PDR for Herbal Medicines

618 /PUFF BALL

Puff Ball

Lycoperdon species

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the aerial parts and

the mature spores of the fungus.

Flower and Fruit: The giant form of this fungus attains a

diameter of 20 to 50 cm and a weight of 9 kg. The outer

covering is at first whitish, smooth and downy. It later turns

gray-yellow or ochre, develops grooves and patches, and

starts to break off from above. The now-visible inner section

bursts at the vertex and disintegrates. The content is

composed of a whitish mass, which turns yellow and mushy

and finally breaks down into greenish-brown spore dust. A

cup-shaped receptacle with torn edges remains.

Habitat: Lycoperdon species are indigenous to Europe.
Production: Puff Ball is the aerial part and the mature spores
of Lycoperdon species.
Other Names: Bovista, Hart's Truffle, Deer Balls
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Calvacin (mucoprotein)
Steroids: mycosterols
Urea
EFFECTS
The main active agents are various amino acids, glucos-
amine, sterol, enzymes and approximately 3% urea.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: The drug is used for dysmenorrhea, nose
bleeds and skin disorders.
Homeopathic Uses: Lycoperdon is used for anemia, skin
complaints and chronic catarrh.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages. The young mushroom is edible.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Puff Ball is available ground or in
alcoholic extracts.
LITERATURE
Gasco A et al., (1974) Tetrahedron Lett 38:3431.
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.

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Pulmonaria officinalis

See Lungwort

Pulsatilla pratensis

See Pasque Flower

Pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh and dried

seeds.

Flower and Fruit: The flower is yellow, monoecious, very

large and solitary in the leaf axils. The male flower has a

longer pedicle. The calyx is fused to the corolla except for

the 5 awl-shaped tips. The corolla is 5-tipped and funnel-

shaped. The interior is pubescent. There are 3 stamens fused

to the anther. The ovary is inferior and 3-locular. The fruit is

very large with many seeds. The flesh is fibrous, yellow-

orange to white, and has a viscous placenta. The seeds are 7

to 15 mm long, narrow, broad or narrow-ovate with a

shallow groove and flat ridge around the margin.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Annual plant 3 to 8 m long. The

stem is sharply-angular with longitudinal grooves and hairy

spines. The leaves are alternate, very large and bristly,

petiolate with 5 to 7 lobes from a cordate base.

Characteristics: The seeds taste somewhat like almonds.

Habitat: Pumpkin is indigenous to America and widely

cultivated, especially in temperate climates.

Production: Pumpkin seed consists of the ripe, dried seed of

Cucurbita pepo and cultivated varieties of Cucurbita pepo.

Other Names: Field Pumpkin

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Steroids: Delta5-, Delta7- and Delta8-phytosterols (24- alkyl

sterols), including clerosterol, isofucosterol, sitosterol, stig-

masterol, cholesterol, isoavenasterol, spinasterol

Fatty oil: chief fatty acids are oleic acid and linoleic acid

Proteic substances (25 to 42%)

Unusual amino acids: including cucurbitin (vermifuge)

I Gamma-tocopherol