PDR for Herbal Medicines

46 /ARTICHOKE PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

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medicine as anti-snake venom. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory

Arum

Arum maculatum

DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the root of the plant.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are pale yellowish-green.
They are surrounded by a bulbous spath and therefore are not
visible. A violet or brown-red spadix emerges from the bract
with 2 circles of bristles underneath. Under the bristles are
the male flowers, and under these are the female flowers.
The spath doubles the length of the spadix. The whole

structure forms a typical insect trap. The fruit is a scarlet

berry.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Arum maculatum is a 30 to 60 cm

spit- to arrow-shaped plant. It is long-stemmed, glossy, often

brown-speckled and basal. The petiole is spread to a sheath

at the base. The root-stock is tuberous, ovoid and floury-

fleshy, varying in size between that of a hazelnut and a

pigeon's egg.

Characteristics: Arum maculatum bears attractive scarlet

berries that yield an acrid juice that is poisonous and can be

fatal if ingested by small children.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to parts of Europe, to

Britain and the U.S.

Production: Arum root is the fresh rhizome of Arum

maculatum collected before removing the leaves.

Other Names: Adder's Root, Bobbins, Cocky Baby, Cuckoo

Pint, Cypress Powder, Dragon Root, Friar's Cowl, Gaglee,

Kings and Queens, Ladysmock, Lords and Ladies, Parson

and Clerk, Portland Arrowroot, Quaker, Ramp, Wake Robin

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Mucilages: glucomannane

Starch

Lectins

EFFECTS

The glucomannans, bassorin and starch contained in the drug

have a strong irritant and swelling effect on the mucous

membranes. The diaphoretic and expectorant effect attrib-

uted to the drug may be due to the strong actions of these

constituents.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Arum is used for colds and inflammation of

the throat.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

The intake of plant parts leads to severe mucous membrane

irritations (swelling of the tongue, bloody vomiting, bloody

diarrhea), presumably due to lesions of the membrane from

the very sharp-edged oxalate needles and the introduction of

impurities into the wounds. Decoctions of the roots in

therapeutic dosages can be taken without risk. Caution is

advised even though the level of cyanogenic glycosides is

too low to be able to bring about signs of poisoning and

other soluble poisonous substances have not been shown to

be present.

DOSAGE

No dosage information is available.

activities. Mem inst uswaiao cruz, DJ:ZU^O, iyyi

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

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