PDR for Herbal Medicines

726 /STAR ANISE PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Tannins

EFFECTS

Star Anise is a bronchial expectorant and antispasmodic for

the gastrointestinal tract. The essential oils (star anise oil)

and flavonoids act on the smooth muscle of the gastrointesti-

nal tract and the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Loss of appetite


• Cough/bronchitis

Unproven Uses: Star Anise is used for catarrh of the

respirator)' tract and peptic discomfort.

Indian Medicine: Star Anise is used for dyspeptic com-

plaints, flatulence, spasmodic colon pain, dysentery, facial

paralysis, hemiparesis and rheumatoid arthritis.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. Sensitization has occurred very rarely in cases of

repeated, administration. Berries of UHciuni anisatum are

similar, but contain spasmogenic sesquiterpene lactones;

confusions with Star Anise have been observed.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Herb, ground fresh just prior to use,

and other galenic preparations for internal use.

Daily Dosage: 3 gm of drug or 0.3 gm of essential oil. Single

dose: 0.5 to 1 gm prepared as tea.

Storage: Keep Star Anise protected from light.

LITERATURE

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

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

Ges Stuttgart 1997.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Kubeczka KH; DAZ 122:2309. 1982.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

Schulz R, Hansel R, Rationale Phytotherapie, Springer Verlag

Heidelberg 1996.

Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer

Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Zanglein A, Schultze W, Illicium verum - Sternanis. In: ZPT

10(6): 191. 1989.

Stavesacre

Delphinium staphisagria

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the ripe, dried

seeds.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are deep blue. The sections of

the involucres are 13 to 20 mm long. The limb of the lateral

honey-leaves gradually narrows to a claw. The follicles are 8

to 11 mm wide and swollen. The seeds are grayish-black,

wrinkled and pitted. They are triangular or square and

convex at the back. The seeds are about 2 cm long.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is annual and has a 30 to

' 100 cm high stem that is stout and sparsely pubescent. The

leaves are are palmatiform digitate with 5 to 7 lobes,

pubescent on both surfaces with a mixture of very short and

longer hairs. The segments are entire-margined or are made

up of ovate-lanceolate or oblong, sharp-edged lobes.

Characteristics: The seeds are poisonous. They taste bitter

and tingling, and are odorless.

Habitat: The plant is found in Asia Minor and Europe, and is

cultivated in Italy and France.

Production: Stavesacre seeds are the seeds of Delphinium

staphisagria.

Other Names: Lousewort

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Diterpene alkaloids: main alkaloid delphinine, including

among others the bi-diterpene alkaloids staphisine,

staphisagroine

EFFECTS

Stavesacre is arrythrnogenic and has an effect similar to

aconitine.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The herb is used in washes and ointments to

kill lice.

Homeopathic Uses: Stavesacre is used for the treatment of

anxiety, urinary tract diseases, acute or acutely recurring

hordeolum or chalazion, seborrheal skin with a tendency to