The properties of Common Evening Primrose
Oenothera biennis (common name is evening primrose in English, گل مغربی in Persian, Onagri in Spanish and زهرة الربيع المسائية in Arabic) is a member of Onagraceae family which is native in Central America .
Oil extracted from it seeds is traditionally used in the treatment of eczema, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, breast problem, premenstrual and menopausal syndrome, all they have an inflammatory component. The present study demonstrates the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of long-chain fatty alcohols, minor compounds isolated from Evening primrose oil (EPO)(1094).
GLA, linear aliphatic alcohols (e.g., Tetracosanol), and phenolic compound (ferulic acid) are the active components of evening primrose oil which have had protective roles against proinflammatory markers(1095). This oil has sterols such as β-Sitosterol and Campesterol that have had modulator effect on nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α, IL-1β, and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) leading to suppressing COX-2 gene expression; because of these reasons, the primrose oil has a greater anti-inflammatory effect than borage oil(1096). The effectiveness of evening primrose oil with hemp seed oil has been clinically assessed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Patients with MS (a chronic inflammatory disorder) have randomly taken hemp seed/evening primrose oil and placebo. Significant reduction in IFN-γ and IL-17 has occurred in the treatment group. The relapse rate of the disease has been also alleviated in the treatment group; this study has shown the immunomodulatory impression of these oils and their components(1097). In an RCT on RA, researchers have recorded subjective improvement and reduction in using NSAIDs without any improvement in clinical measurements(1098). Likewise, patients have demonstrated remission in morning stiffness with no clinical changes in articular index or pain(1099).(1069)
