PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS FROSTWORT/321

Schormiiller B, In: Schormiiller J: Alkaloidhaltige Genuf5rriittel,

Gewiirze, Kochsalz, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New

York. 1970.

Thieme H, Nguyen XT, PA 27:255-265. 1972.

4Kb Vostrowsky O et al., Uber die Komponenten des atherischen
Ols aus Estragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.). In: Z Lebensm
Untersuch Forsch 173:365-367. 1981.

Fringetree

Chionanthus virginicus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the dried root or tree

bark.

Flower and Fruit: The tree bears long peduncles of white,

snowdrop-like flowers with fringed petals the same size as

magnolia flowers. The flowers are androgynous, but on some

stalks the flowers are almost exclusively male or female. The

calyx is short and consists of four parts. The four petals are

fused at the base. They are initially green but turn snow

white and extend about 2.5 cm. Two stamens are enclosed in

the short tube. The fruit is 1.5 to 2 cm across, dark blue to

black, and oval and with a hard stone.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Fringetree is a deciduous shrub or

tree up to 10 m tall. The leaves are smooth or downy, oblong

or oval, 7.5 to 20 cm long and opposite. The root bark is

about 3 mm thick and consists of irregular, quilled pieces up

to about 8 cm long. The exterior of the bark is dull brown

with concave scars. The inner surface is smooth and buff

colored. The fracture is short and dense with projecting

bundles of stone cells.

Characteristics: Fringetree is almost odorless and very

bitter. The bark is so dense that, unlike most other barks, it

sinks in water.

Habitat: Fringetree grows in the central and southern U.S.

and also in eastern Asia.

Production: Fringetree root bark is the root bark of

Chionanthus virginicus.

Other Names: Gray Beard Tree, Old Man's Beard, Poison

Ash, Snowflower, White Fringe, Chionanthus, Snowdrop

Tree

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Lignane glycosides: phillyrin (chioanthine)

Saponins

EFFECTS

Fringetree, because of its saponin content, is said to have

hepatic, cholagogue, diuretic and tonic effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Fringetree is used in treatment of the liver

and gallbladder conditions (including gallstones). North

American folk uses include jaundice, hepatatrophy, wounds

and ulcers.

Homeopathic Uses: Although mention is made of significant

homeopathic use, no details are given.

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: Liquid extract and preparations are

administered internally.

LITERATURE

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

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

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Steinegger E, Jacober H, Pharm Acta Helv 34:585. 1959.

Frostwort

Helianthemum canadense

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the herb.

Flower and Fruit: The plant flowers twice each season, once

early and again near the end. The first flowers are flat with

large, bright yellow petals. The second flowers are in

terminal clusters.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial that grows 3

to 6 cm high and has a simple, erect and sparsely branched

white stem. The few branches are slender and purplish-green

with opposite leaves and leaf scars. The leaves are linear, up

to 1.5 cm long, grayish-green and downy.

Characteristics: The taste is astringent and bitter. The plant

is odorless.

Habitat: Frostwort is indigenous to the eastern U.S., but is

now also found in Europe.

Production: Frostwort is the aerial part of Helianthemum

canadense.