Background
- Lomatium is a genus of 70 to 80 perennial herbs, which are native to western North America. Species include Lomatium dissectum, Lomatium grayi, Lumatium nuttalii, and Lomatium suksdorfii. Much of the information reported by scientific and by traditional or historical sources refers to desert parsley (Lomatium dissectum).
- Desert parsley has been used by many Native American tribes to treat a wide variety of infections, mainly of the lungs. Historical and traditional sources report that desert parsley was used during the influenza pandemic of 1917 with positive results.
- Lomatium species have inhibited rotavirus and HIV-1 replication in some laboratory studies.
- There is limited scientific and human research involving Lomatium dissectum or any other species of Lomatium. More high quality scientific and human studies are needed before any conclusions about the clinical use of desert parsley can be made.
References
Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to . Selected references are listed below.
- Alstat E. Lomatium dissectum and fresh corn silk. NHAA International Conference 1995;116-125.
- Chou SC, Everngam MC, Sturtz G, et al. Antibacterial activity of components from Lomatium californicum. Phytother Res 2006;20(2):153-156.
View Abstract - Lee KH, Soine TO. Coumarins. VII. The coumarins of Lomatium nuttallii. J Pharm Sci 1968;57(5):865-868.
View Abstract - Lee TT, Kashiwada Y, Huang L, et al. Suksdorfin: an anti-HIV principle from Lomatium suksdorfii, its structure-activity correlation with related coumarins, and synergistic effects with anti-AIDS nucleosides. Bioorg.Med Chem 1994;2(10):1051-1056.
View Abstract - McCutcheon AR, Roberts TE, Gibbons E, et al. Antiviral screening of British Columbian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 12-1-1995;49(2):101-110.
View Abstract - Meepagala KM, Sturtz G, Wedge DE, et al. Phytotoxic and antifungal compounds from two Apiaceae species, Lomatium californicum and Ligusticum hultenii, rich sources of Z-ligustilide and apiol, respectively. J Chem Ecol 2005;31(7):1567-1578.
View Abstract - VanWagenen BC, Huddleston J, Cardellina JH. Native American food and medicinal plants, 8. Water-soluble constituents of Lomatium dissectum. J Nat Prod. 1988;51(1):136-141.
View Abstract