One of the most important Omega 6 sources: Borage (Borago Officinalis)
In this article, I compiled general information on Borago officinalis, its benefits and harms, its significance and research done.
One of the most important Omega 6 sources: Borage (Borago Officinalis)
In this article, I compiled general information on Borago officinalis, its benefits and harms, its significance and research done.
Photo by Julietta Watson on Unsplash
What is this Borago Officinalis?
Borago officinalis is a species of plant commonly known as borage or starflower, which belongs to the Boraginaceae family. It is also available for medical purposes, especially if we see it used as a side dish or in salads. Although widely cultivated worldwide today, it is native to the Mediterranean region. Borago officinalis is a single-year-old herbaceous plant with bright blue, star-shaped flowers and feathered leaves, reaching an altitude of 60–100cm. The stem of the plant is neat and usually branched, hollow and covered in hard fibre. Its leaves are lined with variable sequences, rough on top, elliptical, 5–20cm long, 3–15cm wide with cattle. Its lower leaves are large, its upper leaves are small and all are covered in hard fibres.
What Borage Are Used For, What Are The Benefits?
Borago officinalis, or borage, can be used in a variety of ways. The young leaves and flowers of the borage are used as side dishes or in salads. They have a mild cucumber-like taste and can be used as fresh or dried.
Borage is also available use as herbal tea. Tea prepared using borage leaves and flowers has a calming effect on the body. This tea also helps soothe the sore throat and relieve respiratory infections.
Borage has had medical use for centuries for various ailments, including fever, respiratory infections and inflammation. In addition, there are benefits such as cleaning the blood, increasing the flow of urine and increasing breast milk production.
Borage oil; is used topically for skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. This oil has anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties. Borage oil is also available on the skin for treating Seborrheic dermatitis, which causes red and itchy rashes on babies’ scalps and is also seen in adults.
It is briefly available on a wide scale from food to medical use.
Photo by Mareefe on Pixabay
-Could this plant be viewed as a drug?
Our answer to that question would be yes. Borago officinalis is a traditional medicinal plant that has been used for centuries because of its medicinal properties. We mentioned above that this plant has anti-inflammatory, fever-lowering, diuretic properties.
-What makes this plant so important?
What makes Borago Officinalis so important is that it contains a high proportion of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), one of the omega-6 fatty acid varieties. Borage oil tops preparations, where gamma-linolenic acid is found most. This is why its importance is enormous with it being included as a source of omega 6 in supplemental foods.
What good is this Gamma-linoleic acid, it’s anti-inflammatory and anticancer-effective. Gamma-linoleic acid is available use of in Eczema, asthma, arthritis, hypertension and diabetes-related nerve pains (diabetic neuropathy). It plays the main role of most of the effects we’re talking about in the benefits of borage oil above.
It is contained as a source of omega 6 in many supplemental foods.
But Can Borage Harm Me?
When used in moderation, Borago officinalis is generally considered safe for human consumption. But as with everything else, overuse of the borage plant can cause negative effects.
Borage contains pyrolysidine alkaloids (PAs), which can be toxic to the liver and can cause liver damage when consumed in large quantities over a long period of time. Although it is thought that the PA in Borage may have caused harm, reports about the borago so far have not shown any damage. So consuming borage is also unlikely to cause harm. Additionally, borage seed oil does not contain pyrolysidine alkaloids (PAs).
Clinical use of borage oil is recommended at 1 gram per day in children and 3 grams per day if in adults. Additionally, use of borage oil in adults with rheumatoid arthritis is in the range of 4.5–7.2 grams and can be used for up to 24 weeks.
Although its use in moderation is involved, Borago officinalis can cause unwanted side effects in the body. Borage seed oil can cause side effects in some people, such as digestive discomfort, headaches or allergic reactions.
It’s important to note that again, borage oil can interact with drugs already used. Some chemicals released as a result of the destruction of Borage seed oil by the liver can interact with drugs, leading to an increase in the toxicity of drugs. For example, some drugs that reduce blood clotting may interact with chemicals in borage seed oil, increasing the chance of bruising and bleeding in the skin. On these drugs; Examples include aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, dalteparin, enoxaparin, heparin, clopidogrel and warfarin.
Another interaction may be called Phenothiazines. Phenothiazines can interact with gamma-linoleic acid, which is highly present in borage seed oil, increasing the risk of having seizures in patients using these drug derivatives. On these drugs; chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, trifluoperazine, thioridazine and so on. That’s why it’s important for those with any illness, and especially pregnant people, to consult a healthcare provider before using it for any condition.
What do the experts say?
A study at Aga Khan university focused on the rationalization of the traditional use of the antispasmodic, bronchodilator, vasodilator and cardiodepressant activities of Borago Officinalis leaves. As a result of this experiment on rabbits, they explained the effects and traditional use of Borago Officinalis through the Ca++ antagonist mechanism. This research explains to us that there is a symbiotic relationship between Borage oil and verapamil.
Conclusion
As a result, Borago Officinalis is an important plant that has had use in both kitchens and the clinic for centuries. We also based this importance mainly on it being a highly rich source of omega 6 in gamma-linoleic acid. We touched on the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of this plant, which is contained in the supplemental food that we have now found omega-6, and its use in diabetes.
The research we are addressing and much further research will shed light on the unknowns and importance of this plant.
Resources
- AYDIN GASTRONOMY, 2019, 3(2): 101–117 ; (Ravindran, 2017)
- Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Apr; 2013(4): CD004416. 2013 Apr 30. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004416.pub2
- Nutrients. 2016 Jan; 8(1): 48. 2016 Jan 18. doi: 10.3390/nu8010048
- Menopause June 2021, Volume 28 (6), p 699–705 doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001740
- Foods. 2022 Jan; 11(1): 16. 2021 Dec 22. doi: 10.3390/foods11010016
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