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Herbs & Supplements

Alfalfa
Other Names: Feuille de Luzerna, Lucerne, Medicago, Medicago sativa, Purple Medick

References

A.D.A.M., Inc. Manganese. April 2002. Available at: http://www.healthandage.com/html/res/com/ConsSupple ments/Manganesecs.html. Accessed June 23, 2003.

Akaogi J, Barker T, Kuroda Y, et al. Role of non-protein amino acid L-canavanine in autoimmunity. Autoimmune Review. 2006;5(6):429-435.

Alcocer-Varela J, Iglesias A, Llorente L, Alarcon-Segovia D. Effects of L-canavanine on T cells may explain the induction of systemic lupus erythematosus by alfalfa. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 1985;28(1):52-57.

Anon: Alfalfa. In: DerMarderosian A, Beutler JA, eds. Facts and Comparisons: The Review of Natural Products. St. Louis, MO, Facts and Comparisons. March 2001.

Avato P, Bucci R, Tava A, et al. Antimicrobial activity of saponins from Medicago sp.: structure-activity relationship. Phytotherapy Research. 2006;20(6):454-457.

Boue SM, Wiese TE, Nehls S, et al. Evaluation of the estrogenic effects of legume extracts containing phytoestrogens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2003;51(8):2193-2199.

Breuer T, Benkel DH, Shapiro RL, Hall WN, Winnett MM, Linn MJ, et al. A multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections linked to alfalfa sprouts grown from contaminated seeds. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2001;7(6):977-982.

Brown AC. Lupus erythematosus and nutrition: a review of the literature. Journal of Renal Nutrition. 2000;10(4):170-183.

Domon OE, McGarrity LJ, Bishop M, Yoshioka M, Chen JJ, Morris SM. Evaluation of the genotoxicity of the phytoestrogen, coumestrol, in AHH-1 TK(+/-) human lymphoblastoid cells. Mutation Research. 2001;474(1-2):129-137.

Ferguson DD, Scheftel J, Cronquist A, et al. Temporally distinct Escherichia coli 0157 outbreaks associated with alfalfa sprouts linked to a common seed source--Colorado and Minnesota, 2003. Epidemiology and Infection. 2005;133(3):439-447.

Institute of Food Science & Technology (UK). Phytoestrogens. 2001. Available at: http://www.ifst.org/hottop34.htm. Accessed June 23, 2003.

Jellin JM, Gregory P, Batz F, Hitchens K, et al, eds. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 3rd Edition. Stockton CA: Therapeutic Research Facility, 2000.

Mahon BE, Ponka A, Hall WN, Komatsu K, Dietrich SE, Siitonen A, et al. An international outbreak of Salmonella infections caused by alfalfa sprouts grown from contaminated seeds. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1997;175(4):876-882.

Malinow MR, Bardana EJ Jr, Goodnight SH Jr. Pancytopenia during ingestion of alfalfa seeds. [letter] Lancet. 1981;1(8220 Pt 1):615.

Malinow MR, McLaughlin P, Stafford C. Alfalfa seeds: effects on cholesterol metabolism. Experientia. 1980;36(5):562-564.

Molgaard J, von Schenck H, Olsson AG. Alfalfa seeds lower low density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations in patients with type II hyperlipoproteinemia. Atherosclerosis. 1987;65(1-2):173-179.

Montanaro A, Bardana EJ Jr. Dietary amino acid-induced systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 1991;17(2):323-332.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Online Edition. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter. Stockton CA: Therapeutic Research Facility, 2006. Available at: http://www.pharmacistsletter.com/(S(ulqz3s45omt3ag55um4kj345))/home.aspx?li=1&st=1&cs=&s=ND.

Patavino T, Brady DM. Natural medicine and nutritional therapy as an alternative treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus. Alternative Medicine Review. 2001;6(5):460-471.

Pierre S, Crosbie L, Duttaroy AK. Inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts of some herbs on human platelet aggregation in vitro. Platelets. 2005;16(8):469-473.

Proctor ME, Hamacher M, Tortorello ML, Archer JR, Davis JP. Multistate outbreak of Salmonella serovar Muenchen infections associated with alfalfa sprouts grown from seeds pretreated with calcium hypochlorite. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 2001;39(10):3461-3465.

Roberts JL, Hayashi JA. Exacerbation of SLE associated with alfalfa ingestion. [letter] New England Journal of Medicine. 1983;308(22):1361.

Swanston-Flatt SK, Day C, Bailey CJ, Flatt PR. Traditional plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetologia. 1990;33(8):462-464.

Taormina PJ, Beuchat LR, Slutsker L. Infections associated with eating seed sprouts: an international concern. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 1999;5(5):626-634.

Tilgner S. Alfalfa. Medicago sativa. 1999. Materia Medica. Available at: http://www.herbaltransitions.com/materiamedica/Medicago.htm. Accessed June 6, 2003.

Weber RW. Medicago sativa. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. 2005;94(6):A6.

Winthrop KL, Palumbo MS, Farrar JA, Mohle-Boetani JC, Abbott S, Beatty ME, et al. Alfalfa sprouts and Salmonella Kottbus infection: a multistate outbreak following inadequate seed disinfection with heat and chlorine. Journal of Food Proteins. 2003;66(1):13-17.

Last Revised July 19, 2007

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Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.

In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.

This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.

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References