2. Background information
• Species name:
Vitexnegundo
• Common name:
Lagundi or Chastetree
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Native to: Southeast
Asia, and Eastern and
Southern Africa
4. Identification of lagundi
• Height: up to 5 meters
• Single woody stem
• Five pointed leafs, in leaflet structure
• Blue and lavender flowers;
• Usually found in swampy areas
6. Current research
• Has been clinically tested to treat: colds, flus, bronchial
asthma, chronic bronchitis
• The Department of Health in the Phillipines is currently
conducting research on the lagundi
• They hypothesize that lagundi may
have some therapeutic benefits
7. What is an anti-histamine?
• What is histamine?
• Involved in local immune responses
• Response to a signal from IgE antibodies on the surface of mast
cells
• These mast cells then release histamine
• Leads to vasodilation, causing symptoms such as sneezing, runny
nose, itchy eyes
• Anti-histamines are competitive inhibitors: they block the
binding of histamine to a cell surface receptor, thus no
symptoms occur
8. Steps in the Histamine Pathway
Step 1: Allergen is encountered
Step 2: Allergen is detected by white blood cells, the cells then
produce specific IgE antibodies
Step 3: IgE antibodies attach to the surface of mast cells
Step 4: Allergen attaches to antibodies on mast cell, histamine is
released
Step 5: Histamine is recognized by cell surface receptors
Step 6: Symptoms arise
9. Step 1
• Some allergens are
airborne
• Others can be ingested
through food
• Allergies can be
acquired early or late in
life
Allergen enters the body
10. Step 2
White blood cells recognize
allergens as harmful
This causes white
blood cells to release
IgE antibodies
12. Step 4
• Allergens can then be
recognized by the IgE
antibodies
• This causes the
release of histamine by
the mast cell
13. Step 5
Histamine then binds to
cell surface receptors
on epithelial cells that
line blood vessels and
capillaries throughout
the body
14. Step 6
Binding of the histamine to
cell surface receptors
causes a chain of events
This leads to
vasodilation, causing
the release of
excess fluids
This leads to
allergenic symptoms
15. Anti-histamine Function
• Anti-histamines block
the binding of
histamine to cell
surface receptors
• Thus, vasodilation
does not occur and
symptoms are reduced
or eliminated
16. How does Vitexnegundo work?
• The leaves are boiled and the broth is consumed
• It produces the compound chrysoplenolD, which has anti-
histamine properties
• These anti-histamine molecules compete with histamine
to reduce allergic reactions and symptoms
• Modern medicine has allowed the creation of capsule and
liquid forms of this therapy
Editor's Notes
-Vitexnegundo (Vi-tex Ne-gun-do), commonly known as Lagundi, is a plant found throughout regions of Southeast Asia, Southeastern Africa, India, and even parts of the middle east. It is prevalent in the Philippines.
-Three varieties exist, but we will focus on Vitexnegundo since this is the prevalent species in the Philippines.
-Lagundi can reach heights up to 5 meters! It contains a single woody stem with five pointed leafs (looks like a spread out hand). The flowers produce range from blue to lavender in color and the flowers produce a fruit (turns black when ripe). Lagundi is usually found in swampy regions.
Lagundi has many health benefits such as asthma relief, anti-inflammatory properties to reduce swelling, anti-oxidant properties for general health, and anti-histamine properties that aid in allergen relief. These are the most evident health properties that are known and may contain even more attributes.
The Department of Health in the Philippines has conducted clinical tests regarding the therapeutic effects using Lagundi. Studies have shown Lagundi can be used to treat colds, flu, bronchial asthma, and chronic bronchitis. The main hypothesis is that Lagundi contains many therapeutic benefits that can aid in reducing symptoms.
Today, we will focus on the anti-histamine properties of Lagundi. Allergies can range from mild to severe and can occur at any age. But what is histamine? Histamine is involved in the local immune response of the adaptive immune system. A signal from specialized immune cells known as B cells, produce antibodies specific for target allergies known as the IgE antibody (Ig stands for immunoglobulin). IgE antibodies target mast cells, special immune cells that are involved in allergic responses. The mast cells release histamine as an effort to reduce the allergy, which causes symptoms such as itchy eyes, running nose, etc.. Anti-histamines essentially block the release of histamine by competitively inhibiting for the position where histamine would normally bind. By blocking the histamine pathway via anti-histamine molecules, symptoms are reduced.
The steps involved in the histamine response will be reviewed so we have an understanding how anti-histamines work. Step 1 involves the first encounter of the allergen. Anallergic response is a malfunction in the immune system, thinking a substance is pathogenic when in reality its not. That’s why some people are able to eat peanuts while others cant-it just depends on the individual’s immune system. The second step is when the allergen is re-encountered by the immune system (white blood cells), causing the production and release of IgE antibodies specific for that allergen. The third step involves the attachment of IgE antibodies to mast cells. In the fourth step, the mast cells release histamine. In step 5, histamine is recognized by cell surface receptors in the epithelium, causing a series of events to occur which induces symptoms, step 6.
-The allergen is first encountered. Many allergens are airborne but others can be from direct contact or ingestion. Again, allergies can be acquired at any stage of life.
-The white blood cell is an important aspect of the immune system. They are able to recognize foreign pathogens and induce intricate signaling pathways to reduce pathogens. White blood cells produce antibodies which aid in destruction of the pathogen.
-The IgE antibodies produced by the white blood cell attaches to the surface of the mast cell. This causes conformational changes at the cell surface.
-When the allergen is re-encountered, IgE antibodies recognize the allergen since it is specific, which causes the release of histamine from mast cells.
-Histamine then binds to cell surface receptors in the epithelium (line blood vessels and capillaries), creating a chain of events.
-The chain of events initiates vasodilatation, causing vessels and capillaries to expand, reducing the tight junctions and allowing the release of fluids. The release of fluids triggers allergenic symptoms that are encountered.
-Lagundi has the benefit of producing anti-histamine properties (Chrysoplenol D), which competitively inhibit histamine from binding to the receptors. When anti-histamine binds, it doesn’t allow histamine to bind and create the chain of events that leads to allergenic symptoms. Thus, anti-histamine reduces those symptoms.
-Typically, the leaves of the Lagundi plant are boiled as it contains the anti-histamine properties but other parts of the plant can be used for different medical problems. Lagundi produces chrysoplenol D, which has anti-histamine properties associated with it. The anti-histamine properties create the reduction of symptoms by “beating”histamine to the cell receptor site, thus blocking the histamine pathway. Today, Lagundi can be found in capsule or liquid form and is commonly prescribed by doctors in the Philippines. Further studies will be conducted to determine other therapeutic values of Vitexnegund
