Snow Lotus
Scientific Name(s): Saussurea involucrata (Kar. et Kir.) Sch.-Bip., Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz., Saussurea medusa Maxim.
Common Name(s): Himalayan snow lotus, Snow lotus, Tianshan snow lotus, Xue Lian
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 1, 2022.
Clinical Overview
Use
Snow lotus has been evaluated in animal studies for various effects. However, clinical trial data are lacking to recommend use for any indication.
Dosing
Clinical studies are lacking to provide dosage recommendations for snow lotus.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Abortifacient activity has been reported.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Information regarding potential adverse reactions is lacking.
Toxicology
No data.
Scientific Family
- Asteraceae (daisy)
- Compositae (daisy)
Botany
The Saussurea genus consists of 3 species from which "snow lotus" herb (the dried aerial parts) is derived; S. involucrata, S. laniceps, and S. medusa. All 3 species are found in mountainous areas of the Himalayas and/or China at elevations above 3,500 m.(Law 2005, Lee 2011, Yi 2012) S. involucrata is a rare and very slow-growing herb endemic to the mountains in the Tianshan and A'er Tai areas of China, with a native range extending from Central Asia to southwest Siberia and Korea. In addition to its slow growth, excessive harvesting and habitat destruction in recent years has threatened the existence of this plant, which is now an endangered species and listed as protected by the Chinese government. Alternative plant propagation methods and isolation of active compounds are being investigated to encourage sustainable use. Meanwhile, increasingly heavy harvesting of wild S. laniceps is thought to be inducing selective dwarfism, leading to smaller plants than those in low-harvested areas. S. medusa is a smaller plant, is less frequently collected, and has shown no significant difference in size between heavy and low harvest areas.(Kuo 2015, Law 2005, Lee 2011, RBG 2022)
History
S. involucrata (Kar. et Kir.) Sch.-Bip has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years.(Kuo 2015) Based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015), the dried ground part of S. involucrata is used in traditional Uyghur and/or Chinese medicine, primarily for maintaining body homeostasis. Specifically, it is used for inflammation-related disorders (ie, rheumatoid arthritis), cancer, modulation of lipid metabolism, gynecological and reproductive conditions (ie, dysmenorrhea, impotence), enhancement of blood circulation, stomachache, and altitude sickness.(Gong 2020, Lee 2011) S. laniceps and S. medusa have been used for treatment of pain and inflammation in Tibetan folk medicine.(Yi 2010)
Chemistry
Compounds identified in S. involucrata are flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, polysaccharides, and guaianolides.(Lee 2011) Major bioactive constituents include acacetin, chlorogenic acid, hispidulin, and rutin.(Gong 2020) Chlorogenic acid, syringoside, dicaffeoyl quinic acids, umbelliferone, and scopoletin were the most predominant compounds identified in both aqueous and ethanolic extracts.(Yi 2012) The main types of bioactive compounds in S. laniceps extract are coumarins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and lignanoids, with umbelliferone and scopoletin playing important roles in the metabolic process.(Yi 2014)
Uses and Pharmacology
Analgesic effects
Animal data
Central analgesic properties of S. laniceps have been suggested after antinociceptive effects were demonstrated by both aqueous and ethanolic extracts in mice. Dose-dependent effects were observed in thermal stimulation tests.(Yi 2012) In a comparative rodent study, oral administration of S. laniceps demonstrated significant antinociceptive effects that were greater than with either S. involucrata or S. medusa. At 400 mg/kg, both S. laniceps and S. involucrata exhibited peripheral analgesic potency comparable with the reference drug. S. laniceps also significantly inhibited responses to thermal stimulation in a dose-dependent manner, indicating central analgesic properties.(Yi 2010)
Anti-inflammatory effects
Animal data
In a comparative rodent study, S. laniceps administered orally demonstrated significant and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effects that were greater than with either S. involucrata or S. medusa; S. involucrata exhibited moderate inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema while S. medusa exhibited very little effect on edema.(Yi 2010)
Anti-inflammatory effects of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of S. laniceps have been documented in a dose-dependent manner in mice, with the ethanolic extract demonstrating higher efficacy. Phenolic acids and coumarins were present in both extracts, with higher concentrations observed in the ethanolic extract. The constituents umbelliferone and scopoletin exhibited dual inhibitory activity on cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase.(Yi 2012, Yi 2014) In an animal model of autoimmunity with similarities to rheumatoid arthritis, oral administration of S. involucrata capsules significantly reduced the arthritic index as well as swelling (P<0.05), without inflammatory cell infiltration in the joint cavity.(Xu 2016)
Antioxidant effects
Animal and in vitro data
Significant dose-dependent radical scavenging activity was demonstrated in vitro with both an aqueous and an ethanolic extract of S. laniceps, with the latter exhibiting a higher percentage of oxidant inhibition.(Yi 2012) Antioxidant activity of an alcoholic extract of dried aerial parts of S. involucrata was demonstrated via hydrogen peroxide chemiluminescence assays but was fairly weak compared with vitamin E in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays.(Lee 2011) In a brain-injured mouse model, rutin (obtained by an ethyl acetate extract of the dried aerial parts of S. involucrate) demonstrated marked inhibition of COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase via downregulation of nuclear factor kappa B in the brain. Additional antioxidant activity was observed via assays of malondialdehyde, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase in a mouse aging model.(Yang 2012)
CNS effects
Animal data
Neuroprotective effects in the hippocampal cells of brain-injured mice have been demonstrated by rutin obtained via an ethyl acetate extract of the dried aerial parts of S. involucrata. A significant improvement in memory impairment was also documented.(Yang 2012)
Fatigue
Animal data
Dose-dependent antifatigue effects of an alcoholic extract of the dried aerial parts of S. involucrata (snow lotus) have been documented in mice. Exhaustion, blood lactic acid, and serum urea nitrogen were all significantly improved with snow lotus compared with controls.(Lee 2011)
Dosing
Clinical studies are lacking to provide dosage recommendations for snow lotus.
Pregnancy / Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Abortifacient activity has been reported.(Lee 2011)
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Information regarding potential adverse reactions is lacking.
Toxicology
No data.
Index Terms
- Saussurea involucrate
- Saussurea laniceps
- Saussurea medusa
References
Disclaimer
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This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age.
Further information
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