PDR for Herbal Medicines

696 /SISYMBRIUM OFFICINALE

Sisymbrium officinale

See Hedge Mustard

Sium sisarum

See Skirret

Skirret

Sium sisarum

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the root.

Flower and Fruit: The inflorescence has 10 to 30 rayed-

umbels with 1 to 5 lanceolate-narrow involucral bracts. The

petals are white, about 1 mm long and broad orbicular-

elliptical. The fruit is broad-ovate, about 3.5 by 2 to 2.5 mm

in diameter and brownish with light ribs. The fruit segments

in cross-section are obtuse pentagons with thin walls.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Sium sisarum is a perennial glabrous

plant on a stubby rhizome with clustered, often tuberous

roots. The stem is about 30 to 80 cm high, round and

branched. The lower leaves are simple pinnate, oblong and

serrate. The upper leaves are narrower and more acuminate,

and are usually lanceolate.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to China; it is cultivated in

Europe.

Production: Skirret root is the root of Sium sisarum.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Oligosaccharides: saccharose (4-8%)

Starch (4-18%)

Mucilage

EFFECTS

No information is available.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The dnig is used for digestive disorders and

loss of appetite.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
wim the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Skirret root is available as cut drug

for internal use.

LITERATURE

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

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. AufL, Bde. 1-8: Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Skunk Cabbage

Symplocarpus foetidus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the seeds, the

rhizome and the roots.

Flower and Fruit: The plant has numerous small purple

flowers in a red-brown, oval, high, spadix-like inflorescence.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial and grows

up to 75 cm high. It has a thick tuberous rhizome, which is

truncate at both ends, dark brown and up to 4 cm in

diameter. The rhizome is gnarled and woody and bears

numerous roots and root scars. The roots are up to 8 cm long,

0.5 cm in diameter and transversely wrinkled. The leaves are

similar to cabbage leaves and they surround the

inflorescence.

Characteristics: The taste is hot and the odor is unpleasant.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the northern U.S.

Production: Skunk Cabbage root and rootstock are the

rhizome and roots of Symplocarpus foetidus.

Other Names: Dracontium, Meadow Cabbage, Polecatweed,

Skunkweed

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatile oil (bad-smelling)

Resins

The constituents of the drug have not been fully investigated.

EFFECTS

Skunk Cabbage is an antispasmodic, a diaphoretic, an

expectorant and a sedative.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The plant is used for bronchitis and asthma.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

witii die proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.