PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS OAK/ 549

The daily dosages for various preparations are as follows:

liquid (0.05 to 2 ml), extract (0.005 gm, with a maximun

dose of 0.1 gm), tincture (0.5 to 2 ml (BP80), or Strychni-

num nitricum (maximum single dose of 0.005 gm).

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every

30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);

parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc, acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once

a day (HAB1).

Storage: Mark the container as "poisonous" and keep

tightly sealed; protect the drug from cool air and light.

LITERATURE

Bisset NG, Phillipson JD, JNP 39:263. 1976.

Galeffi C, ETH:2:129-134. 1980.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Maier W, Groger D, Pharm Zentralhalle 107:883. 1968.

Marini-Bettolo GB, Advances in the research of curare and

Strychnos. In: Rend Accad Naz 40:1975-1976, 1-2, 61-76.

1977. Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen.
      Pflanzengifte, 4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech
      1993, ^r- _ -

Rodriguez F et al. PH 18:2065. 1980.

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

Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

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

Stuttgart 1997.

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 19915.

Nymphaea odorata

See American White Pond Lily

Oak

Quercus robur

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried bark of

the young branches and the lateral shoots, the dried bark of

the trunk and branches, the dried leaves of various oak

species and the seed kernels without the seed coats.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are reddish brown and

monoecious. The male flowers consist of a 5-part perigone

with 6 to 10 stamens that appear in small groups in limp,

hanging catkins. The female flowers, solitary or in groups of

up to 5, appear in a involucre which clasps the base of the

fruit and which later becomes bowl-shaped. The fruit is

solitary or in groups of up to 5 on 1 shared, glabrous or

occasionally sparsely pubescent stem. They are oblong-

ovdte, acuminate and enclosed in the cupule.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The tree is about 50 m high with a

broad, irregular, heavily branched crown and a trunk which

divides into gnarled, strong, bent branches. The bark is

deeply fissured, thick and grey-brown. The leaves are short-

petioled, almost sessile, oblong-obovate, almost lobed,

usually cordate or polled at the base.

Habitat: The tree is widespread in Europe, Asia Minor and

the Caucasus region.

Production: Oak bark consists of the dried bark of young

branches and saplings of Quercus robur and/or Quercus

petraea, harvested in the spring, as well as their preparations.

Oak bark is harvested from March to April. The trees fall

every 10 years. The bark is dried rapidly.

Other Names: Common Oak, Pedunculate Oak, English Oak,

Tanner's Bark

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Catechin tannins: oligomeric proanthocyanidins

Ellagitannins: (including castalagin, pedunculagin, vesvalag-

in, 2,3-(S)-hexahydroxy diphenoyl glucose), flavano-ellagi-

tannins (acutissimins A and B, eugenigrandin, guajavacin B,

stenophyllanin C)

Gallo tannins

Monomeric and dimeric catechins and leucocyanidins

Tannins (12 to 16%)

EFFECTS

The drug, which contains tannins, is astringent, antiphlogis-

tic, antiviral and anthelmintic.