The effect of a peat-based preparation on mitogen-induced proliferation of thymocytes in non-treated and hydrocortisone-suppressed mice

Central European ethnomedical and officinal uses of peat, with special emphasis on the Tołpa peat preparation (TPP): An historical review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Medical or hygienic uses of peat mosses dates back to the 18th century. Peat was used externally (as poultices) in the early 19th century. The peat preparation invented by Stanisław Tołpa (Tołpa peat preparation, TPP) was patented in Poland in 1991; its concept had emerged in the 1980s. It raised high therapeutic expectations still being researched in the early 1990s. Profound expectations for peat, a natural product well known in Central European (and Polish) spas (for medicated baths and poultices), earned Tołpa's preparation great renown before any actual benefits (internal actions) were scientifically confirmed.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

We study the origins of medical interest in peat in Polish science against the background of the historical ethnopharmacy of peat and Sphagnum moss in Central Europe. It is aimed at shedding a new light on the history of TPP, its connections with local ethnopharmacological traditions and inspirations for local medical studies on peat products and peat-derived drugs of the 1980s and early 1900s.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature on peat baths was found and reviewed including the information and data about the studies of TPP from published though unknown sources as well as from Polish patents, unpublished typescripts, press interviews and reports.

RESULTS

Tołpa's research team missed the historical data about external and topical actions of Sphagnum peat or its preparations which were published in the 19th- and early 20th-century. This is strange because folk medicine based on peat emanated eastwards from ethnic Austria along the Vistula river and the Carpathians. Tołpa ignored balneotherapeutic (external) applications as well as the action of sphagnan from Sphagnum herb, and rejected this kind of peat as scientifically not promising, based on a single biological test on plants. The concept of an active principle in peat or its preparations evolved, and speculation concerning its nature was not followed by adequate basic research. The active principle was not found. Results concerning plant meristem growth were too readily applied in animal production and finally human medicine. The natural ingredient in TPP production was never defined botanically. Anti-cancer properties ascribed to the TPP on the basis of bio-stimulation tests stirred powerful social emotions.

CONCLUSIONS

Topical peat cure originated in Austria in about 1820. It evolved as a whole branch of Central European balneotherapy which had been completely scientifically described by the 1950s. At that time an undefined peat extract was once successfully used in ear infections in paediatrics. Stanisław Tołpa's research project to find any internal application of peat ignored the achievements of ethnobiology, balneotherapy, surgery and otorhinolaryngology known at that time. His strenuous and insistent efforts, carried out in isolation, crucially failed pre-clinical and clinical tests in any branch of his therapy. Three commercial drugs were allowed for 3 years before substantial clinical proofs of peat efficacy were achieved. Social impact was high and resulted in the birth of the Polish legend of Tołpa's marvellous drug.

Protective effect of humus extract against Trypanosoma brucei infection in mice

Humic substances are formed during the decomposition of organic matter in humus, and are found in many natural environments in which organic materials and microorganisms are present. Oral administration of humus extract to mice successfully induced effective protection against experimental challenge by the two subspecies, Trypanosoma brucei brucei and T. brucei gambiense. Mortality was most reduced among mice who received a 3% humus extract for 21 days in drinking water ad libitum. Spleen cells from humus-administered mice exhibited significant non-specific cytotoxic activity against L1210 mouse leukemia target cells. Also, spleen cells produced significantly higher amounts of Interferon-gamma when stimulated in vitro with Concanavalin A than cells from normal controls. These results clearly show that administration to mice of humus extract induced effective resistance against Trypanosoma infection. Enhancement of the innate immune system may be involved in host defense against trypanosomiasis.

Antitumor effect of humus extract on murine transplantable L1210 leukemia

Humic substances are formed during the decomposition of organic matter in humus that found in many natural environments in which organic materials and microorganisms have been present. In the present study, humus extract exhibited antitumor effect on L1210 tumor development in isogeneic DBA/2 mice with the delay of tumor formation and a significant smaller tumor mass that infer a significant increase of life span of mice. The antitumor effect was not due to direct killing of L1210 or induction of apoptosis in tumor cells by humus extract.

Protection against atypical Aeromonas salmonicida infection in carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) by oral administration of humus extract

Humic substances are formed during the decomposition of organic matter in humus, and are found in many natural environments in which organic materials and microorganisms have been present. In the present study, oral administration of humus extract to common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) induced effective protection against experimental atypical Aeromonas salmonicida infection. Mortality of fish and development of skin lesions such as hemorrhages and ulcers were significantly suppressed in carp treated with 10%, 5% or 1% humus extract adsorbed on dry feeding pellets. The median surviving days was also greater in fish treated with 10% or 5% humus extract than in untreated fish. Atypical A. salmonicida was isolated from ulcerative lesions of part of dead fish, but Aeromonas hydrophila and Flavobacterium sp. were also isolated from these fish, verifying bacterial population changes during the progression of skin lesions. These results clearly show that treatment of fish with humus extract is effective in preventing A. salmonicida disease.

HPLC determination of phenolic acids and antioxidant activity in concentrated peat extract—a natural immunomodulator

The aim of this study was to devise a method for identification and quantification of phenolic acids in concentrated peat extract samples. The simple reversed-phase HPLC method for simultaneous determination of several phenolic acids was developed. The method was validated and it was suitable for the analysis of phenolic acids in peat extracts. This method allowed identifying eight phenolic acids in peat extracts. Phenolic profiles of two samples of peat extract obtained from different medicinal peats were similar, although variations in amounts of individual phenolic acids were observed. Also, slight variations in total phenolic content were detected. The antioxidant activity of peat extracts was evaluated with spectrophotometric ABTS assay. Differences in antioxidant activity were observed for two samples of peat extract produced from different peat varieties. This differences probably reflected phenolic composition of peat extracts.