PDR for Herbal Medicines

508/MASTIC TREE

Mastic Tree

Pistacia lentiscus

DESCRIPTION

Medicitml Parts: The medicinal part is the resin.

Flower and Fruit: The inflorescence is compact and spike-

like. The flowers are yellowish or purplish. The drupe is

approximately 4 mm, globose, apiculate and is red, but later

turns black.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a small evergreen tree or

shrub 1 to 8 m high. The trees are said to be exclusively

male. The leaves are bipinnate. The 8 to 12 leaflets measure

I to 5 cm by 0.5 to 1.5 cm. They are lanceolate to ovate-

lanceolate, mucronate and coriaceous. The rhachis is broadly

winged. The petioles are glabrous.

Habitat: The tree thrives in the Mediterranean region,

Portugal, Turkey, on the Canaries and in tropical Africa.

Production: Mastic resin is the resin from the trunk of

Pistacia lentiscus.

Other Names: Lentisk

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Resins (90%): chief components are the triterpenes mastic

acid, isomastic acid, oleanolic acid and tirucallol

Volatile oil (I-3%): including alpha-pinene, myrcene, lina-

lool, beta-pinene, beta-caryophyllene (constituents vary a

great deal)

EFFECTS^^ „_

In animal experiments Mastic is ulcer protective. The

amaroids and essential oil are astringent and aromatic.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Mastic Tree resin was formerly used in

dentistry, as a material for fillings. The masticated resin

releases substances that freshen the breath and tighten the

gums.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards or side effects are known in

conjunction with the proper administration of designated

therapeutic dosages.

Pediatric Use: There is an occasional risk of diarrhea in

small children.

DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The resin is used for the production
of chewing gum and is used in the food and drink industries.

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

LITERATURE

Al-Said MS et al., Evaluation of Mastic, a crude drug obtained

from Pistacia lentiscus for gastric and duodenal anti-ulcer

activity. In: ETH 15:271. 1986.

Mamer FJ, Freyer A, Lex J, Triterpenoids from gum Mastic,

the resin of Pistacia lentiscus. In: PH 30(11):3709-3712. 1991.

Further information in:

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Mate

Ilex paraguariensis

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried or roasted

leaves.

Flower and Fruit: The white flowers are axillary and are in

clusters of 40 to 50. They have a 4 to 5 sepaled calyx and 4

to 5 petalled corolla, are unisexual and dioecious. The fruit is ^

a globoid reddish drupe with 5 to 8 seeds. ™

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an evergreen shrub or

tree up to 20 m tall with pale bark and an oblong-oval crown.

The leaves are alternate, obovate, acuminate with a crenate

or serrate margin. They are dark green above and pale green

beneath and are tough, coriaceous and 6 to 20 cm long and 3

to 9 cm wide.

Characteristics: The taste is astringent and bitter. The odor

is characteristic and ar6matic.

Habitat: The plant is only found in South America between

the 20th and 30th parallel.

Production: Mate consists of the dried leaf and leaf stem of

Ilex paraguariensis. It is harvested every 2 years from May to

September, then dried and cut.

Other Names: Yerba Mate, Jesuit's Tea, Paraguay Tea

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Purine alkaloids: chief alkaloids caffeine (0.4-2.4%) and ^

theobromine (0.3-0.5%)

Cajfeic acid derivatives: including among others chlorogenic

acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid

Flavonoids: including among others rutin, isoquercitrin,

kaempferol glycosides

Triterpene saponins (mate saponins)