PDR for Herbal Medicines

322 /FROSTWORT PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Other Names: Frost Plant. Frostweed, Rock-Rose, Sun Rose

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Tannins

Glycoside: helianthinin

The constituents of the drug have not been fully investigated.

EFFECTS

Frostwort is astringent and tonic.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

The herb is used internally for digestive disorders and

externally for ulcers.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Health risks or side effects following the proper administra-

tion of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Frostwort is administered as a

liquid extract.

LITERATURE

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

Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 4. Aufl., 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.

Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und

pflanzliche Homopathika. Fischer-Verlag. Stuttgart, Jena. New

York 1995.

Fucus vesiculosus

See Bladderwrack

Fumaria officinalis

See Fumitory

Fumitory

Fumaria officinalis

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried herb and

the aerial parts of the fresh flowering plant.

Flower and Fruit: The short pedicled flowers are in erect,
dense, terminal racemes opposite the leaves and are 5 to 8
mm long. The outer petals are rounded at the front and are

crimson to pink. But like the inner petals they are dark-red to

black at the tip and have a green keel. The fruit, which

appears in the flowering season, is nut-like, globular, slightly

flattened at the side, green and has a dent in the top.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is 10 to 50 cm high and ^

has a tender, erect, angular, branched, hollow and glabrous

stem which, like the leaves, is bluish green. The leaves are

alternate and divided into 3-pinnate sections. They are

petiolate, double pinnate, soft with petioled palmate or

pinnatifid pinna.

Characteristics: The herb has a bitter, salty taste.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean region

to northern Africa and in all of Europe and Siberia. The herb

has been introduced into North and South America.

Production: Common Fumitory herb consists of the dried,

above ground parts of Fumaria officinalis, gathered during

the flowering season.

Not to be Confused With: The very similar species F.

vaillanti and F. schleicheri.

Other Names: Earth Smoke, Hedge Fumitory, Beggary, ^

Fumus, Vapor, Wax Dolls

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Flavonoids: including rutin

Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives: including caffeoylmalic

acid

Isoquinoline alkaloids: some of them include -

Protoberberine-type: including (-)-scoulerine

Protopine-type: including protopine; main alkaloid

Spirobenzylisoquinoline-type: fumaricine, (+)-fumariline

Indenobenzazepine-type: including fumaritine, fumarofine

Organic acids: fumaric acid

EFFECTS

Fumitory has a light, antispasmodic effect on the bile ducts

and the gastrointestinal tract. It is also amphicholeretic.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Liver and gallbladder complaints

Spastic discomfort in the area of the gallbladder and bile

ducts, as well as the gastrointestinal tract.

Unproven Uses: In folk medicine, the herb has been used for

skin diseases, constipation, cystitis, arteriosclerosis, rheuma-