necessarily intended to target a particular enzyme or biochemical system.
Polyvalent action denotes an improved and cooperative effect without necessarily quantifying it.
Herbal synergies examples
Complementary herbs:
Systemic relaxant and circulatory stimulant
- Lobelia and Cayenne
Antibiotic and immune stimulant
- Uva ursi and Echinacea
Hepato-protective and choleretic
- Milk thistle and Dandelion root
Amplifying herbs:
Cerebral and peripheral circulatory stimulants
- Ginkgo and Rosemary
Rubefacient and anti-inflammatory
- Mustard plaster and Turmeric
Balancing herbs:
Cooling and warming
- Gentian and Ginger
- Hops and Valerian
Drying and lubricating
- Osha and Licorice
- Belladonna and Marshmallow
Directing herbs:
Phenomenon of tissue specificity
e.g. valerian paired with:
Passionflower for nervous excitability
Hops for nervous insomnia
Lily of the valley for nervous palpitations
Pasque flower for menopausal anxiety
Wild yam and Ginger for nervous colic
e.g. valerian paired with:
Prickly ash for restless leg syndrome
Licorice, milky oat seed, and lobelia for tobacco cravings
Linden and mistletoe for hypertension
Datura, ephedra, and lobelia for an acute asthma attack

Source of information:

Chanchal Cabrera "Building resilience - Holistic cancer care" 2023

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