Fumaria

Scientific Name(s): Fumaria officinalis L.
Common Name(s): Common fumitory, Drug fumitory, Earth smoke, Fumaderm (Germany), Fumitory, Pitpapara

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 27, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

Fumaria has been traditionally used as a laxative and diuretic, and as a treatment for dermatologic conditions such as eczema. Limited evidence suggests that it may be beneficial in hepatobiliary disorders, and F. officinalis is approved in Germany for colic pain. The potential for use of fumaric acid derivatives in the management of multiple sclerosis and psoriasis has been reported, but sufficient clinical evidence is lacking.

Dosing

Therapeutic studies of plant extracts to provide dosage guidance are lacking. A German preparation of fumaric acid derivatives is used in psoriasis at dosages up to 720 mg/day.

Contraindications

None well documented.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use of Fumaria during pregnancy and lactation because of the lack of pharmacological and toxicity data.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

GI complaints and flushing have been reported with use of fumaric acid derivatives.

Toxicology

Fumaria is not associated with clinically important toxicity, although studies are limited. However, alkaloids such as protopine may exhibit toxicity.

Scientific Family

• Papaveraceae, poppies (Fumariaceae)

Botany

Fumaria is an annual plant of somewhat variable characteristics, often resembling a bush but also growing as a low, trailing shrub. It has gray, pointed leaves that, at a distance, give the plant a wispy appearance like smoke (hence the common name "earth smoke") and pink-purple flowers that bloom in spring. The plant is widely dispersed and can be found in gardens, on slopes, and in wastelands. There are approximately 46 different Fumaria species, including Fumaria occidentalis, Fumaria parviflora (syn. Fumaria indica), Fumaria vaillantii, and Fumaria reuteri, which are difficult to differentiate. In a debate regarding the classification of Fumitoria, some botanists distinguish the Fumitoriaceae subfamily as distinct from the Papaveraceae family. The climbing fumitory, or Allegheny vine, is a North American plant of another genus (Adlumia).Gupta 2012, Schauenberg 1977, USDA 2013

History

Fumaria has been known since antiquity and was traditionally used by expressing and evaporating the plant's juice. It has a long history of use as a blood purifier in traditional medicine, including the Ayurvedic system, and has been investigated for its therapeutic potential in the management of cardiovascular and hepatobiliary disorders, psoriasis, eczema, and other dermatologic conditions, as well as a laxative and diuretic. Fumaria is included in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia and in The Complete German Commission E Monographs.Gupta 2012, Singh 2011, USDA 2013

Chemistry

Steroids (including sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol) and many isoquinoline alkaloids have been described from all plant parts, including the root and seed.

The alkaloid content is approximately 0.87% to 1.27%, with protopine comprising 0.18% to 0.25% and fumoficinaline ranging from 0.16% to 0.2%. In addition, phospholipids and organic acids, including caffeic and fumaric, have been described. Methyl fumarate and protopine have been investigated for hepatoprotective activity. Pharmacologically active substances have also been isolated from other species (F. indica and F. parvifolia) and are the foc...