PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS MOUNTAIN ASH BERRY /525

Further information in:

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. _,
      Madaus G, Lehxbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
      Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
      Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
      Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
      Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel. 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
      Stuttgart 1997.
      Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
      pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
      York 1995.
      Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
      Stuttgart 1997.

Mountain Ash Berry

Sorbus aucuparia

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the ripe, dried fruit

or the dried and then boiled fruit.

Flower and Fruit: The inflorescence is broadly umbellifer-

ous-paniculate, erect, floriferous, loosely tomentose, occa-

sionally completely or almost completely glabrous. The

calyx has 5 segments. There are 5 white petals and numerous

stamens. The ovary is inferior and has 2 to 4 free styles,

which are pubescent in the lower portion. The false fruit is

almost gtebular with a diameter of 9 to 10 mm and is scarlet.

There are usaally*3 Seeds which are narrow-oblong, acute

and reddish.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is usually a medium-sized

tree up to 16 m high with a round, rather loose crown. The

bark is smooth and pale gray, later becoming vertically

fissured and blackish. The leaves are odd-pinnate with 5 to

11 almost sessile leaflets. These are oblong-lanceolate,

irregularly thorny-tipped and serrate, pubescent or almost

glabrous.

Characteristics: The flowers have an unpleasant smell and

the berries are sharp-tasting and sour. Sorbus moravica tastes

sweet in contrast

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to almost all of Europe, to

Western Siberia and Asia Minor, and is found in North

America.

Production: Mountain Ash Berry consists of the fresh or
dried fruit, or fruit cooked and dried thereafter, of Sorbus

aucuparia as well as its preparations. The ripe, shiny red fruit

is harvested from August to October

Other Names: Quick-Beam, Rowan Tree, Witchen, Europe-

an Mountain Ash, Sorb Apple

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Cyanogenic glycosides (0.06%; in the seeds 0.2 to 0.59c:

traces in the fruit pulp): in the seeds amygdalin, in the fruit

pulp prunasin

Fruit acids: malic acid (3 to 5%), tartaric acid

Monosaccharides/oligosaccharides: saccharose, glucose,

fructose, sorbose

Parasorboside (bitter substance): parasorbic acid is formed

from it through cell destruction (lactone of the (5S)-Hydrox-

yhex-2-en-acid-1, pungent in odor, mucus-membrane-irritat-

ing, 0.1 to 0.3% of the fresh weight). Parasorbic acid is

destroyed through dehydration or volatilized during cooking.

It is present only in traces (less than 0.01%) in the cultivated

variety, that contains few bitter substances.

Sugar alcohols: sorbitol

Tannins

Vitamins: ascorbic acid (vitamin C, 0.03 to 0.13%, higher

content in the non-bitter fruits)

EFFECTS

The parascorbic acid is weakly laxative and irritating to the

mucous membrane. Ascorbic acid is a vitamin C supplement.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven uses: Mountain Ash is used in folk medicine for

kidney diseases, diabetes, rheumatism, disorders of the uric

acid metabolism, for dissolution of uric acid deposits,

menstruation disturbances, the alkalization of the blood, to

improve the metabolism and for vitamin C deficiency.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages of the dehydrated drug or with the consumption of

fruit sauces, juices, jellies, jams, etc. produced through

cooking.

OVERDOSAGE

Because of the formation of the mucus-membrane-irritating

parasorboside that results from cutting up the fruit, the intake

of very large quantities ofthe fresh fruit leads to gastroenteri-

tis, vomiting, queasiness, gastric pain, diarrhea, kidney

damage (albuminuria, glycosuria) and to polymorphic

exanthemas.