NUTRITIONAL FUNCTIONS

Feverfew's anti-migraine activity comes from parthenolide, a sesquitepene lactone. Parthenolide is a spasmolytic that makes smooth muscle in the walls of cerebral blood vessels less reactive to vasoconstrictors. Parthenolide helps prevent migraines and lessen the severity of existing migraines by acting as an antagonist to vasoconstrictors such as serotonin, prostaglandins, and norepinephrine.

Parthenolide and standardized extracts of feverfew containing parthenolide block the release of serotonin from blood vessels and prevent platelets from over-aggregating. Parthenolide also inhibits the actions of compounds released from cells that cause inflammation.