PDR for Herbal Medicines

578/PELLITORY PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Flower and Fruit: Each stem bears a 1 cm wide flower. The

bracts are fused. The ray florets are white and tinged purple

beneath. The disc florets are pointed. The fruit has transpar-

ent wings.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Pellitory is a perennial grass plant

whose thickened, hollow stems grow a short distance along

the ground before turning upward. The plant grows to about

45 cm high and has double-pinnate, tough leaves. The root is

almost cylindrical, easily twisted, tapered and crowned with

a tuft of gray hair. The outside is brown and fissured with

shiny black markings.

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Alkamides: including deca-2, 4-dien acid-isobutylamide,

anacycline, dehydroanacycline

Lignans: including sesamine

Inulin (fructosan)

Tannins

EFFECTS

Application to the skin stimulates the nerve ends, resulting in

redness and irritation (hot, burning sensation). Pellitorin

(rather than anacycline) is me local irritant. The drug, which

contains alkamides; (pellitorin) and tanninsthad ajp inhibitory

effect in vitro on cyclo-oxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase

(affecting prostaglandin metabolism), and also an antimicro-

bial, insecticidal and molluscicidal effect. In tests on animals

and humans, a local anesthetic effect was observed indicat-

ing ptery mandibular block with infiltration of the long

buccal nerves after extraction of mandibular molars.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Pellitory is used externally for rheumatic

conditions, the treatment of toothache. Pellitory is used

internally as a tonic to aid digestion and as an insecticide.

Indian Medicine: Used as a gargle for toothache and as a

powder mixed with honey for epilepsy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
dosages.

OVERDOSAGE

Signs of irritation are possible in connection with overdoses

due to the mucous-membrane-stimulating character of the

alkamides.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: There is mention of use as a gargle

and as a powder, but no precise information is available.

LITERATURE

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

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

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Flower and Fruit: The small, green, sessile flowers grow in

axillary racemes and bloom throughout the summer. The

bracteoles are free and shorter than the calyx. The filaments

of the stamens are strangely jointed and so elastic that when

they are touched before the flower has opened, they uncoil

from meir rolled-up position and distribute the pollen. The

achaenes are black.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial, heavily

branched, bushy and leafy. It grows to 70 cm high. It has a

reddish hard stem and narrow petiolate, ovate-lanceolate or

elliptical, long-acuminate leaves 2.5 to 5 cm long. The leaf

stalk is shorter than the leaf blade. The stem and the

undersurface of the leaf ribs are pubescent with short, soft

hairs. The uppersurface of the leaves is almost glabrous and

the ribs sunken.

Habitat: The herb is indigenous to Europe.

Production: Pellitory-of-the-Wall is the aerial part of Parie-

taria officinalis.

Other Names: Lichwort

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Flavonoids: including among others kaempferol-, quercetin-

and isorhamnetin-3-glucosides, -3-sophoroside, -3-rutino-

sides, -3-neohesperidosides

Caffeic acid derivatives: including caffeoyl malic acid

Bitter principles

EFFECTS

The drug is a mild diuretic.

Habitat: The plant grows in North Africa and is cultivated m

the Mediterranean.

Production: Pellitory root is the root of Anacyclus

Pyrethrum.

Other Names: Pellitory of Spain, Pyrethre, Pyrethrum,

Roman Pellitory, Spanish Camomile

Pellitory-of-the-Wall

Parietaria officinalis

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the herb.