HERBAL MONOGRAPHS LESSER GALANGAL /467
cus-membrane-irritating anemonine. When dried, the plant is
not capable of protoanemonine-formation.
EFFECTS
Active agents are tannin, the alkaloids chelidonin and
^ cholerytrin, the saponin fikarin and large quantities of
vitamin C.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Lesser Celandine is used for scurvy,
treatment of bleeding wounds, gums and swollen joints.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
The dangers of irritation of the skin and mucus membranes
are relatively low with pilewort. The consumption of small
quantities of the fresh leaf sheaths (before blossoming; the
stem should be discarded) as a springtime salad is
unproblematic.
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages of the dehydrated drug. Extended skin contact with
the freshly-harvested, bruised plant can lead to blister
formation and cauterizations which are difficult to heal due
- to the resulting protoanemonine, that is severely irritating to
^ skin and mucus membranes.
If taken internally, severe irritation to the gastrointestinal
tract, combined with colic and diarrhea, as well as irritations
of the urinary drainage passages, are possible. Symptomatic
treatment for external contact should consist of irrigation
with diluted potassium permanganate solution; in case of
internal contact, administration of activated charcoal should
follow gastric lavage.
OVERDOSAGE ..***• }sr* —
Death by asphyxiation following the intake of large quanti-
ties of protoanemonine-forming plants has been observed in
animal experiments.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: Ground and as an extract. The drug
extracts can be added to baths to treat hemorrhoids, warts
and scratches.
LITERATURE
Bonora A et al., PH 26:2277. 1987.
Kolesnik et al., (1963) CA 59:7856.
Pourrat H, Pourrat A, (1966) Bull Soc Chim Franc 2410.
Pourrat H et al., (1979) Ann Pharm Franc 37:441.
Pourrat H et al., (1982) Ann Pharm Franc 40:373.
Ruijgrok HWL, PM 11:338-347. 1963.
Texier O et al., (1984) Phytochemistry 23(12):2903.
Further information in:
Hegnauer R, Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11:
Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin 1962-1997.
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.
Lesser Galangal
Alpinia officinarum
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part of the plant is the
rhizome.
Flower and Fruit: Galangal is a perennial plant. It is similar
in appearance to the sword lily.
Leaves, Stem and Root: Lesser Galangal has a dark, reddish-
brown, cylindrical rhizome about 1 to 2 cm in diameter and 3
to 6 cm long. The stem is marked at short intervals with
raised rings, which are the scars of the leaf bases. Stems are
up to 1.5 m with long narrow lanceolate leaves bearing
racemes of orchid-shaped flowers, white and veined red. A
fracture of the rhizome is hard and tough, showing a pale
inside with a darker central column.
Characteristics: Lesser' Galangal has a pungent and spicy
taste. The odor is aromatic, rather like ginger.
Habitat: The plant is indigenous to China and entered
Europe via India and Arabia in the Middle Ages.
Production: Lesser Galangal consists of the dried rhizome of
Alpinia officinarum.
Not to be Confused With: The rhizome of Kaempferia
galanga and other Alpina species
Other Names: Galanga, East India Root, Chinese Ginger,
China Root, India Root, East India Catarrh Root, Gargaut,
Colic Root, Catarrh Root, Galangal
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Volatile oil: chief components-sesquiterpene hydrocarbons,
sesquiterpene alcohols
Diarylheptanoids: mixture termed galangol, some of them
pungent substances
