PDR for Herbal Medicines

490/MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA

Macrocystis pyrifera

See Brown Kelp

Madder

Rubia tinctorum

TRADE NAMES

Madder Whole Root (available from numerous manufactures

and as combination product)

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the dried root.

Flower and Fruit: The small yellowish-green flowers are in

loose, leafy, long-peduncled terminal or axillary cymes. The

margin of the calyx is indistinct, 4 to 5 sectioned and has a

tip which is curved inward. There are 5 stamens and an

inferior ovary. The fruit is a black, pea-sized glabrous,

smooth drupe containing 2 seeds.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The perennial plant grows from 60

to 100 cm high. The pencil-thick rhizome creeps widely

underground. The stem is quadrangular with backward

turning prickles at the edges. The stems are at times so thin

that they are more descendent than erect. The leaves are in

whorls, in fours below, in sixes above. They are oblong to

lanceolate with 1 rib and are protrudingly reticulate beneath.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Southern Europe,

Western Asia and North Africa and is cultivated elsewhere.

Production: Madder root consists of the dried root of Rubia

tinctorunLjis well as its preparations.

Other Nam'es'^Dyer's Madder, Robbia'"'"

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Anthracene derivatives (rubiadins, 2 to 4%): chief compo-

nents alizarin, lucidin, pseudopurpurin (purpurin carboxylic

acid), purpurin, rubiadin and die glucosides and/or the

primerosides of these compounds.

EFFECTS

Madder root inhibits calcium oxalate crystallization in the

kidney. Lucidin is the toxic principle and is mutagenic.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Madder root is used to dissolve kidney
stones

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
Because of the possible carcinogenic effect of the rubiadins,
the drug should not be administered.

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

DOSAGE

How Supplied:

Liquid — 1:4

LITERATURE

Anonym, Rubiae-tinctorum-radix-haltige Humanarzneimittel,

Widerruf der Zulassung. In: DAZ 133(11):888. 1993.

BGA, Arzneimittelrisiken: Anthranoide. In: DAZ 132(21): 1164.

1992.

Courchesne M. Brassard P, Identification and characterization of

naturally occuring rubiadins. In: JNP 56(5):722. 1993.

Nung V N et al., (1971) Plant Med Phytother 5:177.

Schumann C. Apotheker und die Entwicklung der Farberei. In:

PZ 140(39):3446-3451. 1995.

Westendorf J. Phytotberapie: Anthranoide in Arzneipflanzen. In:

DAZ 133(25 ):2345. 1993.

Westendorf J, Poginskky B, Marquardt H, Marquardt H, The

genotoxicity of Lucidin, a natural component of Rubia

tinctorum L., and lucidinmethylether, a component of ethanolic

Rubia extracts. In: Cell Biol Toxicol in press. 19.

Further information in:

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. AufL Wiss. Verlags-

Ges. Stuttgart 1997.

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.

Thomson RH, Naturally Occuring Quinones, 2nd Ed., Academic

Press New York 1971.

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

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

Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und

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

York 1995.

Magnolia

Magnolia glauca

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The bark is the medicinal part.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The inner bark occurs in long,

fibrous strips. The outer surface is rough, almost granular

and pitted. The inner surface is striated but almost smooth.

The fracture is short with the inner part tough and fibrous.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to North America.