PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS ONION/ 557

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE

OLIVE LEAVES

Mode of Administration: The drug is available for oral use in

mono and combination tea mixture preparations.

How Supplied:

Capsules — 580 mg

Drops

Preparation: An infusion is prepared by pouring 150 ml of

hot water over 7 to 8 g of the dried leaves. Prepare a tea by

pouring hot water over 2 teaspoonfuls of the drug and

allowing it to steep for 30 minutes.

Daily Dosage: Tea: 3 to 4 cups throughout the day.

OLIVE OIL

Daily Dosage:

Constipation — 100 to 500 ml Olive oil at body temperature

applied rectally.

Gastrointestinal ulcers — 15 to 30 ml 3 taken times daily at

mealtimes.

LITERATURE

OLIVE LEAVES

Bianchi G, Pozzi N, 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycol, a major C6-C2

phenolic in Olea europaea. In: PH 35(5): 1335. 1994.

Bianco A et al., Partial synthesis of oleuropein. In: JNP

55(6):760-766. 1992.

Duarte J et, al., Effects of oleuropeosid in isolated guinea-pig

atria. In: PM 59(4):318. 1993.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

CDrogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Kuwajima H et al., A secoiridoid glucoside from Olea

europaea. In: PH 27(6): 1757. 1988.

Lasser B et al., (1983) Naturwissenschaften 70:95.

OLIVE OIL

Anonym, Positive Auswirkungen von Olivenol auf den

Blutdruck. In: ZPT 12(1):13. 1991.

Hemming S, 1st Olivenol erlaubt? In: DAZ 131(29):1525. 1991.

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.

Lasser B et al., (1983) Naturwissensch. 70:95.

Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

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

Stuttgart 1997.

Onion

Allium cepa

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the bulb.

Flower and Fruit: The peduncles are up to 3 cm long. Trie

flowers.are greenish-white, in orbicular umbels, with 6 free

flower bracts that are shorter than the 6 stamens. The

pedicles are eight times as long as the flowers. The fruit is a

thin-skinned capsule. The seeds are black and angular. The

flowers are in globular umbels, before blooming in membra-

nous sheaths.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is perennial or biennial.

There are many varieties and can be compressed-globose.

ovate or oblong. Most varieties have secondary bulbs.

Leaves are shorter than the peduncle, tubular or swollen, and

blue-green. There is a hollow scape, which is gray-blue.

expanded and bloated below the middle.

Habitat: Central Asia is considered to be the region oi

origin. Onion was introduced to the Mediterranean and is

cultivated worldwide.

Production: Onion consists of the fresh or dried, thick and

fleshy leaf sheaths and stipules of Allium cepa.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY 'r~

COMPOUNDS

Alliins (alkylcysteine sulphoxides): in particular allylalliin

(allyl-L (+)-cysteine sulphoxide) and its gamma-glutamyl

conjugates, that in the course of cutting up either the freshly

harvested bulbs or those that have been already dried and

then re-moistened, are transformed into the so-called allia-

ceous oils.

Fructosans (polysaccharides, 10-40%)

Saccharose and other sugars

Flavonoids: including quercetin-4'-O-beta-D-glucoside

(spiraeoside)

Steroid Saponins

EFFECTS

The thiosulphinate exhibits an antimicrobial effect, and is

effective against Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi. Pseu-

domonas aeroginosa and Escherichia coli.