PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS WILD DAISY /811

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

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.

Dun Daisy

Bellis perennis

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the whole flowering

plant.

Flower and Fruit: The flower heads are usually found singly

at the end of the sharply angular stem. The flower is small-

to medium-sized and heterogamous. The epicalyx is semi-

spherical to bell-shaped. The sepals of the epicalyx are more

or less double-rowed. The receptacle is conical and glabrous

when bearing fruit. The l- to 2-rowed female ray flowers are

linguiform, white, pink, purple or bluish and distinctly longer

than the epicalyx. The disc flowers are androgynous, tubular

and 5-tipped. The achenes are obovate, very flattened,

ribless, and have side veins. The flower has no pappus but

may have short, brittle bristles.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Wild Daisy is a 10- to 15-cm high

perennial plant that has basal leaves in rosettes or alternate

leaves at the lower part of the stem; its roots are short and

cylindrical. The rosette leaves are circular to spatulate or

heart-shaped, dentate and occasionally entire-margined with

a single rib; they have vertical hairs on both sides.

Habitat: The plant is distributed from Portugal to the

Moscow region and Asia Minor. It is also found from Great

Britain to Ireland and southern Scandinavia, and as far south

as the Mediterranean, with the exception of the Balearic

Islands and the islands of Sardinia, Sicily, Crete and Cyprus.

Production: The capitula and short stems of the plant are

picked and dried in either the sun or shade.

Other Names: Bruisewort

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Triterpene saponins (2.7%): bisdemosides of the bayogenin-

ic and polygalic acid (the latter acylated)

Polyynes: including trans-lachnophyllum ester

Flavonoids: including cosmosiin

EFFECTS
The drug acts as an astringent, reduces mucous production,
and also has anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing effects,
possibly due to the triterpene saponin content.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Wild Daisy is used as an expectorant and

for easing diarrhea and gastrointestinal catarrh. It is also used

for treating wounds, skin diseases, coughs and bronchitis,

disorders of the liver and kidneys, and inflammation.

Homeopathic Uses: Wild Daisy is used for bruises, bleeding,

muscular pain (after injuries), purulent skin diseases and

rheumatism.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug is used topically—as an

extract, in teas and in poultices of pressed leaves—for the

treatment of skin diseases. A decoction can be used for

wound poultices.

Preparation: An infusion or cold extract is prepared by

adding 2 teaspoonfuls of drug to 2 cups of water, then

allowing it to draw for 20 minutes. A decoction is made from

the green leaves.

Daily Dosage: The daily dose of the infusion is 2 to 4 cups

per day.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 to 10 drops, l tablet or 5 to 10

globules l to 3 times daily; parenterally: l ml sc injection

solution twice weekly; ointments: l to 2 times daily (HABl).

LITERATURE

Avato P, Vitali C, Tava A, New acetylenic compounds from

Bellis perennis L. and their antimicrobial activity. In: PM

61 (Abstracts of 43rd Ann Congr):49. 1995.

Hansel R, Keller K. Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 5. Aufl.. Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

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

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Schopke T, Wray V, Hiller K, Triterpenoid saponins of plants

of the Asteraeae tribe (Asteraceae). In: PM 59(7)

Schopke Th et al., Saponin composition of the Bellis genus and

related species. In: PM 6l(Abstracts of 43rd Ann Congr):68.

1995.

Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und

pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New

York 1995.

Willigmann I et al., Antimycotic compounds from different

Bellis perennis varieties. In: PM 58(Suppl.7)36. 1993.