Evening primrose

The seed contains about 20% oil which is a very rich source of gammaUnolenic acid (GL A) and this is highly valued for certain pharmaceutical uses. The market for evening primrose oil is very small and is dominated by Chinese and Eastern European production, although the plant is still grown on a small scale in the UK. It is recommended that this crop should only be grown on contract for a reputable end-user. 

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WETTASiNGHE M and SHAHiDi F (1999) Evening Primrose Meal A source ofnatural antioxidants and scavenger of hydrogen peroxide and oxygen-derived free radicals, JAgric Food Chem, 47, 1801-12. 

Dong quai and several other herbal products, including evening primrose oil, passion flowers, sage, valerian root, flaxseed, and wild yam, have not demonstrated efficacy with regard to the relief of vasomotor symptoms, and the safety of these products is also questionable.4,33,35 Therefore, these products should not be recommended for the relief of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women. 

Evening primrose oil, passion flowers, sage, valerian root, and wild yam No demonstrated efficacy Not recommended Caution with all plant products in women with hay fever and plant allergies... 

For example, sol-gel immobilised bioactive liquids such as cineol, camphor, menthol, evening primrose and perilla oil used to functionalise textiles afford either skin-friendly textiles with antimicrobial and antiallergic effects due to immobilised natural oils or textiles for therapeutic treatment of the respiratory tract by means of immobilised mixtures of high volatility natural agents such as eucalyptol, camphor and menthol.27... 

Evening primrose Oenothera biennis), catnip Nepeta), hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum), valerian, lavender, coltsfoot Tussiiago farfara)... 

Below right) Space Invaders Rampant herbs include horseradish and Russian tarragon (pictured), plus feverfew, tansy, mint, comfrey, borage, evening primrose, coltsfoot, and creeping Jenny. 

Ammonia naturally occurs in soybean (8,600 ppm), evening-primrose seeds (2,300-2,455 ppm), lambsquarter, and tobacco leaves (Duke, 1992). 

There are several sources of y-linolenic acid including evening primrose, borage and blackcurrant oils. Indeed, the evening primrose is grown commercially for the production of y-linolenic acid. It is available in most health food shops and pharmacies. 

It is claimed that chronic deficiency of arachidonic acid can lead to a number of medical problems that can be overcome by supplementation of a normal diet with evening primrose oil. Supplementation is claimed to lead to an alleviation of eczema reduction in premenstrual tension and breast pain during menstruation improvement in some chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases reduction in blood pressure in hypertensive patients and reduction in blood cholesterol levels. As might be expected, these claims are controversial, but they serve to illustrate how basic biochemical information can lead to a considerable lay interest in a subject. 

Glycerin polysorbate 60 Evening primrose oil Sorbitan stearate Cetyl ester... 

Ephedra (Ephedra sinica)/Ma Huang Evening Primrose Oil Oenothera biennis) Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium)... 

Imipramine (Tofranil) [Antidepressant/TCA] WARNING Close observation for suicidal thinking or unusual changes in behavior Uses Depres-sion, enuresis, panic attack, chronic pain Action TCA t CNS synaptic serotonin or norepinephrine Dose Adults. Hospitalized Initial 100 mg/24 h PO in doses T over several wk 300 mg/d max Output Maint 50-150 mg PO hs, 300 mg/24 h max Peds. Antidepressant 1.5-5 mg/kg/24 h daUy-qid Enuresis >6 y 10-25 mg PO qhs T by 10-25 mg at 1-2-wk int vals (max 50 mg for 6-12 y, 75 mg for >12 y) Rx for 2-3 mo, then tap Caution [D, /-] Contra Use w/ MAOIs, NAG, acute recovery from MI, PRG, CHF, angina, CVD, arrhythmias Disp Tabs, caps SE CV Sxs, dizziness, xerostomia, discolored urine Interactions t Effects W/ amiodarone, anticholinergics, BBs, cimetidine, diltiazem, Li, OCPs, quinidine, phenothiazines, ritonavir, verapamil, EtOH, evening primrose oil t effects OF CNS depressants, hypoglycemics, warfarin T risk of serotonin synd W/MAOIs 4-... 

OE161 Jantti, ]., E. Seppala, H. Vapaatalo, and H. Isomaki. Evening primrose oil and olive oil in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol 1989 ... 

The psychiatric community, the lay press, and ads on the Internet have drawn attention to the role of essential fatty acids (EFAs) on neural development and on the treatment of mental illness. The EFAs are often referred to as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and include fish oil, flax seed oil, and evening primrose oil supplements. 

Wettasinghe M, Shahidi F. Scavenging of reactive-oxygen species and DPPH free radicals by extracts of borage and evening primrose meals. Food Chemistry. 2000 70 17-26. 

Mulherjee, K. D. and I. Kiewitt. 1987. Formation of gamma linolenic acid in the higher plant evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.). J. Agric. Food Chem. 35 1009-1012. 

Barthell, J. F. and Knops, J. M. H. (1997). Visitation of evening primrose by carpenter bees evidence of a mixed pollination syndrome. Southwestern Naturalist 42 86-93. 

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