HERBAL MONOGRAPHS OATS /551Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant grows as a shrub or small
tree, diclinous and monoecious. The leaves are alternate,
approximately 5 cm long, short-petiolate, elongate, sinuate,
roughly thorny-tipped serrate.
Characteristics: Apical galls are formed by the laying of
eggs by the gall wasp (Andricus gallae-tinctoriae) in the
young leaf buds.
Habitat: The various Quercus species originated in Iran, Iraq
and Turkey, but are now widespread and particularly
common in Asia Minor, Europe and North Africa.
Production: Oak Gall is the gall of Quercus infectoria
produced by gall wasps (Andricus gallae-tinktoriae) laying
their eggs in the leaf buds. The development of the larva
probably stimulates the bud as an infection would and
produces the gall as a reaction.
Other Names: Gallinaccia Oak
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Tannins (60 to 70%): gallotannins, particularly hexa- and
heptagalloyl-glucoses
Phenol carboxylic acids: gallic acid (3%), ellagic acid (2%)
EFFECTS
The astringent quality of the drug can be explained by the
tannins it contains. The dry extract exhibits analgetic,
hypoglycemic and sedative-hypnotic efficacy.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: External uses include treatment of inflam-
mation of the skin and frostbite and as an adjuvant in the
treatment of infectious skin conditions. Oak gall is used
exterrilury "for chilblains and gingivitis, for which efficacy
appears plausible but has not yet beeti sufficiently
documented.
Indian Medicine: Uses include intestinal hemorrhaging,
coughing blood, diarrhea, dysentery, ulcerative stomatitis,
coughs, bronchitis, dyspepsia, fever, gonorrhea, leucorrhea,
menorrhagia, impetigo, eczema, hemorrhoids, pharyngody-
nia, diabetes, hyperhidrosis and tonsillitis.
Chinese Medicine: Dysentery, hyperhidrosis, oral ulceration,
leucorrhea, hemorrhoids, wounds and rectal prolapse are
considered to be indications. Efficacy for these indications
has not yet been proven.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper
external administration of designated therapeutic dosages.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Preparations of the whole, cut and
powdered drug have internal and external applications.
Preparation:
Tincture — Powdered gall apples are mixed roughly 1:5 with
spirit of wine.Storage: The drug should be stored in a tightly sealed
container.
LITERATURE
Dar MS, Ikram M, Fakbuhi T, Constituents of Quercus
infectoria. Planta Med, 65:286-7, 1977 May.
Dar MS, Ikram M, Fakouhi T, Pharmacology of Quercus
infectoria. J Pharm Sci, 65:1791-4, 1976 Dec.
Dar MS, Ikram M, Fakouhi T, Studies on Quercus infectoria;
isolation of syringic acid and determination of its central
depressive activity. Planta Med, 65:156-61, 1979 Feb.
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Ed), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-
1994.Oats
Avena sativa
TRADE NAMES
Wild Oats, Oat Bran, Oatstraw
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh or dried
above-ground plant, the ripe, dried fruits, and the dried,
threshed leaf and stem.
Flower and Fruit: The spikelet has 2 to 3 flowers. The outer
glume has no awn, is 18 to 30 mm long and has 7 to 11 ribs.
The top glumes grow from 12 to 24lmm long, have 2
divisions and a dentate tip. They have 7 ribs and can either
be awned or unawned. The awn is 15 to 40 mm long, upright
and rough. The double ribbed husks are 10 to 20 mm long
and are thickly ciliate on the short ridge. The 3 stamens are
2.5 to 4 mm long. The ovary has a pinnatifid stigma. The
fruit is 7 to 12 mm long, narrowly elliptoid and pubescent.Leaves, Stem and Root: Oat is a light-green annual grass
with a bushy root. The stalks are 60 to 100 cm high, smooth
and glabrous. The linear-lanceolate tapering, flat leaves are
in double rows, and the leaf sheath is clasping. The ligula is
short and ovate with triangular pointed teeth. The leaf blade
is linear-lanceolate and is 45 cm long by 5 to 15 mm wide.
Habitat: Oats originated in England, France, Poland, Germa-
ny and Russia, and are now cultivated worldwide.Production: Wild oat herb consists of the fresh above-
ground parts of Avena sativa, which are harvested shortly
before the height of the flowering season and then quickly