PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS BALMONY/59

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a herbaceous perennial

growing to 90 cm high. The leaves are almost sessile with a

simple lamina, bluish-green above and gray-green beneath,

irregularly crenate-serrate and entire at the base. The plant

has a hardy (approximately 3 cm thick) taproot and hardy

<JL secondary roots.

Habitat: Balloon-Flower is indigenous to China, Japan,

Korea and Siberia.

Production: The plant is collected in the wild and air-dried.

Balloon-Flower root is the dried main and secondary root of

Platycodon grandiflorum.

Other Names: Chinese Bell-Flower, Japanese Bell-Flower

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Triterpene saponins (1.7%): including platycodin, platyco-

doside C, aglycone platycodigenin, including glycosides of

polygalic acid, platycogenic acids A to C

Volatile oil (0.2 to 0.3%)

Steroids: sterols, including delta7-stigmasterol, alpha-

spinasterol

• BPPHCTS
  The saponin fraction contained in the drug has inhibiting
  effects upon gastric secretion and exhibits both ulcer-protec-
  tive and ulcer-healing effects. In addition, a mild antibacteri-
  al effect was able to be demonstrated. The plant is said to
  have a sedative effective on the respiratory organs and to
  encourage expectoration. The antitussive, anti-inflammatory
  and sedative effects require further clinical testing for
  verification.
  INDICATIONS AND USAGE
  Chinese Medicine: Jie-Geng is mainly used as an expecto-
  rant for bronchitis, sore throat, tonsillitis and other condi-
  tions of the respiratory tract. Efficacy as an expectorant is
  plausible due to the saponin content; efficacy for the other
  indications has not been proven.
  PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
  No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper
  administration of designated therapeutic dosages.
  DOSAGE
  W Mode of Administration: Preparations of whole, cut and
  powdered drug are for internal use.
  Preparation: Liquid extract: root powder 1:1 25% ethanol
  Daily Dosage:
  Powder — 6 g daily; 0.5 g as a single dose
  Decoction — 1 g daily; 0.2 g as a single dose
  Storage: Store tightly sealed and protected from light.

LITERATURE

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Ed), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Kim KS, Ezaki O, Ikemoto S, Itakura H, Effects of Platycodon

grandiflorum feeding on serum and liver lipid concentrations in

rats with diet-induced hyperlipidemia. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol

(Tokyo), 41:485-91, 1995 Aug.

Kim KS, Ezaki O, Ikemoto S, Itakura H, Effects of Platycodon

grandiflorum feeding on serum and liver lipid concentrations in

rats with diet-induced hyperlipidemia. Yakugaku Zasshi, 41:485-

91, 1995 Aug.

Kim KS, Ezaki O, Ikemoto S, Itakura H Rat plasma

corticosterone secretion-inducing activities of total saponin and

prosapogenin methyl esters from the roots of Platycodon

grandiflorum A. DC. Yakugaku Zasshi, 41:1191-4, 1995 Aug.

Ballota nigra

See Black Horehound

Balmony

Chelone glabra

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the fresh herb picked

during the flowering season

Flower and Fruit: The inflorescence is a short terminal spike

of bilabiate white, purple, cream or pink flowers. The lower

lip is awned in the tube and the cordate anthers are downy.

The seeds are round and bitter.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is small and erect, and

may reach up to 60 cm in height. It is a perennial herb with

angular, smooth stems and a horizontally spreading root

system. The leaves are opposite, oblong-lanceolate, on short

petioles.

Characteristics: The leaves have a tea-like smell and an

extremely bitter taste.

Habitat: Northeastern U.S. and Canada

Production: Balmony is the above-ground part of Chelone

glabra.

Other Names: Turtlebloom, Turtle Head, Chelone, Shell-

flower, Salt-Rheum Weed, Bitter Herb, Hummingbird Tree,

Snakehead