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The Effects of Ivy (Hedera helix) on Respiratory Problems and Cough in Humans: A Review

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Natural Products and Human Diseases

Abstract

Hedera helix (ivy) belongs to the genus Hedera of the Araliaceae family. The leaf of this plant has several active ingredients with medicinal uses. The active constituents of H. helix include monodesmoside α-hederin, hederacoside B, hederacoside C, and hederacoside D.

H. helix leave have been used for the treatment of cough and respiratory problems, and now, other uses have emerged. As a medicinal plant, H. helix has been approved by the German Commission E due to its antispasmodic, spasmolytic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antioxidative, antitumor, and antileishmanial activities. It comes with several formulations, including tablets, liquids, and topical ointments. In this review, we focus on the respiratory effects of tablet and liquid forms of H. helix.

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 The authors would like to thank the Research Deputy at the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. 

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Correspondence to Amirhossein Sahebkar , Seyed Ahmad Emami or Amir Hooshang Mohammadpour .

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Baharara, H., Moghadam, A.T., Sahebkar, A., Emami, S.A., Tayebi, T., Mohammadpour, A.H. (2021). The Effects of Ivy (Hedera helix) on Respiratory Problems and Cough in Humans: A Review. In: Sahebkar, A., Sathyapalan, T. (eds) Natural Products and Human Diseases. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 1328. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73234-9_23

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