Bibernelle

Bibernelle (Pimpinella saxifraga) is a perennial plant from the umbellifer family (Apiaceae). It is native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa and prefers to grow in dry meadows, pastures, and along forest edges. Bibernelle has been known for centuries as a medicinal plant in folk medicine, especially for the treatment of respiratory conditions. In addition to its medicinal significance, it is also used in the kitchen as a spice.

What benefits does Bibernelle offer?

Bibernelle is valued in traditional medicine for its diverse constituents. Studies have been able to link various parts of the plant to different positive effects. However, more research is still needed, before transferable conclusions can be drawn that are generally valid. Here are some of the traditional areas of application and the potential health benefits:

  • Antioxidant effect: various parts of the plant have shown antioxidant effects in different studies (1,2,3).
  • Anti-inflammatory: Extracts of Bibernelle possess anti-inflammatory properties that could potentially be used to treat skin irritations and minor injuries. (1,3,4)
  • Antimicrobial effect: Above all, the seeds, fruits, and aerial parts of the plant showed antimicrobial effects in investigations (1,5,6).
  • Effect against depression: In several studies, the seeds of Bibernelle showed a positive effect against depressive states (1,7,8).
  • Respiratory conditions: The roots and leaves of Bibernelle are traditionally used to relieve coughs, bronchitis, and sore throats. They are said to have an expectorant effect and thus make it easier to cough up mucus. Researchers did observe an effect, but more research is needed(9).
  • Promotes digestion: The plant is used in traditional medicine to promote digestion and helps with stomach complaints such as bloating and a feeling of fullness.
  • Skin care: Traditionally, Bibernelle is used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and acne. One study observed a positive effect on wound healing that could explain this use; however, this was an animal study (10).

How does Bibernelle work?

The effect of Bibernelle is based on its bioactive constituents:

  • Essential oils: These have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant effects (1,4,5).
  • Flavonoids: Antioxidant compounds that reduce cell damage caused by free radicals (11).
  • Coumarins: In studies, these substances have shown strong anti-inflammatory effects (12).
  • Tannins: promoted the healing of wounds and skin irritations in animal experiments (13,14).

Side effects and precautions

The use of Bibernelle is generally considered safe; however, some precautions should be observed:

  • Allergies: Allergic reactions can occur in sensitive individuals, especially in people with allergies to umbellifers.
  • Overdose: Too high a dose could lead to gastrointestinal complaints.
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult a doctor before use, as sufficient safety studies are not available.

Conclusion

Bibernelle is a versatile medicinal plant with a long tradition in folk medicine. There, it is valued above all for respiratory conditions, digestive complaints, and skin problems. Due to its potentially anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and antioxidant properties, it could be a valuable support for health. Nevertheless, it should be used with caution and in an appropriate dose, and always under medical supervision.

Sources:

  1. Wu, J., Cao, Z., Hassan, S. S. U., Zhang, H., Ishaq, M., Yu, X., Yan, S., Xiao, X., & Jin, H. Z. (2023). Emerging Biopharmaceuticals from Pimpinella Genus. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 28(4), 1571. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041571
  2. Rebey I.B., Bourgou S., Wannes W.A., Selami I.H., Tounsi M.S., Marzouk B., Fauconnier M.L., Ksouri R. Comparative assessment of phytochemical profiles and antioxidant properties of Tunisian and Egyptian anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) seeds. Plant Biosyst. -Int. J. Deal. All Asp. Plant Biol. 2017;152:971–978.
  3. Ksouda, G., Sellimi, S., Merlier, F., Falcimaigne-Cordin, A., Thomasset, B., Nasri, M., & Hajji, M. (2019). Composition, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Pimpinella saxifraga essential oil and application to cheese preservation as coating additive. Food Chemistry, 288, 47–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.02.103
  4. Domiciano T.P., Dalalio M.M.O., Silva E.L., Ritter A.M.V., Estevão-Silva C.F., Ramos F.S., Caparroz-Assef S.M., Cuman R.K.N., Bersani-Amado C.A. Inhibitory effect of anethole in nonimmune acute inflammation. N-S Arch Pharmacol. 2013;386:331–338. doi: 10.1007/s00210-012-0820-5.
  5. Trifan A., Luca S.V., Bostanaru A., Brebu M., Jităreanu A., Cristina R., Skalicka-Woźniak K., Granica S., Czerwińska M.E., Kruk A., et al. Apiaceae essential oils: Boosters of terbinafine activity against dermatophytes and potent anti-inflammatory effectors. Plants. 2021;10:2378. doi: 10.3390/plants10112378.
  6. Radaelli M., Silva B.P., Weidlich L., Hoehne L., Flach A., Mendonça A.C., Ethur E.M. Antimicrobial activities of six essential oils commonly used as condiments in Brazil against Clostridium perfringens. Braz. J. Microbiol. 2016;47:424–430. doi: 10.1016/j.bjm.2015.10.001.
  7. Koriem K.M.M., Fadl N.N., El-Zayat S.R., Hosny E.N., El-Azma M.H. Geranium oil and anise oil inhibitbrain cerebral cortex andhippocampus inflammation indepressed animal model. Nutr. Food Sci. 2021;2:439–456.
  8. Bui T.B.C., Nosaki S., Kokawa M., Xu Y.Q., Kitamura Y., Tasnokura M., Hachimura S., Miyakawa T. Evaluation of spice and herb as phyto-derivedselective modulators of human retinaldehydedehydrogenases using a simple in vitro method. Biosci. Rep. 2021;41:BSR20210491. doi: 10.1042/BSR20210491.
  9. Slobodianiuk, L., Budniak, L., Marchyshyn, S., Parashchuk, E., & Levytska, L. (2021). Experimental studies on expectorant effect of extract from Pimpinella saxifraga L. Pharmacologyonline, 1, 404–410.
  10. Ghlissi Z., Kallel R., Krichen F., Hakim A., Zeghal K., Boudawara T., Bougatef A., Sahnoun Z. Polysaccharide from Pimpinella anisum seeds: Structural characterization, anti-inflammatory and laser burn wound healing in mice. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2020;156:1530–1538. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.11.201.
  11. Chae, S. C., Lee, J. H., & Park, S. U. (2013). Recent studies on flavonoids and their antioxidant activities. EXCLI journal, 12, 226–230.
  12. Saadati, F., Modarresi Chahardehi, A., Jamshidi, N., Jamshidi, N., & Ghasemi, D. (2024). Coumarin: A natural solution for alleviating inflammatory disorders. Current Research in Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, 7, 100202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crphar.2024.100202
  13. Chen, Y., Tian, L., Yang, F., Tong, W., Jia, R., Zou, Y., Yin, L., Li, L., He, C., Liang, X., Ye, G., Lv, C., Song, X., & Yin, Z. (2019). Tannic Acid Accelerates Cutaneous Wound Healing in Rats Via Activation of the ERK 1/2 Signaling Pathways. Advances in wound care, 8(7), 341–354. https://doi.org/10.1089/wound.2018.0853
  14. Su, X., Liu, X., Wang, S., Li, B., Pan, T., Liu, D., Wang, F., Diao, Y., & Li, K. (2017). Wound-healing promoting effect of total tannins from Entada phaseoloides (L.) Merr. in rats. Burns, 43(4), 830–838.[ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2016.10.010](