Inula helenium. Helenium grandiflorum, Aster officinalis, A. helenium  Elecampane,  Wild Sunflower, Scabwort, Yellow Starwort   Family: Asteraceae  
PART USED: Underground parts- collected in Spring and Autumn.
TASTE: Bitter, acrid   ODOR: Aromatic, sweet and faintly camphoraceous
ACTIONS
GROUP: Herbs for the lower respiratory tract
1. Diaphoretic.[1,2,3] Expectorant.[1,2,3] Antitussive.[1] Coughs, bronchitis and other pulmonary disorders.[3]
2. Antiseptic. Bactericidal.[1]
3. Bitter tonic.[2,3] Nausea, diarrhea and as an anthelmintic.[3]
4. Bechic.
5. Diuretic.[3]
6. Alterative.[3]
7. Anthelmintic.
INDICATIONS
1. Bronchitis, especially the irritating cough of bronchitis. Bronchial or tracheal catarrh.[1] Children's irritating coughs.[1] Asthma. Whooping cough. Pneumonia. Tuberculosis- cough.[1] Irritating cough.
2. Anorexia. Dyspepsia with debility. Intestinal catarrh. Catarrhal diarrhea. Nausea. Diarrhea.
3. Nervous- Sciatica.  Facial neuralgia.
4. Gall bladder problems
5. Rheumatism.
6. Skin conditions.
7. Urinary disorders generally.
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Irritating cough of bronchitis.[1] Phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis or a similar progressive wasting disease.[1]
COMBINATIONS
- Combines well with Marrubium, Tussilago, Asclepias and Millifolium.[1]
PREPARATIONS 3X/day
Dried root: 1.5-4 g, or by decoction.[1] Powdered root 2-4 g.[3]
Fluid Extract: 1:1 in 25% alcohol[4]  1.5-4 ml.[1,2,3]

ORIGIN: Europe and temperate Asia. Naturalized in USA.
DESCRIPTION: A large perennial herb.
Roots: Light grey, hard, horny, in cylindrical pieces of varying length, usually 1-2 cm thick and often attached to large pieces of the crown of root. Fracture short, the transverse section showing a radiate structure with numerous dark oil glands.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research

Antitumour activities of sesquiterpene lactones from Inula helenium and Inula japonica.
Li Y, Ni ZY, Zhu MC, Dong M, Wang SM, Shi QW, Zhang ML, Wang YF, Huo CH, Kiyota H, Cong B.
Abstract
Eight sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the roots of Inula helenium and flowers of I. japonica. Among them, isoalantolactone (3) and santamarine (6) exhibited significant growth inhibitory activities against gynecologic cancer cell lines, while others weakly inhibited the growth of the cell lines (IC50 < or = 100 microM). In addition, 3 significantly inhibited the tumour growth of S180 tumour-bearing mice. Compounds 3 and 6 were not toxic to human embryonic lung fibroblast cells in vitro. These results demonstrated that the antitumour activities are closely related to the structures of the compounds, that is, an alpha-exomethylene-gamma-lactone ring is necessary for these activities.
PMID: 23016276  Z Naturforsch C. 2012 Jul-Aug;67(7-8):375-80.  ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tumor cell specific toxicity of Inula helenium extracts.
Dorn DC, Alexenizer M, Hengstler JG, Dorn A.
Abstract
The aim of the research program was to identify botanical extracts with antineoplastic activity. In this respect extracts prepared from Inula helenium roots showed a remarkable activity. As evidenced by the MTT assay, the Inula helenium extract revealed a highly selective toxicity toward four different tumor cell lines (HT-29, MCF-7, Capan-2 and G1), but a much lower toxicity against healthy human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from two donors. The extract-induced death of tumor cells was studied extensively by electron microscopy. There was a remarkable similarity of morphological alterations observed in the four cell lines: patchy chromatin condensations, cytoplasmic vesiculation, swelling and rupture of mitochondria. The morphology of cellular breakdown bore more resemblance to necrotic than to apoptotic cell death, which was supported by the failure to mark early apoptotic events by Annexin V. It has been pointed out recently that compounds inducing cell death with necrotic-like morphology could be very beneficial in cases where cancerous cells have gained resistance to apoptosis. In this context, the remarkable difference in cytotoxicity exerted by the Inula helenium extract, which was over 100-times higher in the tumor cell lines than in the PBLs, makes the extract an excellent candidate for further anticancerous investigations, especially since the Inula helenium extract was not mutagenic in the Ames test.
