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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.
Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used
in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New
York 1980.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch 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.
Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
Stuttgart 1997.Dipteryx odorata
See Sweet Cicely
Myrtus communis*
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the leaves (dried
and as a source of oil), twigs and the fresh, flowering
branches.
Flower and Fruit: The flowers are medium-sized and stiff.
They are short, glandular-haired pedicles, which are covered
in bracteoles. They grow solitary in the leaf axils. The petals
are white with fine glands and a somewhat tomentose margin
covered with fine hairs. The anthers are yellow. The berries
are pea-sized, orbicular or ovoid-ellipsoid, blue-black or
white. They are crowned by the calyx.Leaves, Stem and Root: Myrtle is an evergreen, bushy shrub
or a small tree growing up to 5 m high witih opposite
branches and quadrangular cane-shaped, initially delicately
glandular, downy branches. The dark green leaves are
glossy, glabrous, coriaceous, opposite-paired or whorled,
ovate to lanceolate, entire-margined, acuminate and 1-3 cm
long.Characteristics: The berries have a sweet-spicy taste.
Habitat: Myrtle grows from the Mediterranean region to the
northwestern Himalayas.
Production: Myrtle leaves are the dried leaves of Myrtus
communis. Myrtle oil is the essential oil of Myrtus commu-
nis, which is extracted from the leaves and branches through
steam distillation. (The percentage extracted ranges from 0.1
to 0.5%.) May and June are the best months for harvesting,
since the plant has the highest concentration of essential oil
during this period.Not to be Confused With: Confusion can arise with the
leaves of Bux semper-virens and Vaccinium vitisidaea,
which resemble Myrtle.
ACTIONS ANO PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: MYRTLE OIL
Chief components: 1,8-cineol (15-45%), alpha-pinene (15-
38%), myrtenol (1-5%), myrtenylacetate (4-20%), limonene
(4-10%), alpha-terpineol (2-12%), geraniol (0.5-1.5%), gera-
nylacetate (1-5%), myrtol (a myrtle oil fraction that boils
between 160-180°C, ~xhief components 1.8-cineole and
alpha-pinene)EFFECTS: MYRTLE OIL
The oil's mono- and sesquiterterpenes display antibacterial,
fungicidal and disinfectant activity.COMPOUNDS: MYRTLE LEAVES
Volatile oil (0.1-0.5%): (see Myrtle Oil compounds listing
above for composition)
Tannins (gallotannins, condensed tannins)
Acylphloroglucinols: myrtocommulon A and BEFFECTS: MYRTLE LEAVES
The leaves, which contain essential oil and tannins, display
antimicrobial activity. An antiademic and hypoglycemic
effect was demonstrated in animal experiments. An effect on
the central nervous system (an increase in the duration of
sleep) was also proven. The efficacy in cold infections may
be attributable to the deodorizing and bronchosecretolytic
effect of the essential oil.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
MYRTLE OIL
Unproven Uses: Myrtle oil is used internally in folk
medicine for acute and chronic infections of the respiratory
tract such as bronchitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis of the
lung, as well as for bladder conditions, diarrhea, hemor-
rhoids, prostatitis and worm infestation. It is sometimes used
I as a substitute for Buchu.