PDR for Herbal Medicines

86 /BITTER MILKWORT

Other Names: European Bitter Polygala, European Senega

Snakeroot, Evergreen Snakeroot, Flowering Wintergreen,

Little Pollom

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Saponins (1-2%)

Bitter principles: polygalin (polygamarin)

Phenol glycosides: monotropitoside (methyl salicylic acid-

primveroside)

Polygalite (acerite, 1.5-anhydrosorbite)

EFFECTS

The drug is mildly expectorant.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Bitter Milkwort is used for conditions of the

respiratory tract, cough and bronchitis.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE

Preparation: The drug is contained in tea for the treatment

of bronchitis.

LITERATURE

Hegnauer R, Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11,

Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin 1962-1997.

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.

Bitter Orange

Citrus aurantiwn

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh and dried

fruit peel, the flowers, the seeds and the extracted essential

oil.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are arranged singly or in
clusters in the axils, and are very fragrant. The calyx is cup-
shaped, and the 5 thick fleshy petals are an intense white and
revolute. The fruit is about 7.5 cm in diameter (similar in
size to a cherry), subglobose, slightly flattened at both ends,
10- to 12-locular. The peel is thick, rough and orange when
ripe. The fruit pulp is acidic. The core is hollow when ripe.

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Leaves, Stem and Root: Bitter Orange is an evergreen tree

with a rounded crown and smooth grayish-brown bark. The

branches are angular when young, becoming terete and

glabrous soon after, with a few stout but flexible axillary

spines. The alternate leaves are 7.5 to 10 cm, broadly

elliptoid, subacute at the apex, cuneate or rounded below.

The upper surface is a shiny dark green and the underside

paler. Petioles are broadly winged, tapering to a wingless

base.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to tropical Asia but is

widely cultivated in other regions today, such as the

Mediterranean.

Production: Bitter Orange flower consists of the dried

flowers of Citrus aurantium. The oil is obtained by steam

distillation of the fresh, fully opened flowers. Bitter Orange

peel consists of the dried outer peel of ripe fruits of Citrus

aurantium separated from the white pulp layer.

Other Names: Orange, Neroli, Bigarade Orange

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: BITTER ORANGE FLOWER AND FLOWER OIL

Volatile oil: chief constituents linalool, linalyl acetate, alpha-

pinenes, limonene, nerol

Methyl anthranilate

Limonoids: (triterpenoide bitter principles)

Flavonoids

EFFECTS: BITTER ORANGE FLOWER AND FLOWER OIL

No substantiated information available. Efficacy of the use

of an extraction of the blossoms as a neurostimulant is not

confirmed.

COMPOUNDS: BITTER ORANGE PEEL

Volatile oil: chief constituents (+) -limonene, nerol, geraniol,

linalool, linalyl-, neryl-, geranyl- and citronellyl acetate,

typical constituent methyl anthranilate

Flavonoids: among them the bitter compounds neohesperi-

din dyhydrochalcone and naringin as well as the lipophilic

compounds sinensetin, nobiletin, tangeretin

Furocoumarins

EFFECTS: BITTER ORANGE PEEL

Bitter Orange has a mild spasmolytic effect on the gastroin-

testinal tract and increases gastric juice secretion.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

BITTER ORANGE FLOWER AND FLOWER OIL

Unproven Uses: Preparations of Bitter Orange flower and

flower oil are used as a preventive measure for gastric and

nervous complaints, gout, sore throat, as a sedative, for