“Plant medicines, complex arrays of phytocompounds, are the original pharmacology.”
— Dr. Kevin Spelman
About the host
Dr. Kevin Spelman has dedicated the past three decades to researching, advising and teaching in the natural products realm. He is an avid proponent of education in botanical medicine, having trained physicians in course work, mentored naturopathic students in clinical rotations and medicinal plant research, and he co-founded the first Master of Science program in Clinical Herbal Medicine. Understanding the effect of plant compounds on the molecular pathways of human health has been an important part of Dr. Spelman’s work.
With 20 years of experience in clinical phytotherapy, and another decade in research, he has held laboratory, faculty and clinical positions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Université de Paris as a Marie Curie Research Fellow, the University of North Carolina (UNC), National College of Natural Medicine, Bastyr University and the Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH). Further experience includes advising the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and a volunteer clinician at a home for disabled children in Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Visit the Events page to learn more about Dr. Spelman’s upcoming and past presentations and other work.
For more information on Dr. Spelman's consulting services for the natural products industry, visit the Health, Education & Research in Botanical Medicine website.
In the news
Read Dr. Spelman’s take on keeping immunity strong during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Dr. Spelman’s research on medicinal plants
Cytokines & medicinal plants
Working with a team from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, a review of medicinal plants and cytokine activity.
Cytokines & traditional herbal formulas
A review of the influence of traditional herbal formulas, still in use today, on cytokine activity. This work demonstrated that select botanical formulas modulate cytokine activity, and indicated that further study of phytotherapy on cytokine-related diseases is necessary.
Hericium erinaceous
A review of the neurological activity of lion’s mane, which shows great promise for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Dr. Spelman and team, was the first researcher to demonstrate cannabinoid activity (CB2 binding) of prickly ash while working with Dr. Ruin Moaddel. This was the first report of CB2 ligands in the Zanthoxylum spp. and also the first report of CB1 receptors on basophils.
Taraxacum officinale
Dr. Spelman and his team (a collaboration with UNC and MUIH) provided the first human data on dandelion’s ability to stimulate diuresis.
Synergic activity in medicinal plants
Along with James A. Duke and Jo Bogenschultz-Godwin, this is a review of the synergic activity of medicinal plants and the scientific rationale behind such activity.
Further research
Ceanothus americanus: The effect of red root on brain cancer and ovarian cancer during a postdoc at NIH, observing antiproliferative activity from traditional root extracts in ovarian cancer (unpublished research).
Spilanthes acmella & Zanthoxylum chiloperone: Dr. Spelman investigated the effects of the phytochemicals and extracts of toothache plant (Spilanthes acmella) and the South American traditional remedy tembetary hu (Zanthoxylum chiloperone) and its phytochemicals and extracts on malaria, while at the Université de Paris and the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris, France.
Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia & E. pallida: A study of these native American traditional medicines/plants as immunomodulators at UNC, with the support of Dr. Nadja Cech and a collaboration with Bastyr University and Exeter University. Dr. Spelman discovered a novel target, PPAR-gamma, for the alkylamides in Echinacea spp. with a resulting immunological and metabolic effect.
Trifolium pretense: An investigation of red clover’s isoflavone binding to orphan nuclear receptors, specifically estrogen-related receptors, which have a role in cancer. Spelman demonstrated positive activity from the isoflavones, supporting traditional use of red clover for cancer and suggesting further research should be explored into its potential anticancer activity (unpublished research).
Curcuma longa: A review, written with Gary Asher, MD, on turmeric and the curcuminoids from a phytotherapy/clinical perspective for integrative medicine docs.
Cinchona spp. & Artemisia annua: Spelman, with a team from Université de Paris, proving the utility of a novel technique, that screens via mass spec antimalarial activity by known phytochemicals.
Trigonella foenum-graecum: With a team from NIH they identify a novel SIRT6 modulator from Trigonella foenum-graecum.
Echinacea purpurea: A comparison of fresh vs. dry yield extraction techniques of Echinacea spp.
Echinacea purpurea: A look at the alkylamide metabolites generated by hepatic microsomes, with the identification of a novel metabolite.
Echinacea spp.: A review of the real vs theoretical HDI potential of Echinacea spp.
Medicinal plants & synergy: A rather dry chapter on synergy.
Medicinal plants & nitric oxide: A review, written by a team from MUIH, of medicinal plants that influence various isoforms of NOS and NO release.