PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Apocynum cannabinum

See Indian Hemp

Apple Tree

Malus domestica

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh false fruit,

the dried fruit peels, and the inflorescences with their leaves

and solid peduncles.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are umbelled racemes with

only a few blossoms. The petals are obovate, up to 2.5 cm

long, stemmed, white, pink, or pink on the outside and white

on the inside. The carpels are fused with the false fruit.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a 6 to 10m high tree or

shrub. Boughs and branches are initially villous-haired, later

becoming glabrous. The leaves are alternate, ovate, usually

shortly acuminate and finely crenate-serrate.

JP Habitat: The plant is cultivated in the temperate regions of

the Northern Hemisphere, and occasionally grows wild.

Production: Medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations of

apples come in liquid and dried pectin forms. The source

material is the apple residue with 10% to 20% pectin in the

dried mass. The residue is extracted at pH 1.5 to 3 and 60° to

100° C.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: IN THE FRUIT PULP

Fruit acids: the chief acid is malic acid (0.2 to 1.5%); in

unripe apples quinic acid; including as well citric acid,

succinic acid, lactic acid

Caffeic acid derivatives: including 5-caffeoyl quinic acid

Aromatic substances: in particular 2-trans-hexenal, 3-cis-

hexenal, 2-trans-hexenol, 3-cis-hexenol, beta-damascenone,

ethyl butyrate, methyl butyric acid hexylester; in some

strains, 1 -methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)benzole

A, Pectins

Tannins

Vitamins: in particular ascorbic acid (3 to 30 mg/100 gm)

COMPOUNDS: IN THE SEEDS

Cyanogenic glycoside: amygdalin (0.5 to 1.5%, correspond-

ing to 30 to 90 mg HCN/100 gm)

Fatty oil

ARALIA RACEMOSA/37

I EFFECTS

Pectin is a swelling agent. Apple pectins have a mild binding

effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Finely ground fruit or preparations that

contain liquid or dry pectin are used for milder forms of

dyspepsia, diarrhea and digestive complaints, especially in

children.

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 fruit is available for oral use in

the grated or chopped form. The skin peel can be used in

teas. Medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations of apples

come in liquid and dried pectin forms.

LITERATURE

Belitz HD, Grosch W, Lehrbuch der Lebensmittelchemie, 4.

Aufl., Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 1992.

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.

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

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

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

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.

Aquilegia vulgaris

See Columbine

Arachis hypogaea

See Peanut

Aralia racemosa

See Spikenard