PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS BUCKTHORN/123

Bryonia alba

See White Bryony

Bryonia cretica

See Red Bryony

Buckthorn

Rhamnus catharticus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the whole, ripe,

dried fruit and the fresh ripe fruit.

Flower and Fruit: The small, dioecious, greenish-yellow

flowers are in axillary cymes. The calyx is fused, has 4

segments and droops. The petals are small and are on the

edge of the calyx tube, which has short stamens. The ovary is

4-valved with a style that is divided in 4. The fruit is a pea-

sized, black berry-like drupe. The seeds are 5 mm long and

triangular with a narrow split, which separates slightly at the

end and is surrounded by a cartiliginous margin.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant occurs in a variety of

forms, usually as a bush that is up to 3 m in height, but

occasionally as a tree with a bent trunk that grows up to 8 m.

The boughs are usually stiffly spread; the branches are more

or less clearly opposite, glossy, glabrous or occasionally

pubescent and end in a thorn. The leaves are clustered on the

older branches, opposite on the younger ones. They are ovate

or elliptical, finely serrate with 2 to 3 lateral ribs curved

towards the midrib.

Characteristics: The flowers are fragrant, the heartwood is

orange-red.

Habitat: The plant is common all over Europe, Western Asia

and North Africa.

Production: Buckthorn, consists of the dried ripe berries of

Rhamni catharticus and its preparations. Buckthorn is

harvested in uncultivated regions in autumn and dried.

Not to be Confused With: May be confused with the fruit of
Frangula alnus.

Other Names: Hartsthorn, Common Buckthorn, Purging
Buckthorn, Way thorn, High way thorn, Ramsthorn

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Anthracene derivatives (2 to 7%): anthranoids, chief compo-

nents glucofrangulin A, diacetylglucofrangulin, frangulin A

Flavonoids (1 to 2%): including catharticin (rhamnocitrin-3-

O-rhamnoside), xanthorhamnine (rhamnetin-3-O-rha-

mnoside)

Tannins (3 to 4%): oligomeric proanthocyanidins

EFFECTS

The drug has a laxative effect because of the anthranoid

content. Anthranoids have an anti-absorptive hydrogogic

effect resulting in a more liquid stool and an increase in

volume of the content of the intestine.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Constipation

Buckthorn is used internally for constipation and for bowel

movement relief in cases of anal fissures and hemorrhoids. It

is used after recto-anal surgery and in preparation for

diagnostic intervention in the gastrointestinal tract and to

achieve softer stool.

Unproven Uses: In folk medicine it is used as a diuretic (in

'blood-purifying' remedies).

Homeopathic Uses: Rhamnus catharticus is used for poor

digestion.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindicated in intestinal obstruction, acute inflammatory

intestinal diseases, appendicitis and abdominal pain of

unknown origin. Use during pregnancy or while nursing only

after consulting a physician. The drug is not to be adminis-

tered to children under 12 years of age.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: Spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints could occur

as a side effect to the drug's purgative effect. Long-term use

leads to loss of electrolytes, especially potassium ions. This

may lead to hyperaldosteronism, inhibition of intestinal

motility and enhancement of the effect of cardioactive

steroids, which in rare cases may result in cardiac arrhyth-

mias. Nephropathies, edema and accelerated bone deteriora-

tion may be the result of long term use.

Drug-Interactions: Resorption of other medications could be

reduced due to the laxative effect. In the case of chronic use/

overuse, a potassium deficiency leads to an increase in the

effect of cardiac glycosides as well as effecting heartbeat-

regulating drugs.

Pregnancy: Not to be used during pregnancy.