358 /GOLDENSEAL PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES
Osol A & Farrar CG (eds): The Dispensatory of the United
States of America, 25th ed. JB Lippincott Company,
Philadelphia, PA, USA, pp 660-661. 1955.
Preininger V: The pharmacology and toxicology of the
Papaveraceae alkaloids, in Manske RHF & Holmes HL (eds):
The Alkaloids, Vol. 15. Academic Press, p 239. 1975.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen. Pflanzengifte,
- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Sack RB & Froehlich JL: Berberine inhibits intestinal secretory
response of Vibrio cholerae toxins and Escherichia coli
enterotoxins. Infect Immun 35:471-475. 1982.
Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie. 5. Aufl.. Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
Sun D, Courtney HS & Beachey EH: Berberine sulfate blocks
adherence of Streptococcus pyogenes to epithelial cells,
tibronectin, and hexadecane. Antimicrob Agents Chemother
32:1370-1374. 1988.
Swabb EA, Tai YH & Jordan L: Reversal of cholera toxin-
induced secretion in rat ileum by luminal berberine. Am J
Physiol 1981; 241:G248-252.
Tierra M: The Way of Herbs. Unity Press. Santa Cruz, CA,
USA, 1980.
Tyler VE: The Honest Herbal. George F Stickley Company,
Philadelphia, PA, USA, pp 111-112. 1982.
Tyler VE: Golden Seal: can this herb boost immunity.
Prevention July:68-70. 1997.
Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
pflanzliche Homdopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
York 1995.
Zhang RX, Dougherty DV & Rosenblum ML: Laboratory
studies of berberine used alone and in combination with 1,3-
bis(2-chloroethyl)-l-nitrosourea to treat malignant brain tumors.
Chinese Med J 103:658-665. 1990.
Goldthread
Coptis trifolia
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the rhizome and
sometimes the stems and leaves.
Flower and Fruit: The solitary flowers are small and white,
and are arranged on leafless scapes.
Leaves, Stem and Root: Goldthread is a perennial plant in
bushes of up to 15 cm with yellowish, scaly leaves at the
base and long-petioled, obovate, evergreen leaves. The
rhizome is thread-like, golden yellow with a matte surface
and very small roots.
Characteristics: Goldthread has a very bitter taste and slight
odor.
Habitat: Coptis trifolia is indigenous to India and Coptis
groenlandica, which is also used, is indigenous to Greenland
and Iceland.
Production: Goldthread rhizome is the rhizome of- Coptis
trifolia.
Other Names: Mouth Root, Cankerroot, Yellowroot, Coptis,
Coptide, Coptis Groenlandica
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Isoquinoline alkaloids (6 to 9%): including coptin, berberine
EFFECTS
The herb is a bitter tonic.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Goldthread is used in digestive disorders.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
General: Health risks or side effects following the proper
administration of designated therapeutic dosages are not
recorded.
Berberine has a mutagenic effect upon yeast cells and in the
Ames test (intercalation into the DNA), although that does
not necessarily mean a mutagenic effect for the drug when
administered to humans.
Pregnancy: Not to be used during pregnancy.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Internally as a powdered drug or a
liquid extract.
LITERATURE
Hegnauer R Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen. Bde 1-11,
Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin 1962-1997.
Kern W, List PH, Hdrhammer L (Ed), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 1969.
Gossypium herbaceum
See Levant Cotton
Gossypium hirsutum
See Cotton