Dragon's Blood

Immunomodulatory Activity

Dragon’s Blood exhibits a potent inhibitory activity on complement systems and inhibited the proliferation of activated T-cells (Gupta). This can have positive affects in regulating the immune system.

Anti-ulcer

Extracts from the Croton tree are able to inhibit the ion transport across the ileum. Inhibiting the transport will can aide in the reduction of gastrointestinal ulcers.

Anti-Inflammatory

The sap from the Croton tree is able to inhibit inflammatory pathways, thus reducing the inflammation cellular cascade.

Antitumor

It has been indicated that Dragon’s Blood has cytotoxicity affects. These cytotoxic effects are harmful to tumors and research is ongoing for Dragon’s Blood as a treatment for cancer.

Antimicrobial and Antiviral

There are certain compounds in the sap of Dragon’s blood that have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Specifically, Dragon’s Blood can inhibit incredibly harmful bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium. Antiviral properties of Dragon’s Blood have also been researched. Extracts of the sap have been reported to have antiviral activity against influenza, parainfluenza, Herpes simplex viruses I and II, and Hepatitis A and B (Gupta).

Anti-Oxidant

Dragon’s Blood targets free radicals and destroys them. It has also been studied that Dragon’s Blood can promote the body’s own ability in destroying free radicals by increasing cells that target and destroy free radicals.

Pain Relieving Effects

Dragon’s Blood has several compounds that have been confirmed to have analgesic affects.

References

Dragon’s Blood: Journal of Ethnopharmacology 115 (2008) 361–380, Dragon’s Blood: Botany, Chemistry and Therapeutic Uses. Deepika Gupta, Bruce Bleakley, Rajinder K. Gupta, 22 October 2007