PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Amargo

Quassia amara

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the wood of the trunk

^fc and branches.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are small and pale yellowish

green. The sepals are round to ovate, fused at the base and

imbricate. There are 5 petals, 10 stamens and 5 carpels. The

style is fused from bottom to top. The fruit is a pea-sized

drupe, which ripens from December to January. They are

black, glossy, solitary, clavate and have a thin skin.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a 15 to 30 m high tree

with a diameter of 1 m. The bark is smooth and grayish. The

alternate leaves are odd pinnate. The leaflets are opposite,

oblong, acuminate and uneven at the base.

Habitat: The plant grows in Jamaica

Production: Quassia Wood is the wood of Quassia amara or

Picrasma excelsa.

(p Not to be Confused With: The wood of Rhus metopium

Other Names: Bitter Wood, Jamaica Quassia, Surinam

Quassia, Japanese Quassia, Bitter Ash

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Triterpenes: decanor-triterpenes (picrasan derivatives, quas-

sinoids, simaroubolides) chief components quassin (nigaki-

lactone D, 0.1 to 0.2%), isoquassin (picrasmine), neoquassin

and 18-hydroxyquassin

Indole alkaloids of:

-beta-carboline type, including l-vinyl-4,8-dimethoxy-beta-

carboline

-canthinone type, including 2-methoxy-6-one, 3-methylcan-

thine-5,6-dione

EFFECTS
The amaroid drug (quassinoids) stimulates secretion of
£r gastric juices, increases appetite and aids digestion. It may
also have a choleretic effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Homeopathic Uses: Quassia amara is used for gallbladder

complaints, as bitter tonic, purgative and as anthelmintic (for

ascarid and threadworms).

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated in pregnancy.

AMARGO/23

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards or side effects are known in

conjunction with the proper administration of designated

therapeutic dosages. Internal administration can be followed

occasionally by dizziness and headache, as well as by uterine

pain.

Pregnancy: Not to be used during pregnancy.

OVERDOSAGE

Overdosage could lead to mucous membrane irritation,

followed by vomiting. Use over prolonged periods of time

may lead to weakened vision and total blindness.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Quassia Wood is used in homeo-

pathic dilutions and in commercial pharmaceutical prepara-

tions.

Daily Dosage: 500 mg

Storage: Quassia should be protected from light and kept

dry.

LITERATURE

Barbetti P et ah, Quassinoids from Quassia amara. In: PH

32:1007. 1993.

Bray DH et al., (1987) Phytother Res 1 (1):22.

Geissmann T, (1964) Ann Rev Pharmacol 4:305.

Kupchan SM, Streelman DR, (1976) J Org Chem 41:3481.

Murae T et al., (1973) Tetrahedron 29:1515.

Murae T et al., (1975) Chem Pharm Bull 23 (9):2191.

Njar VCO et al., 2-Methoxycanthin-6-on: a new alkaloid from

the stem wood of Quassia amara. In: PM 59(3):259. 1992.

Njar VCO et al., Antifertility activity of Quassia amara:

Quassin inhibits the steroidgenesis in rat Leydig cells in vitro.

In: PM 61(2):180-182. 1995.

Ohmoto T, Koike K. (1983) Chem Pharm Bull 31:3198.

Polonsky J, (1973) Fortschr. Chem Org Naturst 30. 101.

Wagner H et al., (1979) Planta Med 36:113.

Wagner H et al., (1980) Planta Med 38:204.

Further information in:

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

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

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969 (unter Pirola rotundifolia).

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

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.