PDR for Herbal Medicines

756 /TANSY PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Teuscher E. Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Taraxacum officinale

See Dandelion

Taumelloolch

Lolium temulentum

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the ripe seeds.

Flower and Fruit: The spikes are uninterrupted, 30 cm long

and green. The 5 to 7 spikelets form the ear. The glume is

longer than the spikelet, which has 7 ribs and no awn. The

husk is cartilaginous, with 5 ribs and a stiff, straight awn.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The stalk is rigid and erect. The leaf

sheaths are rough and weakly bulbous on the upper leaves.

Characteristics: The spikelets have their narrow sides turned

toward the main axis (in contrast to the couch grass). A

parasitic fungus, which is often present on the plant, forms

an alkaloid, making the plant poisonous.

Habitat: The plant grows in Europe and Mediterranean

regions.

Production: Taumelloolch seeds are the ripe seeds of Lolium

temulentum.

Other Names: Bearded Darnel, Cheat, Drake, Ray-Grass,

Tare

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

The active ingredients are not known. However, the toxicity

of Lolium rigidum is caused by bacterial toxins, the so-called

kidney toxins, which are unusual nucleosides with uracil as

the base.

EFFECTS
The active agents are temulentin, temulentic acid, free fatty
acids, tannin and glycosides. The fruit has been suspected of
poisoning for some time; however, the toxic principle
generally remains unexplained. The drug's ability to relieve
gastroenteritis can possibly be attributed to the free fatty
acids.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Taumelloolch is used for dizziness, nerve

pain, nose bleeds, sleeplessness, stomach cramps and urinary

incontinence.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

The drug can be toxic. In earlier times, poisonings were

frequently caused by the presence of the plant's berries in

grain. No cases of poisoning are known in recent times. The

plant has now become extremely rare through intensive seed-

corn purification.

OVERDOSAGE

Symptoms of poisoning include dizziness, headache, colic,

confusion, staggering, vision and speech disorders, somno-

lence, and, in rare cases, death through respiratory failure.

The treatment of poisoning consists of gastrointestinal

emptying (inducement of vomiting, gastric lavage with

burgundy-colored potassium permanganate solution, sodium

sulphate), administration of activated charcoal and shock

prophylaxis (quiet, warmth). Further management consists of

treating spasms with careful administration of diazepam

(i.v.) and icepacks for fever. Phenothiazines and analeptics

should not be administered. Intubation and oxygen therapy

may be required.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The plant is administered ground

and as a liquid extract.

LITERATURE

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges Stuttgart 1997.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L, (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.

Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,

Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Taxus baccata

See Yew