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

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Mainly used as a demulcent in various phar-
maceutical preparations, particularly cough
medicines. In Europe, root and leaf prepara-
tions are used to treat irritation of the oral or
pharyngeal mucosa and associated dry irrita-
ble cough; root also used to treat mild inflam-
mation of the gastric mucosa (BLUMENTHAL1).
Root is used crude or in formulations at a daily
dose of 6 g; leaf used in 5 g daily dose or
equivalent in formulations (BLUMENTHAL1).

Food. Used to a limited extent in alcoholic
and nonalcoholic beverages, frozen desserts,
candy, baked goods, and gelatins and pud-
dings. Extracts of the root are used in confec-
tionaries. Reported use levels are very low;
usually below 0.002% (20 ppm).

Traditional Medicine. Used for more than
2000 years in Europe both internally and

externally as a wound healer, a remedy for

coughs, sore throat, and stomach troubles,

among other ailments; in ointments to relieve

chapped hands and chilblains (BIANCHINI AND

CORBETTA;FOSTER).

COMMERCIAL PREPARATIONS

Crude and extracts. Crude was formerly offi-

cial in N.F. and U.S.P.

Regulatory Status. Regulated in the United

States as a dietary supplement; root and flow-

ers approved for food use as a natural flavoring

(§172.510). In Germany, the leaf and root are

the subjects of therapeutic monographs; ap-

proved for irritation of the oral or pharyngeal

mucosa and associated dry irritable cough;

root also for mild inflammation of the gastric

mucosa (BLUMENTHAL1;WICHTL).

REFERENCES

See the General References for APPLEQUIST;BARNES;BISSET;BAILEY2;BIANCHINI AND CORBETTA;
BLUMENTHAL1;DER MARDEROSIAN AND BEUTLER;FEMA;FOSTER;GLEASON AND CRONQUIST;GOSSELIN;
GRIEVE;GUPTA;KARRER;MARTINDALE;MCGUFFIN1&2;MERCK;TUTIN2;USD 23 RD;YOUNGKEN.

1. G. Franz,Planta Med., 14 , 90 (1966).


2. M. Tomoda et al.,Chem. Pharm. Bull., 25 ,
   1357 (1977).


3. M. Tomoda et al.,Chem. Pharm. Bull., 28 ,
   824 (1980).
   4. St. N. I. Ionkova and D. Kolev,Fitoterapia,
   63 , 474 (1992).
   5. M. Tomoda et al.,Planta Med., 53 , 824
   (1987).
   6. G. Nosal’ova et al.,Pharmazie, 47 , 224
   (1992).

AMBRETTE SEED

Source:Abelmoschus moschatusMedik. L.
(syn.Hibiscus abelmoschusL.) (Family
Malvaceae).

Common/vernacular names:Ambrette, musk
mallow, and musk seed.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

An annual or biennial herb with bristly hairs,

up to 2 m high; showy flowers yellow, crim-

son centered, about 10 cm across; seeds musk

fragrant, flat, and kidney shaped; indigenous

to India; widely cultivated in tropical coun-

tries, including the West Indies, Java,

30 Ambrette seed