PDR for Herbal Medicines

306 /FEVER BARK PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug is used as a febrifuge and

stimulant and for its reserpine content. In the past, it was

used to treat rheumatism.

Chinese Medicine: In the Far East, Fever Bark is used for

diarrhea and malaria. It has also been used as a uterine

stimulant.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. Due to the presence of pharmacologically active

indole alkaloids of the beta-carbolin type, side effects may

resemble those of Rauwolfia. Symptoms of poisoning

following the intake of higher dosages are conceivable.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The forms available are powder,

liquid extract, infusion and tincture. Up-to-date information

on usage is not available.

Preparation: Fever Bark is available as an infusion, 1:20, a

tincture, 1:8 or 1:10 and as a liquid extract, 1:1.

Daily Dosage: The average daily dose of the infusion is 15

to 20 ml; tincture, 2 to 4 ml; liquid extract, 4 to 8 ml.

LITERATURE

Atta-ur-Rahman AM, et al., (1985) Phytochemistry 24:2771.

Chopra RN, et al., (Eds.) Chopra's Indigeneous Drugs of India,

Vol 1, Dhur and Sons Calcutta 1938.

Goyal H, et al., (1981) J Res Ayur Siddha. 2 (3):286.

Khan I. Qureshi Z, (1967) J Pharm Pharmacol 19:815.

Kucera MV, et al., (1973) Afric J Pharm Pharm Sci: 3228.

Oliver-Bever B (Ed.), Medicinal Plants of Tropical West Africa,

Cambridge University Press Cambridge, London 1986.

Sharp TM, (1934) J Chem Soc 287.

Further information in:

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Feverfew

Tahacetum parthenium

TRADE NAMES
Feverfew (available from numerous manufacturers), Fever-
few Extract, Herbal Sure Feverfew, NuVeg Feverfew Leaf,
Premium Feverfew Leaf, Feverfew Traditional Herb, Stand-
ardized Feverfew Extract, Feverfew Leaf, Mygrafew

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the herb of the

plant.

Flower and Fruit: The 5 to 20 composite flower heads are in

a dense corymb. The epicalyx has a diameter of 6 to 8 mm.

The lingual florets are white and female. The ray florets are

2.5 to 7 mm. The achenes are 1.2 to 1.5 mm and 5- lo 8-

ribbed.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a strongly aromatic

perennial. The leaves are pinnatisect to pinnatifid and

yellowish-green. The basal and lower cauline leaves are

more or less ovate with 3 to 7 oblong-elliptical to ovate

segments, which are subpinnately divided. They are crenate

or entire-margined.

Habitat: The plant originated in southeastern Europe and is

now found all over Europe, Australia and North America.

Production: Feverfew leaves are the leaves of Tanacetum

parthenium. The plant is cut before full flowering. It is dried

in thin layers in the shade, at temperatures not exceeding 35°

C.

Other Names: Featherfew, Featherfoil, Midsummer Daisy

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatile oil (0.75%): chief constituents are L-camphor, trans-

chrysanthyl acetate, including, camphene, p-cymene, gam-

ma-terpinene, D-germacrene, linalool, borneol,

terpinenes-4-ol

Sesquiterpene lactones: especially parthenolide, and also 3-

beta-hydroxy-parthenolide, costunolid, reynosin, 8-beta-hy-

droxy-reynosin, tanaparthin-alpha-peroxide, canin, artecanin,

secotanapartholide A

Flavonoids: including apigenin-7-0-glucuronide, chrysoer-

iol-7-0-glucuronide, luteolin-7-0-glucuronide, luteolin-7-0-

glucoside, tanetin

Polyynes: presumably only in fresh plants

EFFECTS

Sesquiterpene lactones, especially parthenolide, are the

active compounds in Feverfew (Groenewegen, 1986; Sum-

ner, 1992). Parthenolide, although a key determinant of

biological activity for Tanacetum parthenium leaf extracts, is

not the sole pharmacologically active constituent (Brown,

1997). Other sespuiterpene lactones such as 3-beta-hydroxy-

parthenolide, secotanapartholide A, canin and artecanin,

contain an alpha-methylene butyrolactone unit responsible

for anti-secretory (anti-inflammatory) activity (Groeneweg-

en, 1986). Physiochemical methods were used to measure

partholide in several purported commercial Feverfew prod-

ucts. The results found a wide variation in partholide content