PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

False Schisandra

Kadsura japonica

DESCRIPTION

^pt Medicinal Parts: The fruit of the plant is considered to have

medicinal value, but efficacy has not been documented.

Flower and Fruit: Single axillary flowers on up to 4 cm

long, purple stems; there are 9 to 15 white, reddish or yellow

tepals. Male flowers have numerous stamens; female flowers

have numerous carpels and a superior ovary. The fruit is a

berry-like, globose aggregate fruit.

Leaves, Stem and Root: This dioecious climbing shrub has

leaves that are 6 to 11 cm long, elliptical to lanceolate,

simple, pergament-like with a slightly crenate margin.

Habitat: Indigenous to Japan.

Production: False Schisandra fruit are the dried fruits of

Kadsura japonica. They are collected in the wild.

Not to be Confused With: Schisandra chinensis

Other Names: Kadsura fruit

" ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatile oil: including germacrene C

Lignans: dibenzo[a,c]cyclooctene lignans, including binan-

kadsurin-A-ester

EFFECTS

Although clinically unsubstantiated, False Schisandra fruit is

credited in classical Chinese-Tibetan medicine with an

efficacy analogous to that of Schisandra fruit. That drug

exhibits liver-protective, inflammation- and tumor-inhibit-

ing, neuroleptic and anti-convulsive effects, as well as a non-

specific enhancement of physical performance ability.

Experimental documentation regarding analogous efficacy of

kadsura fruit has not been forthcoming, however.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The fruit is used for chronic coughs and

asthma, chronic diarrhea, enuresis, spermatorrhoea, night

sweats and insomnia.

H Chinese Medicine: The fruit is used as an analgesic for pains
in the bones, ligaments, stomach and during menstruation, as
well as for spontaneous, painful local swellings.
DOSAGE
Preparation: Before being dried and cut, the fruits are
simmered in vinegar.

Daily Dosage: 1.5 to 6 g

Chinese Dosage: 9 to 15 g drug daily

FALSE UNICORN ROOT/301

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper

administration of designated therapeutic dosages.

LITERATURE

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Ed), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York,

l992-1994.

False Unicorn Root

Veratrum luteum

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the root.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are numerous, greenish-

white, without covering leaves. They are dioecious and

arranged in terminal racemes of 15 cm with nod-like

feathers. The petals are narrow and shorter than the stamens,

while the filaments taper to a point. The anthers are terminal

and 2-lobed. The petals of the female flowers are linear, the

stamens short, and the ovary ovate, deltoid and grooved. The

stigmas are oblong, have 3 grooves and open upward. The

fruit is numerous and capsule-like, compressed and acute.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial with a strong

leafy stem 30 to 90 cm high. The stem is undivided, smooth

and angular. The foliage leaves are alternate; the lower ones

spatulate and the upper ones lanceolate. The basal leaves are

20 cm long, 1.25 cm wide, narrow and whorled at the base.

The rhizome is tuberous and stunted. It is approximately 1.25

cm long.

Characteristics: False Unicom Root has a bitter taste.

Habitat: The plant grows in the Mississippi Delta region.

Production: False Unicorn Root is the rhizome of Veratrum

luteum.

Other Names: Starwort, Helonias Root, Blazing Star, Fairy-

Wand

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Steroid saponins: (mixture is referred to as chamaelirin, ca.

10%), aglycone diosgenin

EFFECTS

Oxytocic, diuretic, anthelmintic

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: False Unicom Root is used for menstrual

disturbances, dysmenorrhea and pregnancy complaints.