126 /BUGLE PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINESLeaves, Stem and Root: Ajuga reptans is a shrub, up to 30
cm high with overground rooting runners sprouting from the
rosette-like basal leaves. The flower stem is quadrangular,
villous above and glabrous below. The rest of the plant is
glabrous. The basal leaves are large, long-petioled, spatulate
and dentate. The cauline leaves are crossed opposite, short-
petioled, small and oval. The lowest or at least the third-
lowest stem is flower-bearing. There are some upper false
whorls, which are compressed into a false spike.Habitat: The plant is found in Europe, Britain, and parts of
Asia and northern Africa.
Production: The aerial parts of Ajuga reptans are picked
when in bloom and dried. Gathered in uncultivated areas (the
wild).
Other Names: Bugula, Middle Comfrey, Middle Confound,
Sicklewort, Carpenter's Herb
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Iridoid glycosides and ajugols
Phytoecdysone: ajugalactone
Diterpene bitter principlesCaffeic acid derivatives: including rosemary acid
EFFECTS
There is no information available.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Internally, Bugle is used as an astringent for
inflammation of the mouth and larynx. It is also used for
gallbladder and stomach disorders. Externally, the plant is
used for the treatment of wounds.
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: Bugle is used topically, in alcoholic
extracts, as a water infusion and in teas.
LITERATURE
Breschi M, Martinotti E, Catalano S, Flamini G, Morelli I,
Pagni A, Vasoconstrictor activity of 8-O-Acetylharpagide from
Ajuga reptans. In: JNP 55: H45-H48. 1992.
Camps F, et al., (1985) An Quim 8lC(l):74-75.
Camps F, et al., (1981) Rev Latinoamj Quim 12:81-88. 1981.Camps F, Coll J, (1993) Insect allochemicals from Ajuga
plants. In: PH 32:1361.
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.
Komissarenko NF, et al., (1976) Khim Prir Soedin 11:109-110.
1976.
Kooiman P, (1972) Acta Bot Nederl. 21(4):417.
Ruhdorfer J, Rimpler H, (1981) Z Naturforsch 36c:697-707.
1981.Bugleweed
Lycopus virginicus
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the fresh or dried
herb collected during the flowering season.
Flower and Fruit: The flowers are small, almost radial in
dense axillary whorls. The calyx is campanulate with a
glabrous tube and 4 or 5 regular, usually erect, tips. The
corolla is whitish with the tube only partly showing and a
few uneven lobes. The epicalyx and calyx sepals are shorter
than in the European variety. There are only 2 fertile stamens
with initially parallel, later spreading pollen sacs. The upper
stamens are reduced to staminoids or completely disappear.
The fruit is a flattened, rectangular, stunted, and smooth
nutlet.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a herbaceous perennial
with runners. The quadrangular, 60 cm high smooth stems
grow from the perennial creeping root. The stems bear pairs
of opposite, short-petioled leaves. The upper ones are dentate
and pointed; the lower ones wedge-shaped to entire-mar-
gined. They are glabrous and glandular-punctate on the
lower surface.Habitat: The plant grows in North America. Lycopus
europaeus, Gypsywort, is a close European relative.
Production: Bugleweed consists of the fresh or dried, above-
ground parts of Lycopus europaeus and/or Lycopus virgini-
cus, as well as preparations collected in the wild and air-
dried.
Other Names: Sweet Bugle, Water Bugle, Virginia Water
Horehound, Gypsywort
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Caffeic acid derivatives: rosmaric acid, lithospermic acid
and their oligomerics created through oxidation
Flavonoids: including acacetine-, apigenein-, luteolin glyco-
sides, among them cosmosiin, genkwanin, pilloin, apigenin-,
acacetine- and luteolin-7-O-glucuronides.
Diterpenes: tetrahydroxy-delta8(9)-pimaric acid methyl ester