PDR for Herbal Medicines

58/AVOCADO PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Fatty oil: chief fatty acids oleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic

acid, palmitoleic acid (tocopherols, vitamin E)

EFFECTS

Avocado oil is an emollient, which improves rough ichtyotic

skin.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Avocado is a main ingredient in so-called natural cosmetics.

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: As an active or inactive ingredient

in various preparations (bath oils, ointments, etc.).

Storage: Oils from different batches should not be mixed.

The drug should be stored in a sealed container away from

light and moisture.

LITERATURE

Albert K, Pharm Ztg 131:2279. 1986.

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.

Heller H, Asche W, Seifen Oele Fette Wachse 111:164. 1985.

Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Bael

Aegle marmelos

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the unripe fruit, the

root, the leaves and the branches.

Flower and Fruit: The plant has greenish-white flowers. The

yellow fruit is globular or ovoid, with a hard shell. The fruit

is divided internally like an orange. The flesh is reddish, with

numerous seeds covered in a layer of latex.

Characteristics: The taste is mucilaginous and slightly sour.

Habitat: This plant is native to India but has spread over
wide areas of southeast Asia.

Other Names: Bel, Bengal Quince

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Tannins

Saccharides

Starch

Fatty oil

Furocoumarins

Furoquinolin alkaloids

EFFECTS

Bael has a digestive and an astringent effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Indian Medicine: Bael is used, especially in Indian medicine,

for constipation and diarrhea.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

OVERDOSAGE

Digestive complaints and constipation are possible with the

intake of large quantities, due to the constituent tannins.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Available as a liquid extract for

internal use.

LITERATURE

Oliver-Bever B (Ed., 1986), Medicinal Plants of Tropical West

Africa, Cambridge University Press UK.

Sharma BR and Sharma P, (1981) Planta Med 43:102.

Schimmer O, Furochinolinalkaloide als biologisch aktive

Naturstoffe. In: ZPT 12(5): 151. 1991.

Balloon-Flower (Jie-Geng)

Platycodon grandiflorum

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the

main and secondary roots.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are at the tip of the leading

shoot. The flower structures are in fives and are fused. The

calyx tube is appressed to the ovary; the corolla is 5-lobed,

blue, occasionally white with a diameter of approximately 5

cm. The 5 stamens are free and the ovary inferior with

numerous ovules. The fruit is an obovoid, multi-chambered,

dehiscent capsule. The seeds are ovoid, light to dark brown,

smooth, 1.7 to 2.2 mm long, 1 to 1.2 mm wide and flattened.