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

Traditional Medicine. Common household
medicine used in South Africa for the treat-
ment of urinary tract and kidney diseases,
symptoms of rheumatism, and externally on
wounds and bruises.^14 Also used to treat cys-
titis, urethritis, and others; also as a diuretic,
tonic, and stimulant (BLUMENTHAL1;WICHTL),
and for the treatment of coughs and colds.^15

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Crude, extracts, and oil. Crude and fluid ex-
tracts were formerly official in N.F. Strengths

(seeglossary) of extracts are expressed in

weight-to-weight ratios. Buchu leaf is the

subject of a German therapeutic monograph;

however, use as a urinary tract anti-inflamma-

tory and diuretic is not recommended since

effectiveness is not well documented. Leaf is

allowed as an aroma or flavor corrigent in

teas.^7

Regulatory Status. Regulated in the United

States as a dietary supplement; GRAS as a

natural flavoring in foods (§172.510).

REFERENCES

See the General References forAPhA;ARCTANDER;BARNES;BLUMENTHAL1;CLAUS;DER MARDEROSIAN
AND BEUTLER;GUENTHER;LIST AND HO€RHAMMER;LUST;MARTINDALE;TERRELL;WICHTL;WREN;YOUNGKEN.

1. A. A. J. Fluck et al.,J. Sci. Food Agric., 12 ,
   290 (1961).


2. E. Klein and W. Rojahn,Dragoco Rep.,
   14 , 183 (1967).


3. E. Sundt et al.,Helv. Chim. Acta, 54 , 1801
   (1971).


4. K. L. J. Blommaert and E. Bartel,J. S. Afr.
   Bot., 42 , 121 (1976); through Chem.
   Abstr., 87 , 58401u (1977).


5. D. Lamparsky and P. Schudel, Tetra-
   hedron Lett., 36 , 3323 (1971).


6. R. Kaiser et al.,J. Agric. Food Chem., 23 ,
   943 (1975).


7. M. Lis-Balchin et al., J. Pharm.
   Pharmacol., 53 , 579 (2001).
   8. K. Buckshee et al., Int. J. Gynecol.
   Obstet., 57 , 145 (1997).
   9. M. Sarabia et al.,Curr. Ther. Res. Clin.
   Exp., 62 , 524 (2001).


8. A. N. Nicolaides,Angiology, 54 (Suppl. 1),
   S33 (2003).


9. G. Jantet,Angiology, 53 , 245 (2002).


10. A. A. A. Ramelet, Angiology, 52
    (Suppl. 1), S49 (2001).


11. J. R. Struckmann, J. Vasc. Res., 36
    (Suppl. 1), 37 (1999).


12. B. van Wyk et al.,Medicinal Plants of
    South Africa, Briza Publications, Pretoria,
    1997, p. 34.


13. D. Simpson, Scott. Med. J., 43 , 189
    (1998).

BUCKTHORN, ALDER

Source:Frangula alnusMill. (syn.Rhamnus
frangulaL.) (Family Rhamnaceae).

Common/vernacular names: Alder buck-
thorn, arrow wood, black dogwood, frangula,
glossy buckthorn.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Shruborsmalltreewithshiny,darkgreen,short

oblong to obovate leaves 3–7 cm long; up to

6 m high; native to Europe, western Asia, and

northernAfrica;naturalizedinNorthAmerica.

Part used is the dried bark aged for 1 year to get

rid of an emetic principle (seecascara).

118 Buckthorn, alder