Dragon's Blood

RECOMMENDED USE: The plant called Dragon's blood has been traditionally used as a healing of the gastric ulcers. The Dragon's blood contains the Taspina alkaloid, that acts stimulating the migration of fibroblasts, this way takes place the process of cellular repair and contraction of scars(healing).

INGREDIENTS: Dragon's blood (Croton palanostigma).

CONTENT: 50 tablets / 500 mg. each one.

DOSE: Take 2 tablets daily.

WARNINGS: Do not take if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. If the symptoms continue ask your doctor. If you observe adverse reactions interrupt its use and ask your doctor.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE? ...

From the dawn of time natives of the forests have used the Dragon's Blood (Sangre de Grado) is an excellent healing agent. Preliminary studies have been able to determine that the healing properties of the Sangre de Grado comes from the alkaloid Taspina that acts as a stimulant to fibroblast migration, taking the place of the process of cellular repair and contraction of the formation of scar tissue. In preliminary studies a reduction of the ulceration indexes was observed, as well as a marked increase of the consistency and thickness of the layer of mucous in the stomach (Málaga trillo, G.UPCH.1991).

Milla (1985) carried out a study on the mechanism of action of the principle ingredient of Sangre de Grado. The focus of this study was the parameters that intervene in the repair process: cellular proliferation, fibroblast migration and reduction of scar tissue. The alkaloid Taspina hadn’t previously been identified as showing promotion of cellular proliferation, in fact it typically acts as an inhibitor of the fibroblast-collagen systems. It also demonstrates a marked stimulation of fibroblast migration to confluent, vacant cells.

In 1994, Ubillus et al, isolated an Oligomeric Proanthocyanidin (SP-303), which shows an effective impact on a variety of DNA and RNA viruses.

In 1994 a study was published detailing the antitumoral, antibacterial and antiscarring properties of Sangre de Grado. The study indicated that 3 trials have been held to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antibacterial properties of the Sangre de Grado (croton lechleri Muell-Arg), and to evaluate its effect on the proliferation of endothelial cells. The resinous sap of Sangre de Grado didn't reveal cytotoxic activity, but several polyphenolic compounds showed a potent antibacterial effect. It was also determined that the sap has little effect on the proliferation of endothelial cells and it was identified as an active ingredient.

The antimicrobial properties of Sangre de Grado was also checked by Zapata (1987) against gram-positive microorganisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus 6538 ATCC, S. epidermidis 12228 ATCC and Sarcina lutea 9341 ATCC and gram-negatives like Klebsiella 602 FDA, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Serratia, Proteus, Salmonella and Pseudomonas.

Later on a group of North American pharmacologists (Persinos et al., 1974) were able to isolate the alkaloid Taspina, which showed anti-inflammatory properties in preliminary trials. Taspina hydrochloride, in doses of 20 mg/kg was effective in reducing inflammations induced in laboratory rats; in addition, also, could be administered in doses of up to 200 mg/kg with no toxic side effects. The investigators determined that the Taspina alkaloid could be a useful drug as a treatment for inflammatory illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis (Neill, 1988), and in fact popular medicine already uses it for that purpose.

Vaisberg (1989) and their collaborators of the Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia presented in a 1987 study conducted on live rats that Taspina has a beneficial effect on healing tissue. The study was conducted with Taspina hydrochloride to observe the active mechanisms of cultured cells and demonstrated that the alkaloid was not toxic for human epidermal fibroblasts, and that it lacked effect on cellular proliferation. On the other hand, it was found that the migration of the fibroblasts was increased, which might explain why Sangre de Grado and Taspina hydrochloride accelerates the process of wound healing. Additionally, it was determined that neither Sangre de Grado nor Taspina hydrochloride possessed carcinogenic or stimulative effects on tumor activity. These notable results obtained by the Peruvian investigators impart to Sangre de Grado the character of a promissory medicinal plant.