PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS SUNFLOWER / 741

Further information in:

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 I-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

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

mbH Stuttgart 1997.

Thomson RH. Naturally Occurring Quinones, 2nd Ed.,

Academic Press New York 1971.

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

Stuttsart 1997.

Sunflower

Helianthus annuits

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the ray

florets, the leaves, the ripe fruit, the oil extracted from the

seeds and the mature flower heads. v

Flower and Fruit: The very large, composite flowers are

solitary or in small clusters, usually nodding, and 10 to 40

cm wide on the stems. The bracts in a number of rows are

leaf-like, ovate, acute and sparsely bristly. The 20 to 70

asexual, linguiform golden-yellow ray florets are 3 to 10'cm

long and l to 3 cm wide. The numerous tubular disc florets

are androgynous. They may be brown, purple or yellow, with

black or purple anthers. There are small 3-pointed paleas on

the base of the capitula. The fruit is compressed at the sides,

obovate to almost wedge-shaped; it is an achaene. It is

densely appressed, downy and whitish, straw yellow or gray

to black.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The sunflower is a l to 3 m high

annual plant with a long primary root and numerous lateral

roots. The stem is erect, branchless or branched higher up,

densely covered in hairs, and filled with thin white pith. The

leaves are alternate, cordate-triangular, long-petioled, irregu-

larly crenately serrate and covered with short bristles on both

sides.

Habitat: Helianthus annuus is indigenous to central and

eastern North America and is cultivated worldwide.

Production: Sunflower oil is the fatty oil of the achenes of
Helianthus annuus, which is recovered from the fruits,
excluding the shell, by cold pressing. The ray florets and
leaves are collected at the beginning of the flowering season.

Other Names: Corona Solis, Marigold of Peru

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: SUNFLOWER OIL

Triglycerides: chief fatty acids linoleic acid (35-62%). oleic

acid (25-42%), palmitic acid (4-7%)

Steroids: Sterols including campesterol, cholesterol, beta-

sitosterol

EFFECTS: SUNFLOWER OIL

Useful as a dietary supplement.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

SUNFLOWER OIL

Sunflower oil is used internally to alleviate constipation (as a

lubricant). It is used externally as massage oil, for poorly

healing wounds (as an oil dressing) and in the treatment of

skin lesions, psoriasis and rheumatism. Sufficient informa-

tion on the efficacy of the drug is not available.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

SUNFLOWER OIL

Health risks or side effects following the proper administra-

tion of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded.

DOSAGE

SUNFLOWER OIL

Mode of Administration: In folk medicine, the drug is mainly

for external use. In other areas, it is used as an inactive

ingredient in pharmaceutical preparations.

Storage: Keep protected from light, in tightly sealed

containers. Oils from different deliveries should not be

mixed.

LITERATURE

Bader G, Streich S, Griindemann E, Flatau S, Hiller K,

Enzymatic degradation of the triterpenoid saponin helianthoside

2. Pharmazie, 52:836-8, 1997 Nov.
   Grotjohann N, Janning A, Eising R, In vitro photoinacuvation
   of catalase isoforms from cotyledons of sunflower (Helianthus
   annuus L.). Arch Biochem Biophys, 346:208-18, 1997 Oct 15.
   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-


3. 
   

   Huesa Lope J et al„ Grasas Aceites 25:350-353, 1974.
   Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
   Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
   Matsumoto T, Nagakawa M, Itoh T, PH 23:921-923. 1984.
   Plohmann B, Bader G, Hiller K, Franz G, Immunomodulatory
   and antitumoral effects of triterpenoid saponins. Pharmazie,
   52:953-7, 1997 Dec.
   Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
   mbH Stuttgart 1997.