Studies Show How Palo Azul May Support The Immune System

Studies have shown that palo azul can help to support the immune system because it showed inhibitory activity against several types of bacteria. Among these, were certain bacteria which are associated with fever, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, pneumonia, sore throat, cavities, tooth decay, periodontitis and others.

For example, a 2018 study concluded the following: “The results here presented corroborate the folk medicinal use of Eysenhardtia polystachya (palo azul) in the treatment of infections, diarrhea, inflammation, and pain.”

1. Anti-bacterial

How can palo azul tea inhibit bacteria? The answer is simple…flavonoids! Numerous studies have shown that palo azul is rich in flavonoids, and many of its health benefits have actually been attributed to these magical phytonutrients!

Flavonoids are phytonutrients that are produced by plants in order to fight bacteria, virus, oxidative stress and inflammation. Thousands of studies have found that they’re antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-aging, anti-hypertensive, anti-bacterial and anti-mutagenic.

Fortunately for us palo azul tea lovers, a 2021 study found several phytochemicals in palo azul such as “flavones, isoflavones, flavanones, phenolic compounds, chalcones and dihydrochalcones” which have been linked to its health benefits, highlighting “diuretic, antidiabetic, antiglycation, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial potential.”

A 2012 study tested 47 different plants for the treatment of dental diseases such as toothache, dental caries, periodontal disease, gingivitis and even bad breath. The researchers found that palo azul was among the plants that showed the “highest inhibitory effect against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis.”

Another study found that “the extract of E. polystachya (palo azul) presented activity against E. aerogenes, P. vulgaris, Staphylococcus. aureus and S. epidermidis.”

This 2018 study found that palo azul “showed moderate antibacterial effects against Streptococcus and “good antimicrobial effects in E. coli.”

Below, we briefly cover the diseases that each one of these bacteria are associated with. Let’s start with that pesky Escherichia coli.

Escherichia Coli

According to the CDC, some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses.

Moreover, the Minnesota Department of Health mentions that E. coli can cause serious illness in humans by producing toxins that can severely damage the lining of your intestines and kidneys.

Dental bacteria

Streptococcus mutans is commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, an inflammatory disease that destroys the tissues supporting the tooth, eventually leading to tooth loss.

Urinary tract and respiratory infections

Enterobacter aerogenes can cause gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory infections, and adult meningitis.

P. vulgaris has been reported to cause UTIs, wound infections, burn infections, bloodstream infections, and respiratory tract infections.

Pneumonia, fever, sore throat, others

Staphylococcus. aureus has long been recognized as one of the most important bacteria that cause disease in humans. It is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections such as abscesses (boils), furuncles, cellulitis, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, or bone and joint infections.

Staphylococcus epidermidis can cause wound infections, boils, sinus infections, endocarditis and other inflammations.

Streptococcus can cause diseases ranging from streptococcal sore throat (strep throat) to necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease). They can also cause scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, puerperal (postpartum) fever, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.

2. Antipyretic & Antitussive

These studies (1, 2, 3, 4) mention that palo azul is traditionally used as an antipyretic, antitussive, and this 2007 study mentions that palo azul “extinguishes fevers.”

Antipyretic: A substance that reduces fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override a prostaglandin-induced increase in temperature. The body then works to lower the temperature, which results in a reduction in fever.

Antitussive are medicines that suppress coughing, also known as cough suppressants.

Moreover, this 2018 study mentions that palo azul is used for “genitourinary infections, cancer, arthritis, diarrhea, fever, cough, vomiting, bronchitis, and bladder disorders.”

3. Boosts Antioxidant Defenses

A 2007 study found that the palo azul extracts “decreased oxidative stress and enhanced the activities of several components of the endogenous antioxidant system, in particular vitamins C and E, SOD (superoxide dismutase), GSHPx (glutathione peroxidase), and CAT (catalase).”

They explain that “the glutathione system, SOD, GSHPx, GRd, and CAT comprise the most important endogenous antioxidant defense against ROS-induced damage of the cell membrane.”

This study also states that Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) are the most important enzymes of the cell antioxidant defense system.

This 2014 study showed that “diabetic mice showed a significant reduction in SOD, CAT, GSH and GPx in hepatic, pancreatic and renal tissues. Levels of these enzymes reverted close to normal values after treatment with (palo azul) extract.”

This study similarly found that “the production of ROS including hydroxyl, superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, DPPH, ABTS radicals, protein oxidation, and lipid peroxidation can be enhanced by treatment with (palo azul), and increases in radical scavenging enzymes of CSH-Px, SOD, GSH, and CAT have also been observed in liver, pancreas, and kidney in the group of diabetic animals treated.”

Therefore, the researchers concluded the following: “Our data indicates that (palo azul) has an ability to reduce oxidative stress under diabetic conditions, prevent and/or delay the onset renal, pancreatic, and hepatic damage through decreasing of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant properties, and increasing radical scavenging enzymes activity, also reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species, and they consequently could alleviate complications of diabetes.”

Conclusion

In summary, palo azul can to support the immune system because studies have demonstrated that it exhibited antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Because of these properties, palo azul may help to inhibit several types of bacteria that are associated with fever, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, pneumonia, sore throat, cavities, tooth decay, periodontitis and other infections.

P.S…Don’t forget to help your friends & family by sharing palo azul with them!