PDR for Herbal Medicines

842/YEW PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Diterpene esters of the taxane-type (mixture is known as

taxine, 0.6-2.0%): including among others, taxine A, taxine

B, taxol

Flavonoids: including among others, sciadopytisin, ginkge-

tin, sequoia flavone (biflavonoids)

EFFECTS

In animal experiments, the taxin, a mixture of different ester

alkaloids, leads to an improvement in cardiac metabolism.

The motility-inhibiting effect may be attributable to the

biflavonoid fraction. In higher doses the drug is cardiotoxic

and can cause tachycardiac arrhythmia leading to diastolic

cardiac arrest.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The cooked Yew leaves are used to promote

menstruation; to treat diphtheria, epilepsy, tapeworm, and

tonsillitis; and as an abortifacient. The plants are highly toxic

and their use is not recommended.

Homeopathic Uses: The drug is used for poor digestion and

skin pustules.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

The drug is considered an abortifacient and therefore should

not be used during pregnancy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: The drug is severely toxic: 50-100 gm Yew needles

(fresh weight) are fatal for an adult. The red seed coat of the

berries—although not the green seed—is free of toxic taxane

derivatives.

Use in Pregnancy: The drug is used as an abortifacient.

OVERDOSAGE

Symptoms of poisoning include queasiness, vomiting, severe

abdominal pain, and feelings of vertigo, followed later by

unconsciousness, mydriasis, reddening of the lips, tachycar-

dia, and superficial breathing. Death results from asphyxia-

tion and diastolic cardiac arrest.

Following gastrointestinal emptying, (inducement of vomit-
ing, gastric lavage with burgundy-colored potassium per-
manganate solution, sodium sulphate), and use of activated
charcoal, treatment for poisonings consists of treating
spasms with diazepam or barbital (i.v.). In case of shock,
plasma volume expanders should be infused. The administra-
tion of lidocaine has proven effective in cardiac rhythm
disorders. Monitoring of kidney function, blood coagulation
and liver values is necessary. Intubation and oxygen
respiration may also be necessary.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Yew is used in homeopathic

dilutions of the mother tincture.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules, every

30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic); M

parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc, acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once

a day (HAB1).

Storage: The mother tincture should be protected from light.

LITERATURE

Hoc S, Onkologie: Taxol, ein pflanzliches Zytostatikum. In:

DAZ 133(26):2400. 1993.

Hof-Mussler S, Eiben-Zytostatikum Taxol bei Ovarialkarzinom.

In: DAZ 133(1):42. 1993.

Jenniskens LHD, Identification of six taxine alkaloids from

Taxus baccata needles. In: JNP 59(2): 117-123. 1996.

Kelsey RG, Vance NC, Taxol and cephalomannine

concentrations in the foliage and bark of shade-grown and sun-

exposed Taxus baccata trees. In: JNP 55:912-917. 1992.

Kingston DGI, Sorties and surprises: unexpected reactions of

taxol. In: PM 62, Abstracts of the 44th Ann Congress of GA,

5. 
   
   
   
   1996. Kongrepbericht, Taxol in der onkologischen Therapie. In: ZPT
         15(2): 114. 1994.
         Kubitschek J, Eibenwirkstoff gegen Malaria. In: PZ I40(8):684.
   
   
   1997. 
         

         Ma W et al., New bioactive taxoids from cell cultures of Taxus
         baccata. In: JNP 57(1): 116. 1994.
         Mujumdar RB et al., (1972) Ind J Chem 10:677.
         Poupat Ch et al., Noveau taxoide basique isole des feuilles
         D'if, Taxus baccata: La 2-desacetyltaxine A. In: JNP
         57(10): 1468-1469. 1994.
         Schneider B, Taxol, ein Arzneistoff der Eibe. In: DAZ
         134(36):3389. 1994.
         Vanek T et al., Study of the influence of year season on
         taxanes content in Taxus baccata bark. In: PM 59(7)99. 1993.
         Vidensek N, Lim P, Campbell A, Carlson C, Taxol content in
         bark, wood, root, leaf, twig and seedling from several Taxus
         species. In: JNP 53:1609-1610. 1994.
         Vohora Kumar, (1971) Planta Med 20:100.
         Wasielewski S, Taxol, ein Zytostatikum aus der pazifischen
         Eibe. In: UPTA 7(12):914. 1993.
         Further information in:
         Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur
         Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-
         Ges. Stuttgart 1997.
         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-

         
         
   
   
   
   


6.