PDR for Herbal Medicines

172 /CELANDINE PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

CELANDINE ROOT

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.

Literatur zu den Wirkungen der Inhaltsstoffe vgl. Chelidonii

herba.

Celery

Apium graveolens

TRADE NAMES

Celery Seed, Celery Seed-Power, Celery Liquid

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the root, above-

ground foliage and stems, the fruit (seeds) of the plant and

the oil extracted from the seeds.

Flower and Fruit: The umbels are greenish-white, small, 6 to

12 rayed, star-shaped and splayed. Some umbels are top-

heavy, short petioled or sessile, and some are terminal and

more or less long-petioled with no involucre. Petals are

usually 0.5 mm, white or greenish to yellowish, cordate at

the base and have indented tips. The fruit is almost spherical

and somewhat compressed at the side. The 5 mm mericarps

are rounded in section. They are 5-cornered with 5 equal,

weakly protruding, bow-shaped main ribs. The edge of the

ribs form the edge of the mericarps. The fruit axis is bristly

and slightly crenate at the tip.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The glabrous plant is a biennial and
reaches a height of 30 to 100 cm. The root of the wild variety
is fusiform, about 5 to 7 mm thick, branched and becomes
woody in the second year. The root of the cultivated variety
is fleshy, roundly tuberous and reaches a diameter of over 15
cm. The stem is erect, with edged grooves, often hollow and
branched. The leaves are glossy and rich green. The basal
and lower cauline leaves are more or less long-petioled and
pinnatifid. The upper cauline leaves are sometimes opposite.
They are on short white-membrane-edged sheaths and are
almost sessile and tri-pinnate. The lower leaves are roundish,
almost blunt at the base with broad, lozenge-shaped,
indented-serrate, blunt and short-thorned tips. The upper

cauline leaves are wedge-shaped and acuminate, also 3-lobed

or pinnate or lanceolate and entire-margined.

Characteristics: The plant has a strong odor.

Habitat: Celery is found in Europe from England and

Lapland to southern Russia. The plant also grows in western

Asia as far as eastern India; in northern and southern Africa

and South America; and is cultivated and grows wild in

North America, Mexico and Argentina.

Production: Celery seed consists of the fruit of Apium

graveolons; celery herb consists of the fresh or dried above-

ground parts of the plant; and celery root is the plant's fresh

or dried underground parts.

Other Names: Smallage

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: CELERY SEED (FRUIT)

Volatile oil: chief constituents ((:) - limonene, beta-selinene,

phthalides among them 3-butyliden phthalide, 3-butyl

phthalide, 3-isovaleryliden-3a, 4-dihydrophthaIid, 3-isobu-

tyliden phthalide, sedanoid, neocnidilid)

Flavonoids: graveobioside A and B, apiin, isoquercitrin

Furocoumarins: including bergapten, isoimperatorin,

isopimpinellin

Fatty oil

EFFECTS: CELERY FRUIT

In animal tests, a sedative and anticonvulsive effect was

demonstrated, a diuretic effect could not be proven. The

essential oil contained in the drug had a mildly inhibiting

effect on bacteria and fungi.

COMPOUNDS: CELERY HERB

Volatile oil): including (+)-limonene, myrcene, beta-seli-

nene, alpha-terpineol, carveol, dihydrocarvone, geranyl ace-

tate, phthalides (including 3-butyliden phthalid, 3-butyl

phthalid, 3-isobutyliden dihydrophthalid)

Flavonoids: including apiin, luteolin-7-O-apiosyl glucoside,

chrysoeriol glucoside

Furocoumarins: including bergaptene, xanthotoxin,

isopimpinellin

Caffeic acid derivatives: including chlorogenic acid

EFFECTS: CELERY HERB

In animal tests, a sedative and anticonvulsive effect was

demonstrated, a diuretic effect could not be proven. The

essential oil contained in the drug had a mildly inhibiting

effect on bacteria and fungi.

Celastrus scandens

See American Bittersweet