HERBAL MONOGRAPHSParkinson's. Externally, the plant was used for poorly
healing wounds and ulcers.Homeopathic Uses: Used for inflammations of the respira-
tory tract and the eyes, rheumatism, hyperorexia, diarrhea
*£ and furunculosis.PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
Health risks or side effects following the proper administra-
tion of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded.
Poisonings among humans have not yet been observed.OVERDOSAGE
Clonic spasms with musculature tremor occur with
overdosages.DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The drug is available as a full
extract in ready-made preparations.Daily Dosage: Externally: as a compress, 3 to 5 gm of drug
to 1/8 Liter of water.Homeopathic Dosage: Oral: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules
A 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; eye drops 1 to 3 times daily; liquid
dilutions D2 to D6: 20 to 60 drops; D12 to D30: 15 to 45
drops (HAB1).LITERATURE
Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur
Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl, Wiss.
Verlagsges. mbH 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, -- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
r
Santavy F, in Manske RHF (Ed.), The Alkaloids, Vol XII,
Academic Press New York, p. 333-354. 1970.
Slavfk J, Slavfkova L, Collect Czech Chem Commun 44:2261-
- Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
- Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
COSTUS 1221Corynanthe pachyceras
See Hwema BarkCostus
Saussurea costusDESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part of the plant is the root.Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in tough, orbicular,
axillary or apical capitula with a diameter of 2.5 to 3.8 cm
surrounded by an involucre. The epicalyx sepals are in a
number of rows, ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, stiff and
revolute. The tubular florets are dark blue to black-violet.
The fruit is an achene up to 8 mm long with a brownish,
feather-like pappus that is up to 1.7 cm long.Leaves, Stem and Root: Saussurea costus is a herbaceous
upright perennial growing to a height of up to 2 m. The
leaves are alternate, the lamina simple, irregular dentate,
basal, 0.5 to 1.2 m long and triangular. The petiole is lobed-
winged. The cauline leaves are smaller, petiolate or sessile
with 2 clasping lobes at the base. The plant has a strong, hard
root up to 6 cm thick.Habitat: The plant is indigenous to India and China.Production: Indian Costus roots are the dried roots of
Saussurea costus, which are harvested in September and
October when the concentration of essential oils is highest.Not to be Confused With: Because of the similarity in name,
confusion sometimes occurs with Costus speciosus. The
plant is also confused with Inula racemosa. In the past,
confusion existed with many plants such as Byronia or
Galanga, which went under the name of Kostus. However,
differentiation has been established.ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Volatile oil (1 to 6%): chief components dehydrocostus
lactone (35%) and costunolid (15%), including as well
alpha-, beta- and gamma-costol, elemol, cyclocostunolide;
aroma bearers include acetic acid, 4-ethyl octanoic acid,
heptanoic acid, 3-methyl butyric acid, 7-octenoic acid,
isopropyliden pentanoic acidResins (6%)Polysaccharides: inulin (18%)Lignans: including olivil-4"-0-beta-D-glucosideSesquiterpenes: saussureamines A to E