PMID: 16912983 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1991 Phytother Res. 2006 Nov;20(11):970-80. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antimycobacterial eudesmanolides from Inula helenium and Rudbeckia subtomentosa.
Cantrell CL, Abate L, Fronczek FR, Franzblau SG, Quijano L, Fischer NH.
Abstract
In a bioassay guided search for antimycobacterial compounds from higher plants, the root extracts of Elecampane (Inula helenium L.; Asteraceae) and Sweet Coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa Pursh.; Asteraceae) were chemically investigated for their active constituents. Chromatographic fractions of root extracts of l. helenium, which exhibited significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, provided the known eudesmanolides alantolactone, isoalantolactone, and 11 alpha H, 13-dihydroisoalantolactone. Peracid epoxidation of alantolactone and isoalantolactone provided 5 alpha-epoxyalantolactone and 4(15) alpha-epoxyisoalantolactone, respectively and oxidation of alantolactone with OsO4 gave 11,13-dihydroxyalantolactone. Active fractions from R subtomentosa contained the known alloalantolactone and 3-oxoalloalantolactone. The structures of the above compounds were established by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR techniques as well as spectral comparison with previously reported data. The molecular structure of 5 alpha-epoxyalantolactone was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Eleven natural and semisynthetic eudesmanolides were tested in a radiorespirometric bioassay for activity against M. tuberculosis. 5 alpha-Epoxyalantolactone and encelin from Montanoa speciosa showed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 8 and 16 micrograms ml-1, respectively. Alantolactone, isoalantolactone and its 4 alpha, 15-epoxide, 1,2-dehydro-3-epi-isotelekin and alloalantolactone gave MICs of 32 micrograms ml-1. All other compounds showed MIC values of 128 micrograms ml-1 or higher.
PMID: 10364842 DOI: 10.1055/s-1999-14001 Planta Med. 1999 May;65(4):351-5. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ethyl acetate extract from Inula helenium L. inhibits the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by regulating the STAT3/AKT pathway.
Zhang B, Zeng J, Yan Y, Yang B, Huang M, Wang L, Zhang Q, Lin N.
Abstract
Sesquiterpene lactones are bioactive compounds that have been identified as responsible for the anticancer activity of the medicinal herb, Inula helenium L. (IHL). However, the mechanisms of action involved in the anti-pancreatic cancer activity of IHL have yet to be elucidated. The present study used an optimized extraction strategy to obtain sesquiterpene lactones from IHL (the resulting product termed ethyl acetate extract of IHL; EEIHL), and examined the potential mechanisms involved in the anti-pancreatic cancer activity of EEIHL. Ethanol and ethyl acetate were used to extract sesquiterpene lactones from IHL to give the final product EEIHL. Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation and Annexin V/propidium iodide assays were used to detect the anti-proliferative activity of EEIHL. Cell migration was determined with a wound healing assay. mRNA and protein expression levels were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses, respectively. It was identified that low concentrations of EEIHL caused CFPAC-1 cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, whereas high concentrations of EEIHL induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. In addition, EEIHL could inhibit the phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3/AKT pathway, potentially resulting in impeded cell mobility. In conclusion, EEIHL could activate mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis and inhibit cell migration through the STAT3/AKT pathway in CFPAC-1 cells.
PMID: 29393456 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.8534 Mol Med Rep. 2018 Apr;17(4):5440-5448. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2018.8534. Epub 2018 Feb 1. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Total sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Inula helenium L. attenuates 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice.
Wang Q, Gao S, Wu GZ, Yang N, Zu XP, Li WC, Xie N, Zhang RR, Li CW, Hu ZL, Zhang WD.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Inula helenium L. is an herb whose anti-inflammatory properties are attributed to its active components, the sesquiterpene lactones (SLs). Our previous study demonstrated that the total sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Inula helenium L. (TSL-IHL), consisting mainly of alantolactone (AL) and isoalantolactone (IAL), may have potential in the prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the effect of TSL-IHL on atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been studied yet.
AIM OF THE STUDY:
The present study evaluates the potential of TSL-IHL as a treatment for AD.
METHODS/STUDY DESIGNS:
The effects of TSL-IHL on the expression of inflammatory genes and the activation of NF-?B signaling pathway in HaCat cells were examined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively, and compared with those of AL and IAL. The protective effect of TSL-IHL against AD was tested in a mouse model induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), in which AD-like skin lesions were induced in ICR mice by sensitizing once with 100 µl of 7% DNCB painted on their shaved back skin and then challenging with 20 µl of 0.2% DNCB five times on their right ears at 3 day intervals starting on day 5 post-sensitization.
