HERBAL MONOGRAPHS
Apocynum cannabinum
See Indian Hemp
Apple Tree
Malus domestica
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh false fruit,
the dried fruit peels, and the inflorescences with their leaves
and solid peduncles.
Flower and Fruit: The flowers are umbelled racemes with
only a few blossoms. The petals are obovate, up to 2.5 cm
long, stemmed, white, pink, or pink on the outside and white
on the inside. The carpels are fused with the false fruit.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a 6 to 10m high tree or
shrub. Boughs and branches are initially villous-haired, later
becoming glabrous. The leaves are alternate, ovate, usually
shortly acuminate and finely crenate-serrate.
JP Habitat: The plant is cultivated in the temperate regions of
the Northern Hemisphere, and occasionally grows wild.
Production: Medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations of
apples come in liquid and dried pectin forms. The source
material is the apple residue with 10% to 20% pectin in the
dried mass. The residue is extracted at pH 1.5 to 3 and 60° to
100° C.
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: IN THE FRUIT PULP
Fruit acids: the chief acid is malic acid (0.2 to 1.5%); in
unripe apples quinic acid; including as well citric acid,
succinic acid, lactic acid
Caffeic acid derivatives: including 5-caffeoyl quinic acid
Aromatic substances: in particular 2-trans-hexenal, 3-cis-
hexenal, 2-trans-hexenol, 3-cis-hexenol, beta-damascenone,
ethyl butyrate, methyl butyric acid hexylester; in some
strains, 1 -methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)benzole
A, Pectins
Tannins
Vitamins: in particular ascorbic acid (3 to 30 mg/100 gm)
COMPOUNDS: IN THE SEEDS
Cyanogenic glycoside: amygdalin (0.5 to 1.5%, correspond-
ing to 30 to 90 mg HCN/100 gm)
Fatty oil
ARALIA RACEMOSA/37
I EFFECTS
Pectin is a swelling agent. Apple pectins have a mild binding
effect.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Finely ground fruit or preparations that
contain liquid or dry pectin are used for milder forms of
dyspepsia, diarrhea and digestive complaints, especially in
children.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The fruit is available for oral use in
the grated or chopped form. The skin peel can be used in
teas. Medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations of apples
come in liquid and dried pectin forms.
LITERATURE
Belitz HD, Grosch W, Lehrbuch der Lebensmittelchemie, 4.
Aufl., Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 1992.
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.
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,
- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Aquilegia vulgaris
See Columbine
Arachis hypogaea
See Peanut
Aralia racemosa
See Spikenard