Clinical Trials of Two Helichrysum Infusions in Adults

Helichrysum arenarium (HA) has a long tradition in European ethno-medicine as a medicinal plant with many known activities; EU monograph supports its use for the digestive disorders, feeling of fullness and bloating, and, importantly, it re-ports no side effects. Assessment report of the European Medicines Agency Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products supports its stimulatory role in the bile flow and in the release of cholesterol to the bile. HA has also been used in chronic liver inflammatory disease and as a scavenger of free radicals. Similar to HA Helichrysum italicum (HI) is widely used in traditional medicine. Lately, much attention has been given to natural antioxidants and their ability to delay the progression of chronic diseases related to the formation and the activity of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals. Herbs are very often used to prepare recreational tea and are thereby important sources of antioxidants in different cultures. In traditional medicine, HI is also used in diet, mainly for the preparation of infusions in treating respiratory and digestive conditions. Therefore,the ail of our study is to evaluate the effects of Helichrysum italicum and Helichrysum Arenarium on different components of the metabolic syndrome in adults presenting at least two components of metabolic syndrome and yet not receiving any medication. The components of metabolic syndrome (lipid profile, blood pressure, antrophometry, inflammation status, glucose levels) will be measured at baseline and four weeks after daily consumptions of either Helichrysum italicum or either Helichrysum Arenarium, and after two weeks of washout. In addition, stool samples will be also taken at baseline and after four weeks of daily consumtion of either Helichrysum italicum or either Helichrysum Arenarium.