HERBAL MONOGRAPHS WHEAT/ 799PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
General: No health hazards or side effects are known in
conjunction with the proper administration of designated
therapeutic dosages. The intake of large quantities of the
freshly harvested plant (e.g., in salad) could lead to
gastrointestinal complaints due to the mucous membrane-
irritating effect of the mustard oil.Pediatric Use: The drug should not be administered to
children under 4 years old.Pregnancy: The drug should not be used during pregnancy.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The comminuted herb, freshly
pressed juice, as well as other galenic preparations of the
plant, are for internal use.How Supplied:Capsules — 500 mgPreparation: To make a tea. pour 150 ml boiling water over
2 gm drug (1 to 2 teaspoonfuls), cover for 10 to 15 minutes
and strain.Daily Dosage: The daily dosage is 2 to 3 cups of the tea
before meals, 4 to 6 gm of the dried herb, 20 to 30 gm of the
fresh herb or 60 to 150 gm of freshly pressed juice.
Externally, the drug is applied as a poultice or a compress.
Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every
30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);
parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc, acute, 3 times daily; chronic: once
a day (HAB1).
LITERATURE
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.
MacLeod AJ, Islam R, J Sci Food Agric 26:1545-1550. 1975.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Spence RMM, Tucknott OG, PH 22:2521-2523. 1993.
Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997.Wheat
Triticum aestivumDESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fruit wall, seed
shell and outer layers of the endosperm.
Flower and Fruit: The inflorescence is a 4 to 18 cm long,
more or less 4-sided and double-rowed awnless spike
(occasionally with an awn up to 16 cm long). The spikelet
has 2 to 6 flowers, 2 to 4 of which are sterile. Each spikelet
has 2 glumes at the base, is approximately 10 mm long,
blunt, keeled at the tip with a blunt or acute tooth. The
flowers are surrounded by 2 bracts; the first is bulbous and
coriaceous, the second smaller and membranous. There are 3
stamens and an ovary with 2 feather-like styles. The fruit is a
yellowish, reddish or brownish orbicular to elongate oval
caryopse.Leaves, Stein and Root: The herb grows up to 1.5 m high.
The leaves are arranged in two rows, are parallel-veined and
5 to 15 mm wide. The leaf base clasps the stem, the ligule is
short with a ciliate eyelet. The stem is thin-walled, hollow
and glabrous at the nodes.
Habitat: Asia, North America and Europe
Production: Wheat bran is the fruit wall, seed shell and outer
layers of the endosperm of Triticum aestivum. Wheat germ
oil is the fatty oil derived from cold-pressing the embryo of
Triticum aestivum in a filter press.
Not to be Confused With: Wheat bran is sometimes confused
with rye bran; wheat germ oil with other oils such as sesame
oil.
Other Names: Wheat Bran, Wheat Germ Oil
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: WHEAT BRAN
Polysaccharides
Glucans: starch (15 to 20%), cellulose (30 %)
Heteroglycans (10%): complex arabinoxylans, to some
extent water-soluble
Fatty oil (2%)
Phospolipids (1%)
Glycolipids (0.5%): particularly acyldigalactosyl glycerols
Steroids (0.3%): sterol esters
Proteins (20%)
Lignin
Alkyl resorcinols (0.1 to 0.2%): chiefly with C21- or C17-
side chains
EFFECTS: WHEAT BRAN
Wheat bran is laxative in effect through expanding polysac-
charides, which, through an increased level of fullness
pressure, stimulate intestinal peristalsis and markedly shorten
the transition time. At the same time, a measurable bonding
of bile acids and their elimination from the enterohepatic