PDR for Herbal Medicines

750 /SWEET VIOLET PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Sweet Violet

Viola odorata

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the essential oil

from the leaves, the dried flowers, the air-dried leaves

collected during the flowering season, the flowering herb,

the dried rhizome, the fresh aerial parts collected during the

flowering season and the whole plant.

Flower and Fruit: The dark violet flowers are solitary on 3

to 7 cm long pedicles. The flowers are 1.5 to 2 cm long and

fragrant. The 5 sepals are obtuse, glabrous and have an

appendage. There are 5 uneven petals, which are unevenly

spurred and which have a broad margin. The 5 stamens have

an appendage at the tip. The flower has 3 fused ovaries. The

fruit is a globular capsule, approximately 7.5 mm. It is 3 to 6

sided, clearly and densely short-pubescent and often violet. It

can be found pressed to the receptacle.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The Violet is 5 to 10 cm high. It is a

rosette plant with a short, thick but soft ground axis. The

rooting runners are 10 to 20 cm long and 1.5 mm thick. They

produce flowers in the second year. The. shoots are a strong

dark green with scattered appressed hairs or almost glabrous.

The leaves are petiolate, broadly cordate, obtuse or short-

acuminate and crenate. The leaves, which appear first, are

reniform-cordate and the younger ones are rolled up. There

are lanceolate stipules at the base of the leaves.

Characteristics: The plant is strongly scented.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to or naturalized in large

parts of Europe and the Middle East as far as central Asia; it

is also found in North America.

Production: Sweet Violet root consists of the dried root of

Viola odorata. Sweet Violet herb is the dried plant section of

Viola odorata. The rhizome is imported from the former

Czechoslovakia and Romania. The rootstock is dug up,

pounded to remove any soil residue, washed and air-dried.

Other Names: Garden Violet

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: SWEET VIOLET RHIZOME AND HERB

Volatile oil (0.04%): salicylic acid methyl ester (formed out

of glycosidic precursors during plant drying), beta-nitropro-

pionic acid

Saponins

Alkaloids

EFFECTS: SWEET VIOLET RHIZOME AND HERB

The drug acts as an expectorant due to its saponin content.
The alkaloid violin has an emetine-like effect.

COMPOUNDS: SWEET VIOLET FLOWER

Volatile oil (0.003%): aroma-carrier trans-alpha-ionone (par-

mone), chief constituents (-)-zingiberene, (+)-curcumene,

dihydro-beta-ionone, 2,6-nonadien-l-al, undecan-2-one,

isoborneol

EFFECTS: SWEET VIOLET FLOWER

The drug has antimicrobial and broncho-secretolytic effects

due to the. saponin content.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

SWEET VIOLET RHIZOME AND HERB

Unproven Uses: The rhizome is used for conditions of the

respiratory organs, particularly for dry catarrh, and rheuma-

tism of the minor joints; it is additionally used for fever, skin

diseases, inflammation of the oral mucosa, nervous strain,

headache and insomnia.

The herb is used internally for coughs, hoarseness, pneumo-

nia, throat inflammations, bronchitis accompanied by fixed

mucous, nervous strain, insomnia and hysteria. It is also used

to induce sweating. Externally, the herb is used to treat

various skin diseases.

SWEET VIOLET FLOWER

Unproven Uses: The flowers are used to prepare an infusion

tea, which is used as an expectorant for bronchial catarrh; as

an antitussive for chronic bronchitis; and for whooping

cough, asthma and migraine. Sweet Violet syrup is used as

an expectorant and to lessen irritation for bronchial catarrh

(children's remedy).

Homeopathic Uses: The flowers are used for inflammation

of the respiratory tract and rheumatism of the wrist.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

SWEET VIOLET RHIZOME, HERB, AND FLOWER

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE

SWEET VIOLET RHIZOME AND HERB

Preparation: An herbal tea is prepared by adding 2

teaspoonfuls Sweet Violet herb with 1/4 liter water. •"»

Daily Dosage: The average single dose of the rhizome is 1

gm orally. The 5% rhizome decoction dosage is 20 gm. The

5% rhizome infusion dosage is 1 dessertspoonful 5 to 6 times

daily. The herbal tea dosage is 1 cup 2 to 3 times daily.

SWEET VIOLET FLOWER

Preparation: To prepare an infusion, decoction or tea, use 1

heaping teaspoonful of drug with 1 cup of water.

Daily Dosage: The dosage for the infusion, decoction or tea

is 1 cup twice daily, or taken in sips I to 2 times per hour.