PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Manyam BV, Paralysis agitans and levodopa in 'Ayurveda :

ancient Indian medical treatise. Mov Disord, 29:47-8. 1990.

Morton JF, An Atlas of Medicinal Plants of Middle America,

Charles C Thomas USA 1981.

4£ Revilleza MJ, Mendoza EM. Raymundo LC, Oligosaccharides

in several Philippine indigenous food legumes: determination

localization and removal. Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 29:83-93. Jan,

1990.

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

4. AufL Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Steinegger E, Hansel R. Pharmakognosie, 5. AufL, Springer
   Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U. Biogene Gifte - Biologic Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. AufL, Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
   Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. AufL, Wiss. Verlagsges.
   Stuttgart 1997.
   Woerdenbag HJ. Pras N, Frijlink HW, Lerk CF, Malingre TM,
   Antidiabetic evaluation of Mucuna pruriens Linn seeds. JPMA J
   Pak Med Assoc, 29:147-50. Jul, 1990.

Cowslip

Primula veris

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the roots and

flowers.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in richly blossomed

umbels with a short peduncle. The flowers are turned to one

side and grow in clusters (up to 25) from the center of the

leaf rosette. The calyx is cylindrical and appressed with a

green margin. The remaining part of the calyx is yellow and

it is 12 to 15 cm long. The corolla is odorless, usually sulfur

yellow and has a tube with 5 triangular, orange spots. The

fruit is an oval capsule with 1.5 to 2.5 mm-long brown,

warty seeds.

Leaves, Stem and Root: This 10 cm high plant is a
herbaceous perennial with a short sturdy rhizome. The green
plant parts are covered in 2 mm long segmented hairs. The
4£ leaves are revolute in the bud. They are wrinkled, ovate or
ovate-oblong and are rounded at the base. They narrow
quickly to the winged stems. During the flowering season
they are irregularly dentate with blunt teeth. They are 3 to 6
cm long during the flowering season, but grow larger later.
The upper side of the leaf is glabrous.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to all of Central Europe as

far as the Southern European mountains. There are many

subspecies.

Production: Cowslip flower consists of the dried, whole

flowers with calyx of Primula veris and/or Primula elatior as

well as their preparations. Cowslip root consists of the dried

. rhizome with roots of Primula veris and/or Primula elatior as •
well as their preparations. Cowslip root is harvested at best
in the third year of growth.
Other Names: Oxlip, True Cowslip, Peagles, English Cows-
lip, Butter Rose, Herb Peter Paigle, Key Flower, Key of
Heaven, Fairy Caps, Petty Mulleins, Buckles, Crewel.
Palsywort, Plumrocks, Mayflower, Password. Primrose.
Arthritica, Our Lady's Keys
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: COWSLIP FLOWER
Flavonoids (3%): including rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutino-
side, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside; isorhamnetin rhamnosyl
robinoside, isorhamnetin robinoside, isorhamnetin rutino-
side, kaempferol robinoside, limocitrin-3-O-glucoside. quer-
cetin gentiobioside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin
robinoside

Primine

Triterpene saponins

EFFECTS: COWSLIP FLOWER

The drug has an expectorant effect, which is due to the

flavonoid and saponin content. An increase of the volume of

bronchial secretion has been demonstrated in animal

experiments.

COMPOUNDS: COWSLIP ROOT

Phenol glycosides (0.2 to 2.3%, high values in the Spring):

primulaverin (3%, 2-hydroxy-5-methoxy- benzoic acid

methyl ester-O-xyloglucoside) changing over during dehy-

dration into the characteristic-smelling 5-methoxy-methyl

salicylate

Triterpene saponins (5 to 10%): chief components primulic

acid A (chief aglycone protoprimulagenin)

EFFECTS: COWSLIP ROOT

The saponin content gives the drug expectorant and diuretic

effects. Recent studies on these effects are not available. The

mode of action is postulated to be due to vagal stimulation.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

COWSLIP FLOWER

Approved by Commission E:

• Cough/Bronchitis
  Unproven Uses: Cowslip flower is used internally for catarrh
  of the respiratory tract. In folk medicine it is used for
  insomnia, anxiety states, as a cardiac tonic for feelings of
  dizziness and cardiac insufficiency. It is also used as a nerve
  tonic for shaking limbs, headaches and neuralgia.