PDR for Herbal Medicines

668/SCABIOSA SUCCFSA

Scabiosa succisa

See Premorse

Scarlet Pimpernel

Anagallis arvensis

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part of the plant is the dried

flowering herb, usually with the roots removed.

Flower and Fruit: The plant has 6 to 10 brick-red flowers in

the leaf axils, which are up to 2.5 times as long as the bracts.

The symmetrically radiating flower has a double perianth. It

has 5 sepals that are 4 to 5 mm long, entire-margined.

narrow-lanceolate and acute. The wheel-shaped corolla is

usually vermilion, but occasionally blue-flesh colored, lilac

or white. The tip of the corolla is obovate to oval, about 7

mm long by 6 mm wide, overlapping at the base, entire-

margined or slightly crenate with 50 to 70 glandular hairs. Its

5 stamens have a distinct awn and are fused to a funnel at the

tube. The anthers are short, ellipsoid and cordate at the base.

The superior ovary is globose and one-valved with an oblong

style and head-like stigma. The fruit is a globose pyxidum, 4

to 5 mm in diameter, that contains 20 to 22 rough wart-like,

brown seeds 1.3 mm long by 1 mm wide.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Anagallis arvensis is an annual herb

with prostrate, creeping, square stems up to 30 cm long. Its

thinner, branched, ascending stems grow to a length of 6 to

30 cm. The square shoots, like the leaves, are thickly covered

with short hairs when young; they later become glabrous.

The leaves are opposite, occasionally in whorls of 3, ovate to

lanceolate, up to 20 mm long by 10 mm wide, sessile, entire-

margined, acute and spotted black on the underside.

Characteristics: The flowers, which are poisonous, close at

night and open at about 9:00 each morning. They also close

at the first sign of rain.

Habitat: The plant is widely distributed throughout Europe,

Asia, the U.S. and non-tropical South America.

Production: Scarlet Pimpernel herb is the dried herb in

flower of Anagallis arvensis, generally without the root but

occasionally including the whole plant. It is collected in the

wild and also cultivated.

Not to be Confused With: The blue flowering form of Scarlet
Pimpernel is often confused with Anagallis foemina, and
occasionally with Stellaria media.
Other Names: Adder's Eyes, Poor Man's Weatherglass, Red
Chickweed, Red Pimpernel, Shepherd's Barometer

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Triterpene saponins: including anagalline, chief sapogenine

13, 28-epoxy-16- oxooleanan

Cucurbitacins: including cucurbitacins E, B, D, I and L

Flavonoids

Caffeic acid derivatives

EFFECTS

In vitro and animal tests showed the drug (main constituents

saponins and amaroids of the cucurbitacin group) to have

fungitoxic, antiviral, taecidal, spermicidal, estrogenic, oxyto-

cic and hemolytic effects. The aqueous extract of the dried

leaves is fungitoxic. Triterpenglycoside, anagalloside and

aglycon anagalligenones, when isolated from the drug,

displayed inhibitory results against numerous micro-organ-

isms. Aqueous extracts showed uterine contracting activity

in rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and on strips of human uterine

material. The triterpene saponins isolated from the drug

demonstrated action against human sperm. The methanol

extract of the drug demonstrated estrogen activity in the

Allen-Doisy test. The saponins isolated from the powder^

drug with ethanol demonstrated hemolytic activity in human

blood. The methanol extract of the dried powdered drug is

antiviral against Herpes simplex Type I, Adenovirus Type II

and Polio Type II, among others. The saponins are the active

constituents. The acetyl-saponin isolated from the drug acts

as a teniacide.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug is used to treat depression,

disorders of the mucous membranes, hemorrhoids, herpes,

painful kidney and liver disorders (in particular, to increase

urination), poorly healing wounds and pruritus. The herb is

used as a supporting treatment in various carcinomas. It is

used both internally and externally (as a poultice) to treat

pains in the joints.

Chinese Medicine: The herb is used for snake bites, dog

bites, fish poisoning, joint ailments and edema.

Indian Medicine: Employed as a treatment for menstruation

disorders.

Homeopathic Uses: Used in the treatment of skin rashes,

warts and urinary tract infections.

Efficacy has not been proven.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. Large doses or long-term administration could lead

to gastroenteritis and nephritis, due to the cucurbitacins

content of the drug.