PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS YELLOW LUPIN/839

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

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. AufL, Bde 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. AufL, Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

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

4. AufL, Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
   pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
   York 1995.
   Wenkert E et aL, (1971) Experientia 28:377.

Yellow Lupin

Lupinus luteus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the seeds and the

aerial parts of the plant.

Flower and Fruit: The terminal flowers are almost sessile.

They are arranged in numerous, distinct whorls. They have

dropping, silky-haired bracts. The corolla is bright yellow

with a blunted boat-shaped tip. The fruit is an oblong-

lanceolate, 5 to 7 cm by 1 cm, densely pubescent pod with

nodes. It contains 4 to 7 yellowish, reddish-white, black or

dark violet marbled seeds 5.5 to 6.5 mm long.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an annual with up to a 1

m long taproot, which contains numerous lateral roots. The

stem is light green and pubescent with numerous side shoots.

The 5 to 10 leaves are oblong-obovate to lanceolate, 4 to 8

cm long, acuminate and pubescent on both sides.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Europe, Asia, and North

and South America.

Production: Lupin herb and seeds are the aerial part and

seeds of Lupinus luteus and other Lupinus species.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: IN THE FOLIAGE
Quinolizidine alkaloids (0.6-1.6%): sparteine (55-70%),
lupinine (20-30%), p-cumaroyllupinine (10%); in cultivated
strains (sweet lupins), alkaloid content is 0.01-0.8%

COMPOUNDS: IN THE SEEDS

Quinolizidine alkaloid (0.4-3.3%): lupinine (60%), sparteine

(30%); in some cultivated strains, gramine; in cultivated

strains (sweet lupins), alkaloid content is less than 0.1%

Fatty oil (4-6%)

Carbohydrates: including stachyose (6%)

Proteins (36-48%)

EFFECTS

There has been no research on the effects of the drug;

however, an anthelmintic effect has been established for the

constituents lupinin and benzolylupinin.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Yellow Lupin is used externally for ulcers.

It is used internally for urinary tract disorders and worm

infestation.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

See Overdosage section.

OVERDOSAGE

Symptoms of poisoning include salivation, swallowing

difficulties, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, hypocyclosis,

double vision, cardiac rhythm disorders and prickling

sensation in the extremities. In cases of severe poisoning,

symptoms include ascending paralysis and possible death

through respiratory failure within a few hours. The intake of

a single seed of a bitter lupin is said to be toxic for a child. In

one case, a small child died following intake of several

seeds. The intake of more than one pod of the plant or 10

seeds by an adult is said to trigger vomiting and should be

treated with administration of activated charcoal. Following

gastrointestinal emptying (inducement of vomiting, gastric

lavage with burgundy-colored potassium permanganate solu-

tion, sodium sulfate) and installation of activated charcoal,

the therapy for severe poisonings consists of electrolyte

substitution, treating possible cases of acidosis with sodium

bicarbonate infusions, and administering orciprenaline or

lidocaine for cardiac rhythm disorders. In case of shock,

plasma volume expanders should be administered. Intubation

and oxygen respiration may also be necessary.

The lupinosis seen in animals is caused by mycotoxins.that

are formed from the fungus Phomopsis leptostromiformis,

which can live as an endophyte in lupins.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug is used internally as an

infusion, and externally in poultices.

LITERATURE

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. AufL, Wiss. Verlags-

Ges Stuttgart 1997.