The sole species in the genus Cnicus, is a thistle-like plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the Mediterranean region, from Portugal north to southern France and east to Iran. It is also sometimes called Cursed Thistle. It is an annual plant growing to 60 cm tall, with leathery, hairy leaves up to 30 cm long and 8 cm broad, with small spines on the margins. The flowers are yellow, produced in a dense flower head (capitulum) 3-4 cm diameter, surrounded by numerous spiny basal bracts.
The related genus Notobasis is included in Cnicus by some botanists; it differs in slender, much spinier leaves, and purple flowers. Blessed thistle is native to North Africa, southern Europe, and western Asia. It grows most often in stony, uncultivated places. It is an annual, growing about 0.7 m in height, with pale yellow, prickly flowers. The whole plant is covered with down.
Composition
The leaves yield, upon analysis, an amorphous, brownish-yellow, bitter principle, resin, a fixed oil, gum, sugar, albumen, some salts, etc. The bitter principle was discovered, in 1839, by Nativelle and by him named cnicin (C42H56O15, Scribe), and is supposed to be the active constituent of the plant. It crystallizes in transparent white needles, which have a bitter taste, are odorless, neutral, unaffected by the atmosphere, are fused and decomposed by heat, slightly soluble in cold, but more so in boiling water, sparingly soluble in ether, but readily in alcohol. Chemically it approaches salicin. Vomiting is produced by it in doses of 5 or 6 grains; 7 or 8-grain doses have proved beneficial in periodical fevers (see Chem. Gaz., Vol. II, p. 462).
Medicinal uses
It has sometimes been used as an herb to promote lactation. The crude drug contains about 0.2% cnicin.
It is a component in Bitters formulas, which are used to treat digestive issues.
Blessed thistle is used to stimulate secretion of gastric juices and saliva, to increase appetite and facilitate digestion, and to stimulate the flow of bile. It has been used as a minor component of the alternative cancer remedy Flor-Essence and has antibacterial and antifungal activity. Other pharmacologic activities for blessed thistle include blockade of gonadotropin and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there are no reported human clinical trials for any of these uses. Blessed thistle is a minor component of the alternative cancer remedy Flor-Essence , one of 8 herbs in the formulation. In this context, cnicin is cytotoxic to leukemia cells, while sesquitepenes, lacking the ester moiety, had lesser activity. The same structural requirements apply to antibacterial activity. Similarly, cnicin was the most active sesquiterpene against a variety of fungi in another study. The most prominent constituent of blessed thistle is the bitter sesquiterpene lactone ester cnicin. Other germacrane sesquiterpenes include salonitenolide and artemisiifolin. The bitter lignans arctiin, arctigenin, and nortracheloside are also present. Two C13 polyacetylenes have been isolated as well. A patent discloses antifungal proteins active against plant pathogenic fungi, isolated from the seed of blessed thistle. Other pharmacologic activity found for blessed thistle include blockade of gonadotropin. Cnicin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in a rat paw edema test. There are no reported human clinical trials for any of these indications. There are no clinical studies to justify dosing of blessed thistle. Traditionally, 4 to 6 g of blessed thistle is used daily.
Contraindication
Because of its irritating effect, blessed thistle is contraindicated in gastric ulcer or in inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohns disease.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Blessed thistle should not be used in pregnancy. No evidence exists to support the efficacy of its common use to promote lactation.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
People sensitive to the sesquiterpene lactones of other asteraceous plants should use blessed thistle with caution. Blessed thistle extract was strongly sensitizing in a study of 12 species in the family Asteraceae.
Toxicology
At high single doses (5 to 6 g) blessed thistle is known to be emetic.
Cnicin is strongly irritating upon intraperitoneal injection. Because of this irritating effect, blessed thistle is contraindicated in gastric ulcer or in inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohns disease. At high doses (5 to 6 g), blessed thistle is known to be emetic. The oral median lethal dose for cnicin in mice was 1.6 to 3.2 mmol/kg.
Other uses
The plant was widely cultivated in the Middle Ages in Europe. Its medicinal use was mentioned by Shakespeare in his play Much Ado About Nothing and was prominent in many of the herbals of the period. It was thought to be useful in treating plague; however, its main uses were for digestive complaints, gout, fever, and headache. Blessed thistle also was recommended as an emmenagogue, galactogogue, and abortifacient. The dried leaves, stems, and flowers are used medicinally. It is used in flavoring Benedictine liqueur and has GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status for alcoholic beverage use only. Blessed thistle has been used as a secondary component of the polyherbal alternative cancer treatment Flor-Essence (Flora Manufacturing and Distributing, Inc.). It is available as a single herb and in homeopathic preparations. Blessed thistle was approved by the German Commission E for treatment of dyspepsia and loss of appetite.
A cold infusion is tonic; a warm infusion diaphoretic and emmenagogue; and, if strong, emetic. Used as a tonic in loss of appetite, dyspepsia, and intermittent diseases. This infusion is also valuable in the forming stage of febrile and inflammatory infections. Colds may be broken up with it, and it acts well in menstrual suppression from cold. Dose of the powder, from 10 to 60 grains; of the infusion, 2 fluid ounces; specific cnicus benedictus, 5 to 10 drops, every 4 hours.
