The hydrangea is a beautiful and bright flower that adds a splash of colour to gardens all over the country.
Recent studies have revealed that in addition to being a pretty flower, the hydrangea is also a potent drug that can be used to treat a number of common diseases.
Researchers say that a drug extracted from the root of the shrub has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of conditions such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, arthritis and certain forms of diabetes.
The drug derived from hydrangea roots is particularly effective in combating diseases which are a result of an immune system attack.
Current treatments for such diseases are not only expensive, but most of them also fail to address the actual cause of the problem.
Such treatments usually rely on suppressing the immune system, which can result in serious side-effects. Researchers believe that the hydrangea root medicine could be the answer. Interestingly, the hydrangea has long been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine.
Halofuginone, the hydrangea-based drug, was found to prevent the formation of a certain type of white blood cells involved in autoimmune diseases, while leaving intact other cells which are crucial to the proper functioning of the immune system.
According to reports in the journal “Science”, experiments conducted on lab mice have shown Halofuginone to be effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
The journal also noted that further research is required before the drug is given to go ahead to treat conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Although hydrangea-based treatment is still in its early stages, scientists believe that this is a very promising area of research.