PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Iridoids

Flavonoids: including among others, scutellarin

Volatile oil

Tannins

EFFECTS

Scullcap has sedative, antispasmodic (little research), anti-

inflammatory, and also lipid peroxidation inhibitor effects.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug was formerly used for hysteria and

nervous tension, epilepsy, chorea, and other nervous disor-

ders. It has also been used as a bitter tonic and febrifuge.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE v

Mode of Administration: The herb is available as a powder

and liquid extract for internal use.

How Supplied:

Capsules — 425 mg, 429 mg, 430 mg

LITERATURE

Barberan FAT, (1986) Fitoterapia 57(2):67.

Kimura Y et al., (1984) Planta Med 50:290.

Kimura Y et a!., (1985) Planta Med 51:132.

Kimura Y et al., (1987) Phytother Res 1(1):48.

Kooiman P, (1972) Acta Bot Need. 21(4):417.

Kubo M et al., (1984) Chem Pharm Bull 32(7):2724.

Nicollier GF et al., (1981) J Agric Food Chem 29:1179.

Takido M et al., (1979) Yakugaku Zasshi 99(4):443-444.

Yagma, MS, Benson GG, (1979) J Nat Prod 42(2):229.

Further information in:

Chan, EH et al. (Eds.), Advances in Chinese Medicinal

Materials Research, World Scientific Pub. Co. Singapore 1985.

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.

SCURVY GRASS / 679

Scurvy Grass

Cochlearia officinalis

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the

harvested and dried basal leaves of the first or second year;

the aerial parts harvested shortly before or during flowering

in the second year; or the fresh aerial parts of the plant

collected at the onset of flowering.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are arranged in racemes that

are initially tight and somewhat hanging, which then grow

longer. The flower is large, white and fragrant. The sepals

are about 1.5 to 2 mm long, narrowly elliptoid, with a white

membranous edge. The petals are about 4 to 5 mm long,

oblong-obovate. The stamens are yellow. The fruit is a 4 to 7

mm long, globular or ovate pod. crowned by the short style.

The 2 to 4 seeds in each loculus are roundish-elliptoid, a

little compressed and 1 to? mm long. The seed shell is

usually red-brown and finely warty.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The glabrous biennial or perennial

plant is a 15 to 35 cm high evergreen. It has a fusiform,

fibrous rhizome from which grows one or more stemmed

shoots that are sterile and fertile. The leafy stems are

ascending or almost erect, simple or branched, angular and

grooved. The long-petioled basal leaves are in loose whorls.

The fleshy, juicy cauline leaves are petiolate, ovate, angular-

dentate, and the upper ones are stem-clasping.

Characteristics: The flowers have a strong taste and, when

rubbed, a strong fragrance.

Habitat: The plant is found in central and northern Europe,

Asia and North America.

Production: True Scurvy Grass consists of the dried basal

leaves of Cochlearia officinalis harvested in the first year, or

the aerial parts harvested during the flowering season in the

second year. The cultivated plant is dried rapidly with

artificial heat at temperatures below 35°C.

Not to be Confused With: Scurvy Grass is occasionally

confused with Ranunculus ficaria.

Other Names: Scrubby Grass, Spoonwort

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Glucosinolates: chief components in the freshly harvested,

unbruised plant include glucocochlearin; with the destruction

of the cells, the plants yield secretions of butyl mustard oil,

and among others, glucotropaeolin (yielding butyl mustard

oil) and sinigrin (yielding allyl mustard oil).

Flavonoids