Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

the use of the essential or distillates of the
leaves because of the content of ascaridole, a
toxic, antihilminthic principle (BLUMENTHAL1;
WICHTL).

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
In tonic and diuretic preparations; in Europe
for gastrointestinal spasms (BLUMENTHAL1);
rarely, if at all, used in cosmetics.

Food. Only used in alcoholic beverages (li-
queurs, bitters, etc.). Average maximum use
level reported is about 0.002% (16 ppm).

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Leaves
used in combination products, capsules, ta-
blets, and infusions as antioxidant (WREN) and
for liver and gallbladder (WICHTL).

Traditional Medicine. Reportedly used as a
diuretic and biliary stimulant in hepatic ill-
nesses and cholelithiasis (gallstones) (MARTIN-
DALE); used by the Mapuche Indians of Chile
in the treatment of rheumatism. Other tradi-

tional uses of boldo include nervous weak-

ness, headache, nasal congestion, menstrual

pain, earache, gonorrhea, syphilis, flatulence,

and dyspepsia.^1

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Crude and extracts. Crude and fluid extract

were formerly official in N.F. Strengths (see

glossary) of extracts are expressed in weight-

to-weight ratios.

Regulatory Status. Regulated in the United

States as a dietary supplement; leaves per-

mitted for use as a natural flavoring substance

in alcoholic beverages only (§172.510). Leaf

preparations that are practically free of the

toxic principle ascaridole are the subject of a

German therapeutic monograph that allows

use for mild gastrointestinal spasms and dys-

peptic disorders. It advises against any use in

cases of biliary obstruction and severe liver

diseases, and in cases of gallstones without

the advice of a physician (BLUMENTHAL1;

WICHTL).

REFERENCES

See the General References forBIANCHINI AND CORBETTA;BLUMENTHAL1;DER MARDEROSIAN AND
BEUTLER;FEMA;GOSSELIN;GRIEVE;MARTINDALE;RAFFAUF;TERRELL;WILLAMAN AND SCHUBERT;WREN;
YOUNGKEN.

1. H. Speisky and B. K. Cassels,Pharmacol.
   Res., 29 , 1 (1994).


2. M. Sobiczewska and B. Borkowski,Acta
   Pol. Pharm., 29 , 271 (1972).


3. M. Vanhaelen,J. Pharm. Belg., 28 , 291
   (1973).


4. N. Didry,Bull. Soc. Pharm. Lille, 31 ,51
   (1977).


5. H. Schindler, Arzneim.-Forsch., 7 , 747
   (1957).


6. K. Bruns and M. K€ohler, Parf€um.
   Kosmet., 55 (8), 225 (1974).
   7. E. Bombardelli et al.,Fitoterapia, 47 ,3
   (1976).
   8. M. C. Levy-Appert-Collin and J. Levy,J.
   Pharm. Belg., 32 , 13 (1977).
   9. N. Backhouse et al.,Agents Actions, 42 ,
   114 (1994).


7. Y. Y. Jang et al.,Pharmacol. Res., 42 , 361
   (2000).


8. T. Hirosue et al.,Nippon Shokuhin Kohyo
   Gakkaishi, 35 , 630 (1988).


9. I. Jimenez et al.,Phytother. Res., 14 , 339
   (2000).

108 Boldo leaves