RESULTS:
TSL-IHL, as well as AL and IAL, could all inhibit TNF-a-induced activation of NF-?B and the expression of TNF-a, IL-1, and IL-4 in HaCat cells in a dose-dependent manner in the range of 0.6-2.4?µg/ml. The topical application of TSL-IHL (1% W/W in emollient cream) attenuated DNCB-induced dermatitis severity and right ear swelling. The serum levels of IgE, TNF-a and IFN-? in TSL-IHL-treated mice were reduced by 81.39%, 89.69%, and 87.85%, respectively, while the mRNA levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, in the back-skin lesions of TSL-IHL-treated mice were reduced by 39.21%, 40.62% and 48.12%, respectively, compared with the untreated controls. Histopathological examination showed that TSL-IHL treatment reduced epidermis/dermis thickening and dermal inflammatory infiltration in both ear and back skins.
CONCLUSIONS:
We suggest that TSL-IHL inhibited the development of AD-like skin symptoms by regulating cytokine expression and may be an effective alternative therapy for AD.
PMID: 30097125 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2018.04.036 Phytomedicine. 2018 Jul 15;46:78-84. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2018.04.036. Epub 2018 Apr 19. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mechanisms of antistressor activity of Inula helenium preparations. [Article in Russian]
Nesterova IuV, Zelenskaia KL, Vetoshkina TV, Aksinenko SG, Gorbacheva AV, Gorbatykh NA.
Abstract
The antistressor and antioxidant properties of preparations from the underground part of elfwort (Inula helenium) were studied on a model of acute stress in mice. The preparations produced a protective effect with respect to internal organs, blood, carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid peroxidation process.
PMID: 14558358 Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2003 Jul-Aug;66(4):63-5. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antioxidant and anticancer activities of extract of Inula helenium (L.) in human U-87 MG glioblastoma cell line.
Koc K, Ozdemir O, Ozdemir A, Dogru U, Turkez H.
Abstract
AIMS:
The aim of this study is to explore the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of aqueous extract from aerial parts of Inula helenium (L.) against human U-87 MG glioma cell line.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The 3'-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and lactate dehydrogenase assays were used to study antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities against U-87 MG cell after 48 h exposure. In addition, to assess the oxidative effects, total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant status levels were also measured.
RESULTS:
Finally, the aqueous extracts displayed antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities at high concentrations tested, particularly at 200 µg/ml, without causing to oxidative stress.
CONCLUSION:
The results strengthen the evidence that I. helenium could be considered a natural resource of potential antitumor agents for brain cancer. In addition, this study is expected to expand the existing information on the anticancer activity of I. helenium and to assist in a more focused design of further research as chemotherapeutic agents.
PMID: 29893335 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1482.187289 J Cancer Res Ther. 2018 Apr-Jun;14(3):658-661. doi: 10.4103/0973-1482.187289. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Induction of detoxifying enzyme by sesquiterpenes present in Inula helenium.
Lim SS, Kim JR, Lim HA, Jang CH, Kim YK, Konishi T, Kim EJ, Park JH, Kim JS.
Abstract
Our previous study showed that the methanolic extract of Inula helenium (elecampane) had the potential to induce detoxifying enzymes such as quinine reductase (QR) and glutathione S-transferase. In this study we further fractionated the methanolic extract into hexane-, dichloromethane-, butanol-, and water-soluble fractions according to polarity. The hexane fraction showed the highest QR-inducing activity and also induced glutathione S-transferase in a dose-dependent manner. Its potential to induce the reporter activity suggested an antioxidant response element-mediated mechanism of action in the induction of phase II detoxifying enzymes. Intraperitoneal injection of the hexane fraction of I. helenium into ICR mice caused a significant increase of QR activity in liver, kidney, small intestine, and stomach. Sesquiterpenes, isolated from the hexane fraction, appeared to be major components responsible for QR induction. Among the seven compounds tested in this study, alantolactone, isoalantolactone, and 5alpha-epoxyalantolactone significantly induced QR activity in both Hepa1c1c7 and BPRc1 cells. In conclusion, sesquiterpenes, including alantolactone, isoalantolactone and 5-epoxyalantolactone, present in I. helenium merit further evaluation as chemopreventive agents.
PMID: 17887945 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2006.209 J Med Food. 2007 Sep;10(3):503-10. Erratum in J Med Food. 2007 Dec;10(4):739. Im, Sun Seong [corrected to Lim, Soon Sung]. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov