From the Research
Effects of Dried Hedera helix (Ivy) Leaf Extract
The effects of dried Hedera helix (ivy) leaf extract have been studied in various clinical trials and observational studies. The key findings are:
- Ivy leaf extract preparations have been shown to be effective in the treatment of respiratory diseases, including acute and chronic bronchitis, and bronchial asthma 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- The extract has been found to improve respiratory functions in children with chronic bronchial asthma, with significant reductions in airway resistance and improvements in other objective measures 2
- Ivy leaf extract has also been shown to be effective in reducing the severity and frequency of cough in patients with productive cough, with high levels of satisfaction among patients and guardians 3
- The extract has been found to be safe and well-tolerated, with minimal adverse effects reported in clinical trials and observational studies 1, 4, 5
- Some studies have suggested that ivy leaf extract may be a useful alternative to current therapeutic regimens for the treatment of productive cough in children, with comparable efficacy to other medicines 3
Specific Study Findings
- A systematic review of 18 publications covering clinical trials and non-interventional studies of ivy leaf preparations found that the extract was effective and safe in the treatment of respiratory diseases, with improvements in symptoms and quality of life 1
- A randomized controlled trial found that ivy leaf extract cough drops were significantly superior to placebo in reducing airway resistance in children with bronchial asthma 2
- An observational study of 5162 patients with productive cough found that treatment with ivy leaf extract syrup resulted in significant improvements in symptoms, with high levels of satisfaction among patients and guardians 3
- A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies found that ivy leaf extract was effective and safe in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infections, with minimal adverse effects reported 4
- A postmarketing study of 9657 patients with bronchitis found that treatment with ivy leaf extract syrup resulted in improvements in symptoms in 95% of patients, with a low incidence of adverse events 5