Borage seed

Prepare microsomes from borage seeds, lipid extraction, and fatty acid analysis according to Galle et al. (31). Protocol adapted from ref. (31). 

Pharmaceutical products Nuclear waste Black pepper (for mouthwash) Paprika (for lipstick colour) Hempseed, wheatgerm, grape seed (for cream bases) Blackcurrant and borage seeds (for dietary aids)... 

Many naturally occurring plant extracts are reputed to possess anti-irritant properties and have been recommended for use in cosmetic formulations. These include such diverse mixtures as tea tree oil, borage seed oil, Paraguay tea extract. Kola nut extract, oil of rosemary, and lavender oil. It is, however, difficult to standardize plant extracts and there may be a great deal of lot-to-lot variability in constituents. Understandably, this makes identification and isolation of any specific active constituent complex and laborious. The extracts may be oily or hydrophilic and contain compounds such as a-bisabolol, xanthines, polyphenols, and phytosterols.There is great potential in the use of plant extracts for irritation and sensitization reduction. This has been established within the cosmetic industry, and interest here has stimulated activity into reducing variability by more consistent cultivation techniques and more standardized extraction methods. 

Borage leaf and whole herb can be purchased by the ounce. Borage seed oil softgel, 1000 mg (240 mg of y-linolenic acid plus linoleic acid and 10 IU of vitamin E [d-a-tocopherol]), 1300-mg borage oil capsules (300 mg of y-linolenic acid, 494 mg of linoleic acid, 221 mg of oleic acid), borage oil hard gelatin capsules (67 mg of y-linolenic acid and 170 mg of linoleic acid), and 500-mg borage oil capsules are available. The oil is also available in bulk. 

The anti-inflammatory effects of borage seed oil have been demonstrated in animal models. A diet enriched with borage seed oil (23% GLA) was compared to one with safflower oil (<1% GLA) with regard to effects on acute inflammation induced by monosodium urate crystals, subacute or chronic inflammation caused by Freund s adjuvant in a subcutaneous air pouch, or adjuvant-induced arthritis (Tate et al., 1989). Borage seed oil, but not safflower oil, decreased inflammation in all models. In addition, the ratio of DGLA to AA was five times that in the livers of animals fed safflower oil. 

In humans, T-lymphocyte proliferation, which is involved in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was reduced with the administration of 2.4g GLA as borage seed oil, and was associated with increased GLA and DGLA concentrations in plasma cells and monocytes (Rossetti et al., 1997). In an open, uncontrolled study (Pullman-Moar et al., 1990), nine borage seed oil capsules daily were administered for 12 wk to seven patients with active RA, and to seven "normal" patients. DGLA increased in monocytes, and there was a decrease in the production of the inflammatory mediators PGE2, leukotriene B4, and leukotriene C4 by stimulated monocytes. In addition, the DGLA content of the phospholipid bilayer of plasma cells, mononuclear cells, and platelets increased. Six of seven RA patients improved clinically. 

A larger controlled study has also demonstrated the benefits of borage seed oil in RA. A 24-wk, randomized, double-blind study (Leventhal et al., 1993) compared four borage seed oil capsules three times daily with cotton-... 

Bahmer FA, Schafer J. [Treatment of atopic dermatitis with borage seed oil (Glandol)—a time series analytic studyf Kinderarztl Prax 1992 60 199-202. 

Borrek S, Hildebrandt A, Forster J. [Gamma-linolenic-acid-rich borage seed oil capsules in children with atopic dermatitis. A placebo-controlled double-blind study], Klin Padiatr 1997 209 100 1. 

At least a dozen different herbs are used to ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis most are considered to be anti-inflammatories. Herbs that have been tried include powdered ginger, borage seed oil, or devil s claw to reduce pain and swelling. Stinging nettles or turmeric also may lessen pain, stiffness, and inflammation. Because these herbs can interact with each other or with prescription comedications, lack of careful studies means that little is known about long-term effects and drug interactions. 

Borage seed oil is commonly traded as a source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Processing methods eliminate pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) from the finished material (WretensjS and Karlberg 2003). A study of the effects of the borage seed oil refinement process on the content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the oil indicated that processing reduces the PA content by a factor of about 30,000. In finished samples. 

No information on the safety of borage seed oil in pregnancy was identified in the scientific or traditional literature. While this review did not identify any concerns for pregnant women, safety has not been conclusively established. 

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), one of the primary constituents of borage seed oil, is a compound naturally formed in the human body and is a component of human breast milk (Carter 1988). 

No effects on platelet aggregation were observed in healthy volunteers orally administered 3 g of borage seed oil daily for 6 weeks (Bard et al. 1997). 

No changes in hematological or biochemical parameters were observed in adults and children with atopic eczema orally administered 2 g (adult dose) or 1 g (child dose) of borage seed oil daily for 12 weeks. Adverse events in the... 

Langer, T, and C. Franz. 1997. Determination of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in commercial samples of borage seed oil products by GC-MS. Sci. Pharm. 65 321-328. 

Note that although medicinal species of Petasites, including purple butterbur (Petasites hyhridus) and Arctic butterbur (Petasites frigi-dus), are not listed in this text, these species also contain pyrroK-zidine alkaloids. PA-free extracts of Petasites species are available, and PA-free products are considered appropriate for internal use. Processing of borage seed oil eliminates PAs. 

Borage (Borago ofFicinalis) seed oil Synonyms Borage oil Borage seed oil Borago officinalis... 

Definition Ethyl ester of the fatty acids derived from borage seed oil... 

Sunflower seed Safflower seed Evening primrose Borage seed Hemp seed Blackcurrant seed Corn... 

A double-blind, placebo-controUed trial of borage seed oil (providing 1.4 g GLA/day) in patients with active synovitis and rheumatoid arthritis found significant symptomatic improvements in both tender and swollen joints. Compared to placebo, borage seed oil also significantly attenuated heart and blood pressure rates, decreased task performance and the increase in skin temperature in humans in response to acute stress. ... 

The UK is the main source of borage (starflower) but it is also grown in the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, and Poland. Annual production of the seed is estimated at 1500-2000 tormes, which provides about 500-7(X) tonnes of oil. Borage seed costs US 3000 000/toime. The price of the oil fell from US 60/ kg to US 35/kg over the 10 years to 1999 (Clough, 2001a, 2001b). 

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