PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,

Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und

pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New

York 1995.

Hempnettle

Galeopsis segetum

TRADE NAMES

Hempnettle is available from numerous manufacturers.

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the flowering herb.

Flower and Fruit: The large, pale yellow, bilabiate flowers

are in false whorls on the branch ends. The calyx is evenly 5-

dentate and covered in patent glandular hairs. The upper lip

of the corolla is domed, finely dentate and pubescent. The

lateral tips of the 3-lobed lower lip are wide, obtuse and have

1 hollow erect tooth at either side of the base. The stamen

halves are horizontal. The fruit is smooth.

W* Leaves, Stem and Root: The herb grows 15 to 100 cm high.

The stem is erect, heavily branched and downy, with

unthickened nodes. The leaves are ovate and serrate. The

lower ones are long petiuled, the upper are short petioled.

Habitat: Hempnettle is found in southern and central Europe.

Production: Hempnettle consists of the aboveground parts of

Galeopsis segetum Necker (synonym Galeopsis ochroleuca

Lamarck) and is gathered in the wild during the flowering

season.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Iridoide monoterpenes: including harpagide, 8-O-acetylhar-

pagide, antirrinoside, 5-O-glucosylantirrinoside

Silicic acid (to some extent water-soluble)

Tannins

Flavonoids

4|- EFFECTS
The herb acts as expectorant, due to its saponin content, and
as an astringent because of the tannins, silicic acid, iridoids
and antirrhinoside.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Approved by Commission E:

M Cough

• Bronchitis

HENBANE/389

Unproven Uses: In folk medicine, the herb is used for

pulmonary afflictions and as a diuretic.

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: Ground and cut herb for teas and

other galenic preparations for internal use.

Preparation: To prepare an infusion, pour boiling water over

2 g of comminuted drug, strain after 5 minutes.

Daily Dosage: Average daily dose: 6 g drug. One cup of the

infusion may be taken several times daily and, if preferred,

sweetened with honey.

LITERATURE

Junod-Busch U. Dissertation ETH Zurich. 1976.

Kern W. List PH. Horhammer L (Hrsg.). 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.

Tomas-Barberan FA et al.. PH 30:3311. 1991.

Steinegger E, Hansel R. Pharmakognosie. 5. Aufl., Springer

Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

Wichtl M (Hrsg.). Teedrogen. 4. Aufl.. Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Henbane

Hyoscyamus niger

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried leaves or

the dried leaves with the flowering branches, the dried seeds

and the whole fresh flowering plant.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in almost sessile terminal,

one-sided leafy and revolute spikes. The calyx is jug-shaped,

5-tipped and does not drop. The corolla is funnel-shaped, 5-

lobed, dirty yellow with violet veins and dark violet in the

tube. The flower has 1 superior ovary and 5 stamens. The

fruit is a swollen pixidium with up to 200 seeds. The seeds

are gray-brown, pitted, slightly reniform, compressed, 1 to

1.3 mm long and 1 mm wide.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is erect and grows up to 80

cm high. It is an herb with simple leaves. The root is

fusiform and turnip-like at the top. The stem is erect and

sticky-villous. The leaves are oblong, roughly crenate-den-

tate and gray-green. The basal leaves are petiolate, and the

cauline leaves are stem clasping.