The lowly daffodil is actually a chemical powerhouse
- Herb Broda: Nature Notebook
- March 30, 2018
- 2382
I will never look at a daffodil the same way again. Hidden beneath its delicate exterior, the lowly daffodil is actually a chemical powerhouse. The ancient Greeks made medicinal use of daffodils, frequently using the bulb and roots for healing and as a disinfectant. Parts of the plant were even used to induce vomiting, not exactly the image florists would put in the window.
According to an article published in Chemical Reviews, as early as 400 B.C. the ancient Greeks and Romans had identified powerful anticancer properties in plants from the genus narcissus.
This is the same genus that includes the large yellow trumpet-shaped flowers we welcome each spring. The ancients used narcissus oil to treat uterine tumors and applied topical anticancer extracts from several plants in the narcissus group. Of course that was long ago.
Fast forward to today. A 2010 report in Science Daily has the headline, “Compound in Daffodils Targets Brain Cancer." The article goes on to report how ongoing studies are exploring how a compound in daffodil bulbs, called narciclasine, may be a tool in the battle against human brain cancers.
Clinical studies in humans still need to be conducted, but the possibilities are looking very hopeful. Two thousand years later daffodils emerge again as weapons in the war against cancer.
But there’s more in the little chemistry set we call a daffodil. The bulbs contain a substance called galantamine. This chemical, now made synthetically, is used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the National Institute of Health, galantamine works “by increasing the amount of a natural substance in the brain that is needed for memory and thought.” It is not a cure, but it has been proven to be helpful in relieving symptoms. Daffodils pack a punch.
Of course daffodils are only one of many types of plants that fight disease. The powerful heart medication digitalis comes from the wildflower foxglove. That bottle of aspirin in the medicine cabinet owes a lot to early research on the bark of willow trees that are rich in salicylic acid. You probably have used the aloe plant for a variety of burn and general skincare applications.
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, of the top 150 prescription drugs in the United States, 118 are based on natural sources. Unfortunately loss of habitat, overharvesting and commercial exploitation take a toll.
“Already, about 15,000 medicinal plant species may be threatened with extinction worldwide. Experts estimate that the Earth is losing at least one potential major drug every two years.”
Clearly cooperative efforts to conserve and preserve natural areas worldwide are important.
Daffodil trivia
Don’t mix daffodils with other flowers in a vase. The stems leach a substance that is toxic to other flowers.
In England daffodils are called lent lilies.
Squirrels won’t eat daffodil bulbs because of a toxic substance in the bulb. Most parts of the plant are toxic and can cause harm to many animals including horses.
Folklore has it that a bouquet of daffodils means good fortune, but receiving a single daffodil is an indicator of bad luck on the horizon.
Daffodils are the official 10th wedding anniversary flower. Be sure to give a bunch, not a singleton.
Daffodils to the max
If you like daffodils and are looking for an outing to celebrate spring, take a drive to Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield. The center is a 47-acre site with a historic mansion, greenhouses, plant sales and extensive gardens.
The seasonal floral displays are well worth the drive. The gardens this spring include acres of magnolias, daffodils, crocus, redbuds, dogwoods, silverbells and many more spring flowers. It is spectacular.
Kingwood opens for the season on April 1. Daffodils are blooming their little hearts out throughout the month of April. Kingwood also is well known for its impressive tulip display, which is at its peak from late April into May.
Contact Herb Broda at 4nature.notebook@gmail.com.