PDR for Herbal Medicines

354 /GOAT'S RUE PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Steinegger E. Hansel R. Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
   Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl.. Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Golden Ragwort

Senecio aureus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh plant

harvested during the flowering season and the dried herb.

Flower and Fruit: The few capitula are in a loose, many-

blossomed corymb that is up to 2.5 cm wide. They are

surrounded by a double involucre and consist of 8 to 12

yellow lingual, female florets. There are also numerous

androgynous, tubular ray florets, which are somewhat

darker.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The perennial plant grows up to 60

cm tall. The rhizome is 2 to 5 cm thick, has numerous

thread-like roots, and produces an erect or ascending stem.

The root bark is hard and blackish. It surrounds a ring of

whitish, woody bundles and a large, dark, central pith. The

stem is fluffy-haired when young, later glabrous, and bears

alternate leaves. The basal leaves grow up to 15 cm long.

They are long-petioled, simple, round, and reniform with a

cordate base. The cauline leaves are shorter, incised and

pinnatifid, becoming bracts.

Characteristics: The herb has a bitter and astringent taste.

The smell is slightly acrid.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to North America.

Other Names: Squaw Weed, Golden Senecio, Golden

Groundsel, Ragwort, Coughweed, Cocash Weed, Grundy

Swallow, Life Root

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids: chief alkaloids are floridanine,

florosenine, otosenine

Sesquiterpenes of the eremophilane-type: including among

others, ligularenolide, tetrahydroligularenolide, dehydrofuki-

none, trans-9-oxofuranoeremophilane

Flavonoids: including among others, kaempferol-3-O-gluco-
syl acetate, quercetin-3-O-glucosyl acetate

EFFECTS

The active agents are seneciionin (aurein), other alkaloids,

and resins. The drug has menstruation stimulant, diuretic,

and astringent properties, although the mode of action has

not been documented. The ^pyrrolizidine alkaloids are

hepatotoxic and carcinogenic.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Life Root is used for loss of blood

(bleeding) and menopausal symptoms.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Life Root should not be taken internally. Hepatotoxicity and

carcinogenicity are possible due to the pyrrolizidine alka-

loids and 1,2-unsaturated necic parent substances.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Internal use of Life Root is not

recommended.

Daily Dosage: The traditional average daily dose of the drug

as a liquid extract is 4 g taken 3 to 4 times daily. (See

Precautions and Adverse Reactions.)

LITERATURE

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

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

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Nachmann RJ, PH 22:780-782. 1983.

Resch JF et al., PM 47:255. 1983.

Roder E et al., (1983) Planta Med 49:57.

Roder E, DAZ 132:2427. 1992.

Zalkow LH et al., (1979) J Chem Soc Perkin Trans. 1:1542.

Golden Shower Tree

Cassia fistula

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the

bark, fruit and seeds.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in loose, hanging, 30 to

50 cm long racemes. There are 5 pale yellow, ovate petals.

The diameter of the corolla is approximately 3.8 cm. The

calyx is deeply divided and 5-toothed. There are 10 stamens.

The fruit is a legume, 30 to 60 cm long, hanging and

indehiscent.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Cassia fistula is a tree, that grows up

to 9 m high. The leaves are 20 to 40 cm long, 4- to 8-paired

pinnate. The leaf spindle is hairy and the leaflet is petiolate,

ovate to oval, acuminate, 5 to 12 cm long, 4 to 9 cm wide