Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) in hay fever
A study in the British Medical journal has compared the tolerability and effectiveness of butterbur (Petasites hybridus) with cetirizine in 125 patients with seasonal rhinitis.
Butterbur (carbon dioxide extract ZE 339 - standardised for petasin content) did not produce the sedative side-effects associated with antihistamines and was well tolerated. The study said butterbur was similar in effect to cetirizine in the treatment of hay fever.
Though well-designed, there are two criticisms of the study:
- the trial showed lack of difference in effectiveness but was too small to show equivalence
- the study used a short treatment period of two weeks in context of a condition where symptoms may vary markedly with daily pollen count changes
Petasites hybridus is a shrub that is found in America, Asia and Europe. Petasin, the active constituent of preparations derived Petasites hybridus, is claimed to have anti-inflammatory (anti-leukotriene) and anti-spasmodic activity.
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