PDR for Herbal Medicines

672 /SCOPOLIA PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

The intake of very high dosages leads to central excitation

(restlessness, compulsive speech, hallucinations, delirium,

manic episodes, followed by exhaustion and sleep). Poten-

tially lethal dosages for adults start at 100 mg of atropine,

depending upon alkaloid content, and may result from use of

between 20 to 50 g of the drug: considerably less can prove

lethal for children.

The treatment for poisonings includes gastric lavage; temper-

ature-lowering measures with wet cloths (no antipyretics!);

oxygen respiration for respiratory distress; intubation; paren-

teral physostigmine salts as antidote; diazepam for spasms

and chlorpromazine for severe excitation.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Comminuted root, powder and

other galenic preparations for oral application.

Daily Dosage: The average daily dose is equivalent to 0.25

mg of total alkaloids, calculated as hyoscyamine. The

maximum daily dose should not exceed the equivalent of 3.0

mg of total alkaloids, calculated as hyoscyamine. The

maximum recommended single dose is equivalent to 1.0 mg

of total alkaloids, calculated as hyoscyamine.

LITERATURE

^ -

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fiir

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen. 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges. Stuttgart 1997.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.). Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 4. Aufl.. Bde. 1-8: Springer Verlag

Berlin. Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

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

Verlag. Heidelberg 1992.

Nicolic R et aL, Acta Pharm Jugosl 26:257. 1976.

Roth L, Daunderer M„ Kormann K. Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Smart RG et al., J Forens Sci 32:303. 1987.
   Teuscher E. Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologic. Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Scopolia carniolica

See Scopolia

Scotch Broom

Cytisus scoparius
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried and
stripped broom flowers, the dried aerial parts (broom herb)
and freshly picked flowers.

Flower and Fruit: The bilabiate flowers are bright yellow,

20 to 25 mm long, large, solitary or in pairs. The flowers are

on 2 or 3 obovate bracts on short stems, or singly in the leaf

axils. They seem to form long racemes. The corolla is bright

yellow, sometimes white. The standard is revolute, the wings

obtuse. The ovary is short-stemmed and villous with a

glabrous, strongly hooked style. The pod is oblong, com-

pressed, glabrous on the surfaces, villous on the seams and is

a matte black. There are numerous brown-black seeds.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Scotch Broom is a shrub that grows

from 0.5 to 2 m high. The tap root is very sturdy and woody.

The bark of the root is brown. The branches are thick,

usually crooked, and the bark is also brown." Young shoots

are glabrous, later pubescent. The branchlets are cane-like,

erect and pentagular. The leaves are small, short-petioled,

with 3 obovate to lanceolate, 1 to 2 cm long and 1.5 to 9 mm

wide, pointed leaflets. The leaflets, particularly on the

undersurface, are silky pubescent. After flowering, sessile

and entire leaves torm on the upper shoot.

Habitat: The herb is found in Europe, northern Africa,

Canary Islands, North America, Chile, South Africa and

Japan.

Production: Scotch Broom herb consists of the aerial parts of

Cytisus scoparius. Broom flowers consist of the flowers of

Cytisus scoparius.

Not to be Confused With: The herb should not be confused

with other Cytisus or Genista varieties. The flowers should

not be confused with Spanish Broom.

Other Names: Broom, Broomtops, Besom, Scoparium, Irish

Tops, Basam, Bizzom, Browme, Brum, Breeam

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: SCOTCH BROOM HERB

Quinolizidine alkaloids (0.5 to 1.6%): main alkaloid (-)-

sparteine, including among others 11, 12-dehydrosparteine,

17-oxosparteine, lupanine, alpha-isosparteine

Biogenic amines: including tyramine, epinine, dopamine

Flavonoids: including spirasoside, isoquercitrin, scoparin

Isoflavonoids: including genistein, sarothamnoside

EFFECTS: SCOTCH BROOM HERB

No specific studies are available. Tyramine acts indirectly on

the sympathetic nervous system as a vasoconstrictor and

hypertensive.

COMPOUNDS: SCOTCH BROOM FLOWERS

Quinolizidine alkaloids (0.004%) (very small quantities):

main alkaloid (-)-sparteine

Biogenic amines: including tyramine (0.13 to 2%)