PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Cedar

Cedrus libani

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the leaves, the

*•* wood and the oil.

Flower and Fruit: The male cones are 3 to 5 cm; the female

cones are 7 to 12 cm and almost cylindrical-truncate or

umbilicate at the apex.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The cedar is a majestic tree that

grows up to 40 m in height with a rigid leading shoot and a

flat crown. The young branches are glabrous. The needle-

like leaves are dark green and 20 to 30 mm long.

Habitat: The Lebanon Cedar is indigenous to the Lebanese

mountains and the southwest of Turkey, Cyprus, the Atlas

Mountains and the Himalayas. The tree is also found in Asia

and Africa.

Production: Cedar oil is the essential oil extracted from the

leaves and wood of Cedrus libani.

^^ ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

** COMPOUNDS

When extracted from Cedrus libani (true cedarwood oil):

borneol

When extracted from Cedrus atlantica (atlas cedarwood oil):

cadinene, alpha- and gamma-atlantone

When extracted from Cedrus deodora (Himalayan cedar-

wood oil): alpha- and gamma-atlantone, p-methyl-delta-3-

tetrahydroacetophenone, (+)-longiborneol, himachalol, all-

ohimachalol

EFFECTS

Cedar has an expectorant effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Cedar wood oil is used for catarrhal

conditions of the respiratory tract.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
4p dosages.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Externally, the drug is used as a rub

(Bormelin balm). It is also used internally as an inhalation.

LITERATURE

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

CELANDINE/169

Cedrus libani

See Cedar

Celandine

Chelidonium majus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal pans are the aerial parts that

have been collected during the flowering season and dried.

The root, which has been collected in late autumn and dried,

and the fresh rhizome are also used medicinally.

Flower and Fruit: The plant has yellow flowers arranged in

umbels. There are 2 sepals, 4 petals, numerous yellow

stamens and l ovary. The fruit is pod-like and many-seeded.

The seeds are black-brown and glossy.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Celandine is a 30 to 120 cm high

plant with an erect stem. The stem has irregularly bifurcated,

thickened nodes. The leaves are alternate and indent-pinnati-

fid. The upper leaves are pinnatisect, dull green above, sea-

green beneath. The plant contains a dark-yellow latex.

Characteristics: Celandine has a hot and bitter taste. The

latex has a narcotic fragrance.

Habitat: Celandine is found throughout Europe and the

temperate and subarctic regions of Asia.

Production: Celandine herb consists of the dried, above

ground parts of Chelidonium majus gathered during flower-

ing season. The herb is collected in the wild during the

flowering season and dried at high temperatures.

Greater Celandine root is the root, harvested between August

and October, of Chelidonium majus. The herb is gathered in

uncultivated regions and harvested commercially.

Other Names: Tetterwort

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: CELANDINE HERB

Isoquinoline alkaloids of the protoberberine type: including

coptisine (main alkaloid), berberine

Isoquinoline alkaloids of the benzophenanthridine type:

including chelidonine, sanguinarine, chelerythrine

Isoquinoline alkaloids of the protopine type: including

protopin, cryptopine

Caffeic acid derivatives: including 2-(-)-coffeoyl-D-glyceric

acid, coffeoyl-L-malic acid