PDR for Herbal Medicines

366/GRAY WALLFLOWER PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

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

1994.

Great Burnet

Sanguisorba officinalis

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the

fresh aerial parts, the dried herb, the rhizomes and roots.

Flower and Fruit: The composite heads are ovate-oblong.

approximately 1 to 2 cm long and consist of 5 to 10 usually

androgynous flowers. The calyx has 4 dark red-brown tips, 4

stamens with stiffly patent red filaments and yellow anthers.

The smooth, spike-like, quadrangular fruit calyx has 1 carpel

and 1 style and is narrowly winged. The fruit is a nut

enclosed in the perigone tube.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Great Burnet is a semi-rosette shrub

with a strong dark brown root that produces thick fibers and

a short rhizome. The stems are erect, angular, glabrous, and

bifurcated. The rosette leaves are 20 to 40 cm long and

consist of 7 to 15 ovate leaflets, which are cordate at the base

and blue-green beneath. There are only a few cauline leaves.

which taper towards the top.

Characteristics: The brown-red composite head is character-

istic for this plant.

Habitat: The plant is widespread in the northern, temperate

regions of Europe, temperate Asia, and North America.

Production: Great Burnet is the Sanguisorba officinalis plant

in flower. The fresh aerial parts are collected in the wild

during the flowering season. The rhizomes and roots are

harvested in autumn, then washed and dried.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Flavonoids: including among others, rutin, flavonoid sulfates

Tannins: including ellagitannins, sanguinarine H-ll,

casuarinin

Triterpene glycosides: aglycones pomolic acid, tormentolic

acid, including among others, ziyuglycosides I and II

(sanguisorbin), betulinic acid, ursolic acid

Sterols: including beta-sitosterol

EFFECTS
The drug has been credited with decongestant, astringent and
diuretic properties, but no investigation into effects has been
carried out.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug is used internally for female

disorders, menorrhagia during menopause, hot flushes,

dysentery, enteritis, diarrhea, bladder restraint, hemorrhoids,

phlebitis, and varicose veins. Externally, Great Burnet is

used in plaster for wounds and ulcers. Folk medicine uses

included administration of the plant latex as a remedy for

pulmonary tuberculosis.

Chinese Medicine: The Chinese use Great Burnet as an

astringent and hemostyptic for nosebleeds, dysentery, reptile

bites and bloody coughs.

Homeopathic Uses: Among uses in homeopathy are uterine

bleeding, varicose veins and diarrhea.

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: The drug is used internally and

externally. It is available in ground form and is used as an

extract, juice or tea. A plaster is used externally.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every

30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times a day (chronic);

parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once

a day (HAB34).

LITERATURE

Bastow KF et al.. Inhibition of DNA topoisomerase by sanguiin

H-6, a cytotoxic dimeric ellagitannin from Sanguisorba

officinalis. In: PM 59(3):240. 1993.

Chang, EH et al. (Eds), Advances in Chinese Medicinal

Materials Research, World Scientific Pub. Co. Singapore 1985.

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.

Kaneta M et al., Agric Biol Chem 43:657. 1979.

Kashiwada Y, Nonaka GI, Niskioka I, Chang JJ, Lee KH,

Antitumor agents, 129. Tannins and related compounds as

selective cytotoxic agents. In: JNP 55:1033-1043. 1992.

Kosuga T et al., (1981) Yakugaku Zasshi 101(6):501.

Kosuga T et al., (1984) Chem Pharm Bull 32(11):448.

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

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Nonaka GI et al., (1982) J Chem Soc Perkin Trans. 10(4): 1067.

Nonaka GI et al., (1984) Chem Pharm Bull 32(2):483.

Reher G et al., PH 31:3909-3914. 1992.

Sunstar Inc. (1980) Pat. JP 80/120509 Japan.

Tanaka T et al., (1983) Phytochemistry 22(11):2575.