PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS /543

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindications to internal use include inflammatory

illnesses of the gastrointestinal area or of the biliary ducts,

and severe liver diseases.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards or side effects are known in

conjunction with the proper administration of designated

therapeutic dosages. The internal administration of Niauli oil

as a drug leads, in rare cases, to nausea, vomiting and

diarrhea.

Drug Interactions: Niauli oil contains 35-60% cineole.

Cineole causes the induction of the enzymes involved in the

detoxification of the liver. The effect of other drugs can

therefore be reduced and/or shortened.

Pediatric Use: Preparations containing the oil should not be

applied to the faces of infants or small children, since glottal

spasm, bronchial spasm and asthma-like attacks are possible,

as is respiratory failure.

OVERDOSAGE

Overdosages of Niauli oil (more than 10 gm), can lead to

life-threatening poisonings due to the high cineole content.

Symptoms include, among others, fall in blood pressure,

circulatory disorders, collapse and respiratory failure. In case

of poisoning, vomiting should not be induced because of the

danger of aspiration. Following administration of activated

charcoal, the therapy for poisonings consists of treating

spasms with diazepam (i.v.). treating colics with atropine,

electrolyte substitution and treating possible cases of acidosis

with sodium bicarbonate infusions. Intubation and oxygen

respiration may also be necessary.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The oil and other galenic prepara-

tions are for internal and external application.

Preparation: Oily nose drops are prepared in a 2 to 5%

concentration in vegetable oil. For external use, preparations

contain 10 to 30% active ingredient in oil.

Daily Dosage: For internal use, the single dose is 0.2 gm,

with the daily dosage ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 gm.

LITERATURE
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997.

Nicotiana tabacum

See Tobacco

Night-Blooming Cereus

Selenicereus grandiflorus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh or dried

flowers, the fresh young stems and flowers, and the fresh

young shoots and sprouts.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are 18 to 25 cm long and

have a diameter of 15 to 27 cm. They have numerous, long-

acute, lanceolate tepals that are arranged in a spiral. The

outer tepals are brown; the middle ones are light yellow and

the inner ones are spatulate to acute, lanceolate and snow

white. The numerous stamens are white and have yellow

anthers. The styles with the 4-rayed stigmas become yellow

toward the top. The ovary is globular and bumpy, with

triangular scales and many brownish-gray hairs and thorns,

which are approximately 10 mm long, dark brown and

bristly.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant has a succulent trunk as

well as a 1 to 4 cm thick snake-like, creeping or climbing,

branched stem, which can grow to 10 m long or longer. The

stem is 4- to 8-sided, green to bluish, has no bumps and is

covered in adventitious roots. It has white tomentose axis

buds on the protruding vertical ribs with 6 to 11 needle-like

thorns that are 4 to 6 mm long.

Characteristics: The plant has sweet-smelling flowers,

which only bloom for about 6 hours before dying.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Central America and is

cultivated in Mexico and also in Europe.

Production: The young shoots and flowers are harvested in

June or July and then preserved in alcohol. Some cultivated

production is done in greenhouse settings, particularly in

Europe.

Not to be Confused With: Confusion can arise with the

flowers of Opuntia maxima, Selenicereus hamatus, and

Selenicereus pteranthus. The drug is adulterated commercial-

ly with the flowers of Opuntia vulgaris and Opuntia ficus-

indica.

Other Names: Sweet-Scented Cactus

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Flavonoids (1.5%): including among others, narcissin, rutin,

I cacticine, kaempferitine, grandiflorin, hyperoside