HERBAL MONOGRAPHS WALNUT/793INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Wallflower is used for cardiac insufficien-
cy, as a laxative and to encourage menstruation.Homeopathic Uses: The herb is used for wisdom tooth pain.PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.OVERDOSAGE
For possible symptoms of overdose and treatment of
poisonings see Digitalis folium. Despite the strong efficacy
of the drug's cardioactive steroid glycosides in parenteral
application, serious poisoning is not expected due to the
presumably low resorption rate following oral admini-
stration.DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Wallflower is used internally in
drops and an infusion as well as in some combination
preparations.Preparation: To make an infusion from the flowers, mix 2 to
3 gm of drug per 100 ml of water.Daily Dosage: Drink 3 to 4 cups of the infusion daily.LITERATURE
Belokon VF. Makarevich IF, Khim Prir Soedin 424. 1980.Makarevich IF, Belokon VF, Khim Prir Soedin 662. 1975.Moore IA, Tamm C, Reichstein T. Helv Chim Acta 37:755.
1954.Schwarz H. Katz A, Reichstein T, Pharm Acta Helv 21:250.
1946.Wagner P, Ber Dtsch Chem Ges 41:4467. 1908.Further information in:Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.). Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-
1994.Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel. Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,- Aufl., Fxomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologic Chemie.
Pharmakoloaie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Walnut
Juglans regia
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the feathery
leaflets without the rachis and the green fruit shells.
Flower and Fruit: The flowers are green and appear before
the leaves. They are monoecious. The male flowers are 10
cm long, sessile, globular-cylindrical, limp, hanging catkins.
The female flowers are in groups of 1 to 3 at the tip of
annual growth. They are greenish with a glandular pubescent
calyx and 2 large, curved, warty, reddish stigmas. The fruit is
globular or oblong-globular with a smooth, green, white-
spotted outer shell and a wooden, wrinkled inner shell.Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant grows to 25 m and has a
broad, loose-branched crown. The bark is smooth and ash
gray at first; later dark and fissured. The leaves are large,
long petioled, odd-pinnate with 7 to 9 oblong or ovate,
entire-margined leaflets. The leaflets are spotted with glands
when young. The terminal leaflet is the largest and is
petiolate.Characteristics: The leaves are aromatic when rubbed. The
taste is bitter.
Habitat: The walnut is indigenous to the Middle East and
Iran. Today, it is cultivated in many regions.
Production: Walnut leaf consists of die dried leaf of Juglans
regia.
Other Names: English Walnut, Caucasion Walnut, Circas-
sian Walnut, Persian Walnut
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Tannins (galloylglucose, ellagitannins)
Naphthalene derivatives: The fresh leaves and the fruit peels
contain 1,4,5- trihydroxynaphthalene-4-beta-D-glucoside,
which is transformed into juglone through bruising or drying.
Juglone polymerizes readily into yellow or brown products
(that stain the skin), so there can be hardly any juglone
present in the drug itself.Flavonoids: including, among others, hyperoside, quercitrin
EFFECTS
Walnut is astringent and fungistatic. The juglone content in
the walnut hulls has been linked to mutagenic action. The
topical use of walnut hulls has been linked to cancer of the
tongue and leukoplakia of the lips. The main active
principles are the tannins and juglon. There is an astringent
effect because of the tannins. The antifungal effect comes
from the juglon content and the essential oil.