270 /ENGLISH ADDER'S TONGUEsucculent. Each bears a smooth, oblong-oval, acuminate,
entire frond.
Characteristics: Though a member of the Fern family, the
appearance of English Adder's Tongue is not at all typically
fern-like.
Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Britain.
Production: English Adder's Tongue is the aerial part of
Ophioglossum vulgatum.
Not To Be Confused With: English Adder's Tongue is not
related to American Adder's Tongue (Erythronium
americanum).
Other Names: Serpent's Tongue, Christ's Spear
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Flavonoids: including among others quercetin-3-methyl
ether-7-diglucoside-4' glucoside
The constituents of the drug have not been thoroughly
investigated.
EFFECTS
See Erythronium americanum.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
See Erythronium americanum.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: See Erythronium americanum.
LITERATURE
Hegnauer R, Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen. Bde 1-11,
Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin 1962-1997.English Chamomile
Chamaemelum nobile
"DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the English
Chamomile oil extracted from the fresh or dried filled or
unfilled flower heads and the dried aerial plant parts; the
dried flower heads of the cultivated, filled varieties; and the
fresh aerial parts of the flowering plant.
Flower and Fruit: The stems end in 12 to 18 fruit-bearing,
white florets, which are about 2 to 2.5 cm wide. The epicalyx
is semi-globose. The bracts are in a number of rows and are
lanceolate to spatulate with a broad membranous border. The
receptacle is clavate, filled with latex, and covered at the
edge with slit bracts. The linguiform florets are female and
silver-white. The tubular florets are androgynous and yellow.
The corolla of every floret has a short appendage at the base,
which surrounds the tip of the fruit. The achaenes are 2 mm
long, light brown and almost triangular with vertical ribs.
The achaenes are smooth and have no pappus.Leaves, Stem and Root: The 15 to 30 cm high plant has a
deeply buried rhizome. The rhizome sprouts numerous,
ascending, occasionally upright, simple or branched, round-
ed, vertically grooved, pubescent stems. The stems are
covered in alternating, heavily segmented, gray-green to
rich-green leaves that are 2 to 4 cm long.Habitat: The plant is indigenous to southern and western
Europe and northern Africa, and is cultivated all over
Europe. The main exporters are Belgium, France, Great
Britain and Italy, as well as Poland, the Czech and Slovakian
Republics, North America and Argentina.Production: English Chamomile consists of the dried flowers
of the cultivated double flowered variety of Chamaemelum
nobile. The plant is harvested in June and July, then dried at
temperatures of 35°C.
Other Names: Ground Apple, Whig Plant, Roman
Chamomile
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Volatile oil: chief components include ester of angelic- or
tiglic acid with isobutanol, isoamyl alcohol or 3-methyl-
pentan-1-ol, to some extent present as hydroperoxides
Sesquiterpene lactones: in particular nobilin, besides 3-
epinobilin, 1,10-epoxynobilin, 3-dehydronobilin that is
present to some exient as hydroperoxides, including 1-beta-
hydroperoxy-isonobilin and 4-alpha-hydroperoxy-manolideFlavonoids: including anthemoside, cosmosioside, luteolin-
7-0-glucoside
Caffeic and ferulic acid ester
Polynes: Including cis- and trans-dehydromatricaria esterEFFECTS
In contrast to true chamomile, few studies are available. The
essential oil is active against gram-positive bacteria and
dermatomyces. The drug is also cytostatic and acts on the
CNS, causing a reduction of aggressive behavior in animal
tests. Efficacy in dyspepsia (including flatulence) may be
due to the amaroids.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: In folk medicine, the French use English
Chamomile mainly for feelings of fullness, bloating and mild