PDR for Herbal Medicines

290 /EUROPEAN CrOLDEN ROD

Flower and Fruit: The yellow composite flowers are in erect

racemes facing all directions and are simple or compound.

They are medium-sized. The involucral bracts are imbricate

and arranged in numerous rows. The ray florets are narrow,

lingual and female. The disc florets are funnel-shaped, 5-

tipped and androgynous. The fruit is a cylindrical achene

with numerous ribs. It is brown, sparsely pubescent and 3.5

to 4.5 mm long with a tuft of hair.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial that ranges

in size from a few centimeters to over 1 m. The rhizome is

cylindrical, noded, diagonally ascending and short. The stem

is erect, cane-like, angularly grooved above, usually red-

tinged beneath, and glabrous to loosely appressed pubescent

higher up. The basal leaves are long-petioled, elliptical,

acuminate and narrowing to the winged stem. The lower

ones are serrate and the upper ones entire-margined.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Europe, Asia and North

America.

Production: Golden Rod is the aerial part of Solidago

virgaurea. It occurs in the wild in Hungary, former Yugosla-

via, Bulgaria and Poland

Not to be Confused With: Despite qualitative and quantita-

tive differences in their effects, drugs containing Solidago

gigantea or Solidago canadensis are exchanged with Solida-

go virgaurea on the market; confusions with Senecio species

are also conceivable.

Other Names: Aaron's Rod, Woundwort, Goldenrod

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Triterpene saponins (0.2 to 0.3%):

In the European form—3,28-bisdemosidic ester saponins,

including acyl-virgaurea saponins 1, 2 and 3; the acid

components are acetic acid and beta-hydroxy butyric acid;

aglycone is polygalic acid.

In the Asian fonn—bi- or tridemosidic solidago saponins I to

XXIX, acyl-virgaurea saponin 1, acylvirgaurea saponin 2,

bellis saponin BA2

Volatile oil (0.4 to 0.5%, in the stored drug less than 0.2%):

chief components

In the European form—alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, limonene,

delta-elemene, gamma-cadinene, beta-phellandrene, myrcene

In the Asian form—limonene, germacrene-D, germacrene-B

and beta-caryophyllene

Polysaccharides (water-soluble, 6 to 8%)

Diterpenes: cis-clerodane-derivatives, presumably only in
the Asian variety

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Carotinoids (as blossom pigments)

Flavonoids (I.I to 2%): chief component rutin (0.8 %),

including as well hyperoside, isoquercitrin, avicularin, quer-

cetin-3-O-beta-D-robinoside, astragalin, nicotiflorin, ka-

empferol-3-O-beta-D-galactoside, kaempferol- 3-0-

alpha- arabinoside, kaempferol - 3 - O - beta - D - robinobioside,

isorhamnetin - 3 - O - beta - D- galactoside, isorhamnetin - 3 - O -

beta - D - glucoside, isorhamnetin - 3 - O - beta - D - rutinoside,

rhamnetin - 3 - O - glucorahamnoside

Phenol glucosides (hydroxy benzylbenzoyte diglucosides, 0.2

to 1.0%): leicarposide (0.2 to 1%), virgaureoside A (0.01 to

0.14%), benzyl-2,6-dimethoxy-benzoate

Caffeic acid derivatives (0.2 to 0.4%): including chlorogenic

acid, neochlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid

Phenol carboxylic acids: salicylic acid (0.1%), as well as

vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid,

sinapineic acid—free, estered or glycosylated

Polyynes (in the roots): 2,8-cis-trans-matricaria ester, 2,8-

cis-cis-matricaria ester, cis-lachnophyllum ester, matricaric

acid lactone, lachnophyllum lactone

EFFECTS

The drug has a diuretic effect due to the leiocarposide and

the phenol glycosides. Golden Rod also inhibits the forma-

tion of urinary calculi. Leiocarposide displays an analgesic

effect. The saponin is antimicrobial, weakly spasmolytic and

anti-exudative.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Infections of the urinary tract


• Kidney and bladder stones
  Unproven Uses: In folk medicine, Golden Rod is used
  internally for rheumatism, gout, diabetes, hemorrhoids,
  prostatic hypertrophy, nervous bronchial asthma, internal
  bleeding, enlargement of the liver, acute exacerbation of
  pulmonary tuberculosis; externally for inflammations of the
  mouth and throat as well as festering wounds

Homeopathic Uses: Solidago virgaurea is used for renal

insufficiency and liver disorders.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Irrigation therapy is c6ntraindicated in cases of edema

resulting from reduced cardiac and/or kidney function.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. The drug possesses a weak potential for sensitiza-

tion. Care must be taken in patients with chronic renal