HERBAL MONOGRAPHS ALPINE RAGWORT /21Storage: Store the drug in a tightly sealed container and
protect it from light.LITERATURE
Friedrich H, Naturwissenschaften 48:304. 1961.
Frohne D, Pfander HJ. Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur
Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen. 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-
Ges. Stuttgart 1997.
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.
Sticher O et al., PM 35:253. 1979.
Thieme H et al., PA 24:236. 1969.
Thieme H, Winkler HJ, PA 21:182. 1966.
Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997.
Thompson RS et al.. J Chem Soc Perkin Tarns 1:1387. 1972.* Alpine Ragwort
Senecio nemorensisDESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the herb.Flower and Fruit: The composite flower heads are in a
dense, usually heavily blossomed corymb. The involucre
bracts are grass- or olive-green and often tinged greenish-
black at the tips. The florets are yellow. The fruit is 4 mm
long, long-stemmed and glabrous. During flowering, the
pappus is only as long as the disc florets. By the time the
fruit ripens, the pappus is 3 times as long as the fruit.Leaves, Stem and Root: This geophytic perennial has runners
that are fleshy, 20 cm long and 5 cm thick. The stem is erect,
40 to 140 cm high with rounded ribs. The stem is green or, in
particularly sunny locations, reddish-brown. The stem is
glabrous to sparsely pubescent or short-downy. The foliage
leaves are lanceolate-ovate, oblong-elliptic to oblong-lanceo-
late, acute or acuminate and serrate to double-serrate-dentate.
4| The upper cauline leaves are usually petiolate, almost
glabrous above to sparsely pubescent. The lower surface of
the leaf is sparsely or moderately scattered and appressed
pubescent.
Habitat: The plant grows in many regions of southern and
western Europe and is cultivated in some eastern European
countries.Other Names: Squaw Weed, Life RootACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (0.01-0.1%): including among others,
senecionine, fuchsisencionine. 7-angeloylretronecin, bul-
garsenine, nemorensin, platyphyllin, sarracin
Sesquiterpenes of the eremophilane-type: including among
others, nemosenine A-D
Flavonoids: including among others, rutin, quercitrin
Hydroxycoumarins: including among odiers, esculetin
Volatile oil (0.1%)
EFFECTS
The drug is hemostyptic and hypoglycemic. The pyrrolizi-
dine alkaloids are hepatotoxic and carcinogenic.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Folk medicine uses of Life Root have
included diabetes mellitus, hemorrhage, high blood pressure,
spasms and as a uterine stimulant. The drug is also used in
bleeding as a result of tooth extraction.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
Life Root should not be taken internally. Hepatotoxicity and
carcinogenicity are possible due to the presence of pyrrolizi-
dine alkaloids with 1,2-unsaturated necic parent substances.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Internal use is not recommended.
How Supplied: Forms of commercial pharmaceutical prepa-
rations include drops.
Preparation: To prepare a tea, pour boiling water over 1
teaspoonful (approximately 1 g) of finely cut drug, steep for
5 to 10 minutes, then strain.
Daily Dosage: A cup of the tea may be taken several times a
day. (See precautions and adverse reactions).
LITERATURE
Gottlieb R et al., DAZ 130:285. 1990.
Roder E et al., PH 16:1462. 1977.
Roder E, Pyrrolizidinhaltige Arzneipflanzen. In: DAZ
132(45):2427-2435. 1992.
Wiedenfeld H et al., Arch Pharm 315:165. 1982.
Wiedenfeld H et al., Arch Pharm 318:294. 1985.
Wiedenfeld H et al., PH 18:1083. 1979.
Wiedenfeld H et al., PM 41:124. 1981.
Wiedenfeld H et al., PM 46:426. 1986.
Wiedenfeld H et al., Sci Pharm 57:97. 1989.
Further information in:
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6