PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Brooklime

Veronica beccabunga

DESCRIPTION

^ Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh flowering

plant freed from the root, the fresh aerial parts collected

during the flowering season and the whole plant.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in loose, axillary,

diagonal clusters. The accompanying leaves are linear, as

long as or shorter than the flowers. The peduncles and

pedicles are glabrous. The calyx is dorsiventral and divided

into 4. The sepals are lanceolate to spatulate and acuminate;

the front ones are larger than the back ones. The corolla is

rotate with a very short tube, 4 to 9 mm wide and azure blue.

The ovary is green and the stigma capitual-like. The fruit is a

cordate, almost globular, narrow-winged capsule. The seeds

are 0.6 mm long and 0.45 mm wide. They are yellow, oval

and flatly convex with a fairly smoo'h back.

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

creeping rhizome. The stem is ascending, up to 50 cm high,

round and filled with latex. The leaves are petiolate, ovate or

"W broad elliptical, obtuse, narrowly serrate, glabrous and

glossy.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to almost all of Europe,

western and northern Asia and northern Africa, and is

naturalized in eastern North America.

Production: Brooklime is the aerial part of Veronica

beccabunga. The collection or picking occurs in uncultivated

regions in Europe, west and north Asia, North Africa and

North America.

Other Names: Beccabunga, Mouth-Smart, Neckweed.

Speedwell, Water Purslane, Water Pimpernel

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Iridoide monoterpenes: aucubin (0.8%)

Flavonoids: including among others scutellarin glycosides

£ The drug has not been extensively investigated.

EFFECTS

Brooklime has a diuretic effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Brooklime is used to lessen the elimination

of urine. It is also used for constipation, liver complaints,

dysentery and lung conditions. The drug has also been

reported to be effective against bleeding of the gums.

BROOM CORN /121

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

LITERATURE

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.

Inouye H et ah, (1974) Planta Med 25:285.

Kato Y, (1946) Folia Pharmacol Jap 42:37 (via CA 47: I845i.

Swiatek L et al.. A<na Pol Pharm 25:597. 1968.

Broom Corn

Sorghum vulgare

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the seeds.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers and inflorescences are large

spadix-like and solitary. They may also be in pairs and

terminal on long, stiff, indistinct panicles. The panicles may

be bushy-branched or occasionally tangled-branched. The

individual spikelets are usually ovate to round, and the spelts

are usually broad-lanceolate. The spelts become hard, shiny

and dentated at the tip. The seeds are small, round and white.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is reed-like and similar to

maize but is not as tall.

Habitat: The plant is common in Spain, Italy and southern

Europe. It is widely cultivated in the U.S.

Production: Broom Corn seeds are the seeds of Sorghum

vulgare.

Other Names: Darri, Durri, Guinea Cora, Sorghum

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Cyanogenic glycosides: dhurrin (in the fruits, in contrast

with the foliage [250-700 mg/100 gm] only in very low

concentrations: 0.005-5 mg/100 gm)

Starch (70%)

Proteins (10%)

Fatty oil (3%)

Vitamins of the B group: thiamin (Bl), riboflavine (B2)

EFFECTS

Broom Corn is a demulcent that is soothing to the alimentary

tract.