Bishop’s weed is an annual herbaceous plant whose natural habitat is the Mediterranean basin, Southeast Asia, northern Africa, Australia and North and South America.
Bishop’s weed prefers well-sunny positions and a warm climate. Bishop’s weed belongs to the umbellifer family, also called Apiaceae.
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Bishop’s weed has an angular, swollen, erect, strong stem, branched in the upper part of the plant. It grows up to 100 cm in height and about 50 centimeters in spread. The root has a spindle shape and is white or cream.
The leaves of the bishop’s weed are pinnate, have serrated edges and a lanceolate or oval shape. The lower leaves have petioles, while the upper leaves are petioleless, sessile or with short petioles. Bishop’s weed flowers appear in July - August.
They are characterized by a small structure and white color. Their crown consists of 5 petals. They form characteristic umbels with a diameter of 6-35 cm.
The fruit of the plant is a schizocarp, which splits into two parts. It is characterized by a specific spicy smell, rusty-brown color and elliptical shape. The size of the achene is 1.5-2 mm.
The delicate, white flowers resemble a crown and are abundant. The leaves of the ammonium plant are small, trimmed, resembling celery leaves, and the whole plant forms a rich bush. Bishop’s weed fruits are small.
Bishop’s weed is often confused with carrot, known as Queen Anne's lace.
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Traditionally, bishop’s weed was used as a diuretic and to regulate menstruation. It is not without reason that it is also used in dermatological diseases.
Studies have shown that bishop’s weed has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Therefore, it is used in the treatment of leprosy, kidney stones and infections.
Powdered, ripe fruits or aqueous extracts were used in the previously mentioned menstrual regulation. Pastes from the aerial parts of the plant were used to treat psoriasis, vitiligo and leprosy.
Water extracts have also been used in the treatment of asthma. Additionally, the extracts were used in many other diseases, such as hypertension, rashes, allergic rhinitis and depression.
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In addition, bishop’s weed has antispasmodic, diaphoretic and antiseptic properties. This plant owes its numerous medicinal properties to its rich chemical composition.
Bishop’s weed is a common plant (weed) in the countries of its natural origin. It is also grown in gardens. Traditionally, the fruits of the plant have been used for years to treat skin diseases - vitiligo, psoriasis.
Additionally, they were administered orally in urinary tract problems as a diuretic, washing out renal sand and providing relief from renal colic.
Medicines are available in the form of capsules, tablets and skin solutions containing furanocoumarins (active substances of Ammi majas). They are used in PUVA therapy (Psoralen Ultra-Violet A).
They are used to treat diseases such as vitiligo, psoriasis, mycosis fungoides, atopic dermatitis, urticaria pigmentosa, alopecia areata, lichen planus, plaque psoriasis and acute psoriasis.
Furanocoumarins (bergapten, xanthotoxin) are administered orally, 120 minutes before exposure to UV radiation. This allows the substance to penetrate into the epidermis and dermis. In the treatment of vitiligo, xanthotoxin is applied directly to the vitiligo spots in combination with the administration of the drug orally.
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The chemical composition of bishop’s weed fruits includes protein, cellulose, tannins, oleoresins, volatile and non-volatile oils and flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol).
The furanocoumarins present in it are responsible for the medicinal effect of the raw material. Furanocoumarins contained in the fruits of bishop’s weed have a photodynamic effect.
This means that they have the ability to absorb ultraviolet radiation. In this way, they sensitize skin cells to light and stimulate the production of the pigment melanin.
It is deposited in the skin. Bishop’s weed furanocoumarins include, among others: methoxsalen, 8-methoxypsoralen, ammoidin, imperatorin, amidine, bergapten, heraklin, majadin, 5-methoxypsoralen, marmesine, isoimperatorin, heraclenin and isopimpinelin.
In addition to their photodynamic effect, furanocoumarins also have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.
Studies using laboratory animals have proven the effectiveness of bishop’s weed against the Vesicular stomatitis VS virus and its anthelmintic effect against the venous fluke Schistosoma mansoni. Studies on rats showed the anti-inflammatory effect of furanocoumarins Amine major (0.01 mg/100 g).
Bishop’s weed furanocoumarins contained in the fruit (bergapten and xanthotoxin) cause photosensitivity. They work by stimulating the production of melanin in the skin under the influence of UV radiation.
As a result, a series of reactions occur that lead to the so-called skin repigmentation, i.e. the re-appearance of melanocytes in the skin. This is important in the treatment of diseases such as plaque and acute psoriasis or vitiligo.
Preparations containing xanthotoxin, bergapten or both substances are administered orally (tablets and capsules) or in the form of 0.75% and 1% solutions.
As previously mentioned, bishop’s weed has a diuretic and antispasmodic effect, which is important in the treatment of urinary tract diseases, such as kidney stones. Bishop’s weed fruits can relieve pain when urinating, help expel stones, and prevent their formation.
Bishop’s weed likes well-drained soil and partial shade, but it will also do well in full sun. It is a favorite plant among many gardeners because it fits very well into various types of garden compositions. Pet owners should be careful with this plant as it is toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
For some time now, research has been conducted on the use of bishop’s weed fruit in the treatment of vitiligo, psoriasis and pityriasis versicolor.
The raw material is administered orally (0.05 g of fruit 3 times a day) or in the form of skin compresses (1 g/100 ml) after contact with UV radiation (specialized lamp - 2 minutes, exposure to the sun - 30 minutes or a combination of the two options) causes skin repigmentation.
Spots appear, which after some time merge into larger areas and darken. Other studies prove the effectiveness of bishop’s weed fruit xanthotoxin in alleviating the symptoms of psoriasis (reducing the number of psoriatic plaques).
Bishop’s weed contains the following active substances:
Treatment with the use of bishop’s weed can only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. The dose used in phototherapy for people with vitiligo, psoriasis and pityriasis versicolor is on average from 0.02 to 0.04 grams of powdered bishop’s weed fruit in divided doses during the day.
Xanthotoxin isolated from the raw material was administered in an amount of 0.25–0.7 mg per kilogram of the patient's body weight. During the treatment, UV lamps were used (periods of 2 minutes) and/or the patient was exposed to the sun (30 minutes).
Contraindications to the use of bishop’s weed include diseases associated with photosensitivity, cataracts, sensitivity to psoralens, squamous cell carcinoma, liver and kidney diseases.
Additionally, it should not be used by children under 12 years of age, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, people suffering from tuberculosis, infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other autoimmune diseases.
Overuse of preparations containing photosensitizing furanocoumarins may lead to serious and dangerous skin inflammation.
No data is available on possible interactions with medications or other herbs.
Due to the photosensitizing properties of bishop’s weed, UV radiation (sunbathing, solarium) should be avoided when using the plant. Contact with the sun may result in skin redness, burns, and blisters containing serous fluid.
During the tests, patients taking bishop’s weed showed symptoms of nervousness, had problems with sleep, and experienced gastrointestinal problems (stomach pain, nausea).
The administration of the isolated xanthotoxin from bishop’s weed caused skin reactions: burning, itching, redness of the skin, peeling of the epidermis, the appearance of freckles and hypopigmentation. Some people experienced a drop in blood pressure and dizziness.
Bishop’s weed may cause allergic reactions, including: hives and allergic swelling of the nasal mucosa.
