In plant medicine the positive activities of the plant is often due to a wide variety of the natural compounds. Sciences have large difficulties proving which of these are the main reasons for a certain benefit. Extensive studies of LitoZin® has cracked the nut - GOPO®!
A recent collaborative study from 3 research institutions in Denmark has identified the active chemical substance responsible for the activity of rose-hip powder. The active compound is a glycoside of mono- or deglycerol and holds a patent ("Journal of Natural Products", 2003. Larsen et al.). Below is shown the GOPO molecule:
GOPO® is the registered name for the active compound isolated from the rose-hip (Rosa canina) used in LitoZin®. The active compound was identified by using a bioassay-guided fractionation process. Migration of human peripheral blood leucocytes towards a known chemo attractant was used as a biological assay to determine the activity of the active compound.
It was shown that GOPO® at low concentrations inhibited the cell migration. The concentrations, which inhibited cell migration, were not toxic to the cells.
These findings might explain the properties of rose hip observed in the published clinical trials on this herbal remedy.
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