HERBAL MONOGRAPHS NUTMEG/545LITERATURE
Hirazumi A, Furusawa E, Chou SC, Hokama Y,
Immunomodulation contributes to the anticancer activity of
morinda citrifolia (noni) fruit juice. Planta Med, 39:7-9, 1996.
Younos C, Rolland A, Fleurentin J, Lanhers MC, Misslin R,
Mortier F, Analgesic and behavioral effects of Morinda
citrifolia. Planta Med, 56:430-4, 1990 Oct.Northern Prickly Ash
Zanthoxylum americanum
TRADE NAMES
Prickly Ash Autumn-Harvested
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the root bark and
the berries.
Flower and Fruit: The greenish-yellow flowers are in
terminal umbels. The fruit is black or deep blue and enclosed
in a gray shell.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an aromatic shrub or
0k small tree up to 3 m tall. The branches are alternate and the
leaves pinnatifid. The bark and the petioles are covered in
sharp spines about 5 mm long. The bark is brownish-gray on
the outside and faintly furrowed with whitish patches and
flattened spines that are about 5 mm long.
Characteristics: The leaves and berries have an aromatic
lemon-like fragrance, and the bark has a pungent, acrid taste.
Habitat: The plant grows in North America.
Other "rfSrnes:' Prickly Ash, Toothache Tree, Yellow Wood,
Suterberry "'"' -~ " *"-
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Pyranocoumarins: xanthoxyletin (xanthoxyloin), xanthyle-
tin, alloxanthyletin
Isoquinoline alkaloids: chelerythrine, berberine, N-methyl-
isocorydine, laurifoline, magnoflorine, nitidine
Volatile oil' Resins
EFFECTS
No information is available.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Northern Prickly Ash is used for low blood
pressure, rheumatic disorders, fever and inflammation.
Indian Medicine: The drug is used for toothache, headache,
eye and ear conditions, dyspeptic symptoms, colic, flatu-lence, worm infestation, diarrhea, fever, coughs, asthma,
paralyses and leprosy.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.
OVERDOSAGE
Overdosage is said to lead to salivation, increased cardiac
function and elevated blood pressure. Severe poisonings
resulting from intake of the drug have not been recorded.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Liquid extract, in preparations and
in combinations.
How Supplied: Liquid extract—1:4
LITERATURE
Fish F et al., (1975) Lloydia 38:268.
Fish F, Waterman PG, (1973) J Pharm Pharmac. 25S, 115.
Kern W, List PH, Hdrhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8: Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
Leung AY, Encyclopedia-of Common Natural Ingredients Used
in Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York
1980.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Oliver-Bever B (Ed.), Medicinal Plants of Tropical West Africa,
Cambridge University Press, Cambrigde 1986.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Nutmeg
Myristica fragrans
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are die nutmeg seeds,
which through various processes yield several therapeutic
components. They include the essential oil of the seed; the
compressed, dried aril; the mixture of fat, oil and color
pigment from the pressed seeds; the dried seed kernels freed
from the aril and shell of the nut; calcified seed kernels; and
the dried seed kernels.
Flower and Fruit: Myristica fragans is either male or female,
although mere are male trees with female flowers and fruit
The flowers are unisexual. The male flowers are in sparsely
flowered inflorescence; the female ones are solitary and
inconspicuous. The flowers have a simple 3-lobed involucre;
the filaments are fused to a tube. The fruit ripens 7 to 10