374/GROUND PINE PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINESHabitat: Sandy, stony areas of southern Britain and parts of
Europe.
Other Names: Yellow Bugle
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Volatile oil
Diterpene bitter principles
Caffeic acid derivatives: including rosemary acidEFFECTS
Emmenagogue (stimulates menstrual flow), stimulant,
diuretic.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Ground Pine is used for gout, rheumatism
and gynecological disorders.
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: Ground Pine is available in
compounded preparations as a liquid extract for internal use.
LITERATURE
Camps F, et al.. (1985) An Quim 8IC(l):74-75.
Kooiman P, (1972) Acta Bot Nederl 21(4):417.Groundsel
Senecio vulgaris
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the herb collected
during the flowering season.
Flower and Fruit: The yellow composite flowers are in
compact cymes. The small capitula have tubular florets but
no lingual ones. The bract calyx is globose. The involucre
and the very short outer bracts have black tips. The fruit is
1.2 to 2 mm long and densely downy. The pappus, which is 3
times as long as the fruit, is silky and pure white.Leaves, Stem and Root: Groundsel grows from about 10 to
30 cm high. It is annual, biennial or occasionally perennial.
The plant has a thin, fusiform, pale root, which is densely
covered in lateral roots. The stem is erect, simple or
branched. The leaves are glabrous or cobweb-lanate and
pinnatisect. The lower leaves narrow to the petiole; the upper
ones are slit at the base and clasping. The tips are detached,
oblong, obtuse and unevenly acute dentate.
Habitat: The plant is common in all of Europe, northern and
central Asia, northern Africa and has been introduced into
various other parts of Africa as well as Australia and the
Americas.Production: Groundsel is the flowering plant of Senecio
vulgaris. The herb is gathered in uncultivated regions and
dried in the shade.
Other Names: Grundy Swallow, Ground Glutton, Simson
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (up to 0.16% in the fresh foliage):
chief alkaloids are senecionine, seneciphylline
Flavonoids: including among others, isorhamnetin-3-O-glu-
cosides, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinosides, isorhamnetin-3-
monosulphate
Volatile oil (traces)
EFFECTS
The toxic principles of the drug are the pyrrolizidine
alkaloids, which are hepatotoxic and carcinogenic. Use of
Groundsel for worm infestation can be explained by the high
toxicity of the drug.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Internal use of Groundsel is not recom-
mended because, similar to S. jacoboeae, it contains toxic
and carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Prior uses have
included the treatment of worm infestations, colic and
epilepsy. The pressed juice has been used for dysmenorrhea,
epilepsy, and as a styptic in dentistry.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
Groundsel should not be taken internally because hepatotox-
icity and carcinogenicity are possible due to the pyrrolizidine
alkaloids with 1,2-unsaturated necic parent substances in its
makeup.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Internal use of Groundsel is not
advised.
LITERATURE
Bull LB et al. in: The Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids, Pub. Wiley NY
1968.
Mansour RMA, Saleh, NAM (1981) Phytochemistry 20:1180.
Quails CW, Segall H J (1978) J Chrom. 15:202.
Toppel G, Hartmann T (1986) Planta Med 6:25P.
Van Borstel K et al., PH 28:1635-1638. 1989.
Van Dooren Bos R et al., (1981) Planta Med 42:385.
Further information in:
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6