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Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fiir
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.
Hausen B, Allergiepflanzen, Pflanzenallergene, ecomed
Verlagsgesellsch. mbH, Landsberg 1988.
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.
*fc Schulz R, Hansel R, Rationale Phytotherapie, Springer Verlag
Heidelberg 1996.
Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
mbH Stuttgart 1997.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie. 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
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Stuttgart 1997.
English Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the essential oil
extracted from the fresh flowers and/or the inflorescences,
the flowers collected just before opening and dried, the fresh
flowers and the dried flowers.
Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in false whorls of 6 to 10
blossoms forming interrupted terminal spikes. The pedicles
are 10 to 15 cm long downy stems. The bracts are 5 mm
long, ovate to broadly triangular, often brown and brown-
violet or violet-tinged. The tubular calyx has 5 uneven tips, itis amethyst-colored, tomentose and after flowering it is
closed by a lidlike appendage of its upper tip. The corolla is
longer with a cylindrically fused base, the lips are flat, and
the upper lip is larger with 2 lobes. The lower lip is 3-lobed
with even* tips. The stamens are enclosed in the tube. The
ovary consists of 4 carpels and has a nectary below it. The
fruit is a glossy brown nutlet.
Leaves, Stem and Root: English Lavender is a 60 cm high
subshrub and is heavily branched with leafy, erect, rod-like,
gray-green, young branches. The leaves are sessile, oblong-
lanceolate, entire-margined, involute, gray, later green with
glandular spots beneath.
Characteristics: The flowers have a fresh aromatic
fragrance.
Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean region
but is common in most of southern Europe and is cultivated
extensively.
Production: English Lavender flower consists of the dried
flower of Lavandula angustifolia, gathered shortly before
fully unfolding, as well as its preparations. Flowering shoots
are harvested when the middle section of the spike is
flowering; it is cut 10 cm beneath the insertion of the spike.
The most valuable part is the receptacle.Not to be Confused With: Other varieties of lavender such as
Lavendula intermedia (Lavendin) and Lavendula latifolia.
The varieties are often mixed commercially. When the drug
material has a high proportion of stem and leaf material, it is
considered less valuable.Other Names: French Lavender, Garden Lavender, Lavender
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Volatile oil (1-3%): chief components (-)-linalool (making
up 20-50%) and linalyl acetate (30-40%), furthermore,
including among others, cis-ocimene, terpinene-4-ol, beta-
caryophyllene, lavandulyl acetate
Hydroxycoumarins: including among others, umbelliferone,
herniarin
Tannins (13%)
Cqffeic acid derivatives: including among others, rosmaric
acid
EFFECTS
The drug contains essential oil. The main active constituents
are linalyl acetate and linalool.
In a 1936 study, a choleretic and cholagogic effect was
described. In addition, an antimicrobial effect has been
demonstrated in vitro. In animal experiments a neurodepres-
| sive effect was demonstrated (shortening of the falling-