HERBAL MONOGRAPHS CANADIAN GOLDEN ROD / 145Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
York 1995.Canadian Golden Rod
Solidago canadensis
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried aerial
parts collected during the flowering season, the fresh
inflorescences and the flowering twigs.
Flower and Fruit: The yellow composite flowers are in erect
racemes facing all directions and are simple or compound.
They are medium-sized. The involucral bracts are imbricate
and arranged in numerous rows. The ray florets are narrow,
lingual and female. The disc florets are funnel-shaped, 5-
tipped and androgynous. The fruit is an achene, which is
cylindrical with numerous ribs. It is brown, sparsely
pubescent and 3.5 to 4.5 mm long with a tuft of hair.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial that ranges
£| in size from a few centimeters to over 1 m. The rhizome is
cylindrical, noded, diagonally ascending and short. The stem
is erect, cane-like, angularly grooved above, usually red-
tinged beneath, and glabrous to loosely appressed pubescent
higher up. The basal leaves are long-petioled, elliptical,
acuminate and narrowing to the winged stem. The lower
ones are serrate and the upper ones entire-margined.
Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Europe, Asia and North
America.
Production: Golden Rod is the aerial part of Solidago
virgaurea. It occurs in the wild in Hungary, former Yugosla-
via, Bulgaria and Poland. Golden Rod herb consists of the
above-ground parts of Solidago serotina (synonym S.
gigantea). Solidago canadensis and its hybrids are gathered
during the flowering season and carefully dried.Not to be Confused With: Despite qualitative and quantita-
tive differences in their effects, drugs containing Solidago
gigantea or Solidago canadensis are exchanged with Solida-
go virgaurea on the market; confusions with Senecio species
J^are also conceivable.
Other Names: Aaron's Rod, Woundwort
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: CANADIAN GOLDEN ROD
Triterpene saponins: bisdemosides of the bayogenin, bearing
acylglycosidically-bound arabino residuePolysaccharides (water-soluble): beta-l,2-fructans, acidic
polysaccharidesVolatile oil (0.6%): chief components curlone, germacrene
D, alpha-pinene, beta-sesquiphellandrene, limoneneDiterpenes of the trans-clerodane and ladanum typesCarotenoids (as blossom pigments)Flavonoids (2.4%): rutin (1.4%), including as well hypero-
side, quercitrin, astragalinCajfeic acid derivatives: including chlorogenic acidCOMPOUNDS: CANADIAN GOLDEN ROD (GIGANTEA
VARIETY)
Triterpene saponins (9%): bisdesmoside of the bayogenins:
GS1-GS4Volatile oil (0.5%): chief components gamma-cadinene-
diterpenes of the cis-clerodane-type, including among others
6-deoxysolidagolactone IV-18,19-olideCarotenoids (as blossom pigments)Flavonoids (3.8%): quercitrin (1.3%), further including
among others hyperoside, rutin, isoquercitrinCajfeic acid derivatives: including among others chlorogenic
acidEFFECTS: CANADIAN GOLDEN ROD
Canadian Golden Rod is diuretic, weakly spasmolytic and,
because of the saponin componant, antiphlogistic.INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Approved by Commission E:- Infections of the urinary tract
- Kidney and bladder stones
Unproven Uses: The herb is used as a flushing-out therapy
for inflammatory diseases of the lower urinary tract.CONTRAINDICATIONS
Irrigation therapy is contraindicated in cases of edema
resulting from reduced cardiac and/or kidney function.PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages. The drug possesses a weak potential for sensitiza-
tion. Care must^1 be taken in patients with chronic renal
diseases, and the drug should be used in this patient
population only under the supervision of a doctor.DOSAGE
SOLIDAGINIS VIRGAUREAE HERBA
Mode of Administration: As chopped drug by itself or in
combination preparations.