PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS WAHOO/791

EFFECTS

Wafer Ash is antimicrobial. The alkaloid content acts against

microbes; pteleatinium chloride acts against mycobacteriwn

tuberculosis and yeast fungus.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Wafer Ash is used for stomach complaints,

gallstones, and rheumatism. It's root bark is used as a tonic.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. The plant could trigger phototoxicosis through skin

contact, possibly also through internal ingestion of larger

quantities.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Wafer Ash is available as an

extract.

LITERATURE

Kern W, List PH. Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 4. Aufl., Bde. I-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.

Wahoo

Euonymus species

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the trunk and root

bark and the fruit.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are yellowish-green, small

and flat in double cymes with few blossoms. There are 4

sepals, 4 petals, 4 stamens and 4 styles on a glandular disc,

which surrounds the ovary. The fruit is a 4-lobed, obtuse,

pink capsule which bursts open at the tip showing the seeds

covered in an orange-yellow skin.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an unwieldy shrub up to

3 m high with green rectangular young branches. The older

branches are light gray. The leaves are opposite, oblong-

lanceolate or elliptical, acuminate, finely serrate and

glabrous.

Characteristics: The seeds are poisonous.

Habitat: The plant grows in the Eastern and Central U.S. and
Canada.

Production: Wahoo root bark is the bark of the root and
young branches of Euonymus atropurpureus. Wahoo fruit is
the fruit of Euonymus europaeus.

Other Names: Burning Bush, Fusanum, Fusoria, Gadrose,

Gatten, Gatter, Indian Arrowroot, Pigwood, Prickwood,

Skewerwood, and Spindle Tree

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: WAHOO ROOT BARK {EUONYMUS

ATROPURPUREUS)

Cardioactive steroids (cardenolides) in the root: including

euatroside, euatromonoside

COMPOUNDS: WAHOOO FRUIT (EUONYMUS EUROPAEUS)

Cardioactive steroids (cardenolides) in the seeds: including

evonoside, evobioside, evomonoside, evolonoside, glucoevo-

noloside, glucoevonogenin

Alkaloids: polyester from a sesquiterpene polyol with

pyrridine carbon acids (for example, evonine)

Peptide alkaloids: including frangula amine, franganin,

frangufolin

/-benzyl-tetrahydro-isoquinoline alkaloids

Purine alkaloids: caffeine, theobromine

EFFECTS: WAHOO ROOT BARK AND FRUIT

The drug is reported to be a laxative and a choleretic. Larger

doses have an effect on the heart.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: In the past, the drug was used as a

cholagogue, laxative, diuretic and tonic, and for dyspepsia.

Today, it is used in homeopathy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Poisonings caused by the berries have been recorded. Thirty-

six berries of Euonymus europaeus are said to be enough to

kill a person. After a latency period of several hours,

intestinal colic, severe, sometimes bloody diarrhea, elevation

of body temperature, shortness of breath and circulatory

disorders with signs of collapse occur. Often there is

elevation of cerebrospinal pressure with increasing stupor

that may progress unconsciousness. The first measures to be

taken with poisonings are gastric lavage, intestinal emptying,

the instillation of activated charcoal and shock prophylaxis

(which includes quiet, heat and the possible administration of

a plasma volume expander). All other measures depend on

the symptoms. For loss of potassium, careful replenishment

of potassium should be undertaken. Lidocaine can be

administered for ventricular extrasystole; atropine for partial

atrioventricular block. For elimination of the glycosides

hemoperfusion is possible, as is the administration of

cholestyramine to interrupt enterohepatic circulation. Intuba-

tion and oxygen respiration may also be necessary in cases

of asphyxiation.