PDR for Herbal Medicines

216 /COMMON STONECROP PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

They are rounded at the base and have no spur-like

appendage.

Characteristics: The texture is slimy and the taste hot and

pepper-like.

Habitat: Common Stonecap is common to all of Europe,

western Siberia, the Caucasus region and North America.

Production: The flowering parts of Sedum acre are picked

while in bloom and then dried, either in the sun or,

preferably, with the use of artificial heat.

Other Names: Wallpepper. Golden Moss, Wall Ginger, Bird

Bread, Prick Madam, Gold Chain, Creeping Tom, Mousetail,

Jach-of-the-Buttery

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Piperidine alkaloids (0.39c): chief alkaloids are sedinine,

sedinon

Flavonoids: including among others, glycosides of isorham-

netin, quercetin, limnocitrin

Tannins (10%)

Hydroquinone glycosides: Arbutin

Mucilages (30%)

EFFECTS

In animal experiments, the drug displayed both motility-

inhibiting and motility-stimulating effects. The alkaloids and

tannins may make use of the drug in the treatment of wounds

plausible, but no reliable documentation is available.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug is used internally for coughs

(Spain) and high blood pressure (central Europe), edema and

febrile conditions. Externally, it is used for wounds and

ulcers resulting from burns, hemorrhoids, warts, eczema, and

oral ulcers.

Homeopathic Uses: In homeopathy, Common Stonecap is
used for hemorrhoidal pain and anal fissures.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
The drug should not be administered in the presence of
inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or of the
urinary drainage passages.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.
OVERDOSAGE
Dosages consisting of over 10 g of the juice or 1 to 3.5 g of
the dried foliage of the fresh plant result in queasiness,

vomiting and diarrhea. However, cases of poisoning have not

been recorded in recent times.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Decoctions or syrups for internal

use; poultice of fresh leaves for external use.

Preparation: A decoction is prepared using 1 teaspoonful of

the drug in 1 cup of water. Prepare a syrup by mixing 100 g

of plant juice with 180 g of sugar.

Daily Dosage: The average daily dose of the drug as a

decoction is 3 g (approximately 2 teaspoonfuls). Average

syrup dosage is 1 dessertspoonful every 3 hours. In external

application as a poultice, the fresh plants are crushed and

placed on the wart or skin area exhibiting eczema.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every

30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);

parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once

a day (HAB34).

LITERATURE

Francis LPS, Francis GW, PM 32:268-274. 1977.

Halin F et al., Tetrahedron 41:2891. 1985.

Hootele C et al., Tetrahedron 41:5563. 1985.

Niklon B et al., Acta Pharm Jugosl 40:555. 1980.

Van der Wal R et al., PM 43:97. 1981.

Further information in:

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges. Stuttgart 1997.

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.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Teusch'er E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Condurango

Marsdenia condurango

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the dried bark of the

branches and trunks.