F
FRANGULA, ALDER BUCKTHORN, GLOSSY BUCKTHORN
(Frangula alnus Mill.) +Synonyms — Rhamnus frangula L., Rhamnus frangula subsp. columnaris hort.Activities (Frangula) — Allergenic (f; CRC); Antiangiogenic (1; BGB; FNF); Anticancer (1; BGB;
CRC; FNF); Antiherpetic (1; HH2); Antiviral (1; HH2); Aperient (f; CRC); Cholagogue (f; MAD);
Cytotoxic (1; BGB; FNF); Depurative (f; CRC; MAD); Emetic (f; PNC); Emmenagogue (f; CRC;
EFS); Fungicide (f; HH2); Hydragogue (1; PH2); Laxative (2; CAN; CRC; HH2; KOM; PIP);
Peristaltic (1; MAD; PH2); Poison (1; CRC); Sunscreen (f; CRC; BGB); Tonic (f; CRC; EFS;
PNC); Vermifuge (1; MAD).Indications (Frangula) — Appendicitis (f; CRC); Cancer (1; BGB; CRC; FNF; JLH); Cancer,
liver (f; JLH); Cancer, spleen (f; JLH); Childbirth (f; MAD); Cholecystosis (f; MAD); Constipation
(2; CAN; CRC; HH2; KOM; PNC; PH2; PIP); Dermatosis (f; CRC; MAD); Dropsy (f; CRC;
MAD); Fever (f; MAD); Fungus (f; HH2); Gout (f; CRC); Hemorrhoid (2; CRC; PHR; PH2);
Hepatosis (f; CRC; EFS; JLH; MAD); Herpes (1; HH2); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (f; HH2);
Itch (f; CRC; MAD); Jaundice (f; CRC; MAD); Leukemia (1; CRC); Mycosis (f; HH2); Obesity
(f; MAD); Pain (f; MAD); Proctosis (f; PH2); Puerperium (f; MAD); Rheumatism (f; CRC); Scab
(f; MAD); Scabies (f; MAD); Splenosis (f; CRC; JLH; MAD); Stomatosis (f; MAD); Tumor (f;
CRC; JLH); Virus (1; HH2); Wart (f; CRC); Water Retention (f; HH2; MAD); Worm (1; CRC;
MAD).Dosages (Frangula) — 1.5 g (BGB); 0.5–2.5 g bark (CAN); 1.8–7.3 g bark (MAD); 2 tsp bark
in cold tea 1 ×/day (MAD); 2–5 ml liquid bark extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2–4
ml liquid extract (PNC); 20–180 mg hydroxyanthracene derivatives/day (PH2).Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Frangula) — Class 2b (AHP). Contraindi-
cated in some types of hemorrhoids and nephropathy (CAN), intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain
of unknown causes, any enteritis (appendicitis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, IBS), and menstruation
(AHP). Do not use more than 8–10 days (AHP). Not for use in cases of diarrhea or abdominal
pain. Discontinue use if diarrhea or watery stools occurs. Consult a health care provider in cases
of pregnancy or lactation. Not for long-term use or overdose (AHP). Commission E reports for
bark, contraindications, adverse effects, and interactions of anthranoid laxatives (AEH). While
widely used, anthranoid-containing laxatives can be habit-forming. Some contain compounds
suspected of being cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, and even tumorigenic; epidemiological studies
in Germany reveal that abusers of anthranoid laxatives have a three times higher rate of colon
carcinoma (AEH). Anthraquinones are laxative and irritate the GI tract (CAN). Because of the
anthraquinones, nonstandardized preparations should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation
(CAN). Because the anthraquinones in freshly dried buckthorn bark, it can cause extreme GI
irritation, including severe intestinal spasm, as well as vomiting. The bark is aged for a year to
allow oxidation of the anthrones (BGB).