Last spring and summer as Becky and I were transforming the backyard into an edible landscape, I scored a couple of flats of Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) for $1.50 each. (Yes, 60 Sweet William bedding plants for 2.5 cents each.) I’d never heard of any uses for them beyond attractive flowers and fragrance. However, as I’ve been writing this blog and researching, I’ve come to find out that often there is more to a plant than meets the eye. This is definitely the case with dianthus. It’s highly edible and makes an attractive, tasty addition to salads. Pick the petals and toss them in. Lovely.
And then I got the idea that I should see if there are any medicinal uses, you know, just in case.
Lo and behold, there are. Dianthus barbatus is a substitute for Dianthus chinensis, which is quite commonly used in Asian medicine, particularly for respiratory and urogenital conditions. Their cousin, Dianthus superbus, finds wide application in traditional Chinese medicine and is the star of the family. And the flowers are really cute, too. The fact that Sweet William and other Dianthus species perform really well in alkaline, well-drained soils (which describes my dirt here pretty accurately) just sealed the deal. I had to order some seeds right away.
Most near and dear to my heart is the use in treating diabetes, specifically in preventing diabetic neuropathy. But it’s not just that. Dianthus also possesses potent antiviral effects against hepatitis B and influenza. Most intriguingly, it’s shown to be effective in preventing peanut-allergy induced anaphylaxis in mice.[1]
And while Dianthus has been used forever in traditional Chinese medicine, unfortunately, it hasn’t been tested much in people. Most all of the modern research has been in mice and ducks.
EFFECTIVE AGAINST
· Viruses
o Hepatitis B[2]
o Influenza A and B[3] [4] [5]
· Cancer[6]
PREPARATION
Researchers in Korea used alcohol and heat to extract the active constituents, and a few other tools that we don’t have. Traditionally, the medicine would have been extracted with heat and alcohol over time, probably several weeks.
Other researchers used a 1:1 water:alcohol ratio for 3 days to extract the active constituents.[7]
MODERN USAGE
· Gastrointestinal
o Hepatitis[8]
· Respiratory
o Allergic Asthma[9]
o Influenza[10]
· Urogenital
o Chlamydia[11]
o Glomerulonephritis, tincture[12]
o Renal inflammation, tincture[13]
o Diabetic nephropathy, tincture[14]
HISTORICAL USAGE
Diuretic, anti-inflammatory, contraceptive[15]
Carcinoma[16]
· Skin
o Carbuncles[17]
· Urogenital
o Urethritis[18]
[1] I López-Expósito, et al., Chinese herbal extracts of Rubia cordifolia and Dianthus superbus suppress IgE production and prevent peanut-induced anaphylaxis, Chinese Medicine, 30 Septemer 2011, Vol 6, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21961957/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[2] Wei-Guo Li, et al.,Antiviral activity of Dianthus superbusn l. against hepatitis b virus in vitro and in vivo, African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines, Vol 13 No 5, 12 August 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5416644/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[3] SH Nile, et al., Probing the effect of quercetin 3-glucoside from Dianthus superbus L against influenza virus infection- In vitro and in silico biochemical and toxicological screening, Food Chem Toxicol, January 2020, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31765700/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[4] Doo Hwan Kim, et al., Utilization of Dianthus superbus L and its bioactive compounds for antioxidant, anti-influenza and toxicological effects, Food and Chemical Toxicology, Vol 125, 2019, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691519300134 (accessed 28 December 2021).
[5] E Gansukh, et al., Probing the impact of quercetin-7-O-glucoside on influenza virus replication influence, Phytomedicine, August 2016, Vol 23 No 9, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27387404/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[6] Doo Hwan Kim, et al., Utilization of Dianthus superbus L and its bioactive compounds for antioxidant, anti-influenza and toxicological effects, Food and Chemical Toxicology, Vol 125, 2019, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691519300134 (accessed 28 December 2021).
[7] Wei-Guo Li, et al.,Antiviral activity of Dianthus superbusn l. against hepatitis b virus in vitro and in vivo, African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines, Vol 13 No 5, 12 August 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5416644/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[8] Wei-Guo Li, et al.,Antiviral activity of Dianthus superbusn l. against hepatitis b virus in vitro and in vivo, African Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines, Vol 13 No 5, 12 August 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5416644/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[9] IS Shin, et al., Dianthus superbus fructus suppresses airway inflammation by downregulating of inducible nitric oxide synthase in an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma, Journal of Inflammation (London), 30 October 2012, Vol 9 No 1, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23110404/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[10] E Gansukh, et al., Probing the impact of quercetin-7-O-glucoside on influenza virus replication influence, Phytomedicine, August 2016, Vol 23 No 9, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27387404/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[11] JJ Li, et al., [Inhibitory activity of Dianthus superbus L. and 11 kinds of diuretic Traditional Chinese medicines for urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro], Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi, October 2000, Vol 25 No 10, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12516457/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[12] Yoon, Jung Joo et al. “Dianthus superbus Improves Glomerular Fibrosis and Renal Dysfunction in Diabetic Nephropathy Model.” Nutrients vol. 11,3 553. 5 Mar. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471502/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[13] Yoon, Jung Joo et al. “Dianthus superbus Improves Glomerular Fibrosis and Renal Dysfunction in Diabetic Nephropathy Model.” Nutrients vol. 11,3 553. 5 Mar. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471502/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[14] Yoon, Jung Joo et al. “Dianthus superbus Improves Glomerular Fibrosis and Renal Dysfunction in Diabetic Nephropathy Model.” Nutrients vol. 11,3 553. 5 Mar. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471502/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[15] Yoon, Jung Joo et al. “Dianthus superbus Improves Glomerular Fibrosis and Renal Dysfunction in Diabetic Nephropathy Model.” Nutrients vol. 11,3 553. 5 Mar. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471502/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[16] Bo-Ra Yun, et al, Simultaneous determination of eight bioactive compounds in Dianthus superbus by high-performance liquid chromatography, Pharmacognosy, Vol 12, suppl 2, 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4883090/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[17] Bo-Ra Yun, et al, Simultaneous determination of eight bioactive compounds in Dianthus superbus by high-performance liquid chromatography, Pharmacognosy, Vol 12, suppl 2, 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4883090/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
[18] Bo-Ra Yun, et al, Simultaneous determination of eight bioactive compounds in Dianthus superbus by high-performance liquid chromatography, Pharmacognosy, Vol 12, suppl 2, 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4883090/ (accessed 28 December 2021).
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