458/LARCH PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINESLITERATURE
Freudenberg K, Weinges K, (1959) Tetrahedron Letters 17:19.
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8: Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. 1969.Larix decidua
See Larch
Larkspur
Delphinium consolida
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the seeds of the
plant.Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in short racemes and are
blue, pink or purple. The petals are fused to a helmet-like
form with a honey spur at the back, which reaches into the
back of the 5 sepals. There is usually only 1 glabrous ovary,
but numerous stamens. The fruit is a follicle with black,
flattened seeds, which have sharp edges and a scarred
surface.Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant grows from 15 to 40 cm.
Larkspur is an annual and has a thin stem that is sparsely
branched from the middle. The leaves are alternate and
divided into narrow linear sections. The lowers ones are
petioled and the upper ones sessile.Habitat:_E^ope, western U.S.
Production: DetpWfhium flower consists of the* flowers of
Delphinium consolida.Not to be Confused With: the flowers of Delphinium oriental.
Other Names: Knight's Spur, Lark Heel, Lark's Claw,
Lark's Toe, Staggerweed
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Diterpene alkaloids: chief alkaloid delphinine
The presence of alkaloids has sometimes been described in
the literature but they cannot always be found.EFFECTS
No information is available.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Larkspur is obsolete. It is used only as an
inactive ingredient in tea mixtures. Preparations of delphini-
um flower are sometimes used as a diuretic and vermifuge,
as a sedative and an appetite stimulant. In folk medicine,
Larkspur is used occasionally as a diuretic. It was formerly
used as an anthelmintic.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
Health risks or side effects following the proper administra-
tion of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded.
OVERDOSAGE
Although the delphine has a paralyzing effect upon peripher-
al and motor nerve endings and the central nervous system,
poisonings among humans by Delphinium consolida have
never been observed.Toxic dosages in animal experiments have led to death
through asphyxiation (LD50 rabbits 1.5-3.0 mg/kg body
weight, I.V.). Poisonings of animals with fatal results by
Delphinium species are particularly frequent in the U.S.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Since the efficacy of Delphinium
and its preparations is not documented, a therapeutic
administration cannot be recommended.
Preparation: Larkspur is found only in teas, often as an
inactive ingredient.
LITERATURE
Atta-ur-Rahman AM, Nasreen A, Akhtar F, Shekhani MS,
Clardy J, Parvez M, Choudhary MI, Antifungal diterpenoid
alkaloids from Delphinium denudatum. J Nat Prod, 60:472-4,
1997 May.
Bhandary KK, Ramasubbu N, Joshi BS, Desai HK, Pelletier
SW, Structure of delvestine: a norditerpenoid alkaloid from
Delphinium vestitum Wall. Acta Crystallogr C, 59:1704-7, 1990
Sep 15.
Ding LS, Chen WX, Diterpenoid alkaloids from Delphinium
kamaonense var. glabrescens. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao, 59:438-40,
1990.
Gheorgiu A et al., Ann Pharm Frnac 22 (1964), 49.
Manners GD, Panter KE, Pelletier SW, Structure-activity
relationships of norditerpenoid alkaloids occurring in toxic
larkspur (Delphinium) species. J Nat Prod, 59:863-9, 1995 Jun.
Yum L, Wolf KM, Chiappinelli VA, Description of a scale for
rating the clinical response of cattle poisoned by larkspur. Am J
Vet Res, 41:488-93, 1991 Mar.
Further information in:
Alkondon M, Pereira EF, Wonnacott S, Albuquerque EX,
Blockade of nicotinic currents in hippocampal neurons defines
methyllycaconitine as a potent and specific receptor antagonist.
Mol Pharmacol, 41:802-8, 1992 Apr.
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Ed), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 1969.