602/POISONOUS BUTTERCUP PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINESOVERDOSAGE
Death by asphyxiation following the intake of large quanti-
ties of protoanemonine-forming plants has been observed in
animal experiments.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The herb is available as a mother
tincture and extract in homeopathic dilutions.
LITERATURE
Bonora A et al., PH 26:2277. 1987.
Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur
Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-
Ges. Stuttgart 1997.
Hegnauer R. Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11:
Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin 1962-1997.
Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8: Springer Verlag
Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. 1969.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg 01ms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Ruijgrok HWL, PM 11:338-347. 1963.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Poke
Phytolacca americana
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried root and
the berries.
Flower and Fruit: The racemes are about 10 cm long and
more or less erect. The flowers are androgynous. There is a
calyx without a corolla. The involucre segments are 2.5 cm,
broadly ovate, greenish-white and turn reddish at the fruit.
There are 10 stamens and 10 carpels, which are fused. The
fruits are 10 mm depressed-globose, purplish-black berries,
which cover the stem like a raceme. They are similar to
blueberries.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a glabrous, perennial
herb, somewhat woody at the base. The root is long and
fleshy. The stems are 1 to 3 m high, hollow, bifurcated and
often marked with grooves. The leaves are alternate, entire-
margined, unpleasantly scented, 12 to 25 cm by 5 to 10 cm,
ovate-lanceolate and petiolate.Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the U.S. and has also
become common in Mediterranean countries.
Production: Poke Root and berries are the root and fruit of
Phytolacca americana.
Other Names: American Nightshade, American Spinach,
Bear's Grape, Branching Phytolacca, Cancer-Root, Coakum-
Chongras, Cokan, Crowberry, Inkberry, Jalap, Phytolacca
Berry, Phytolacca Root, Pigeon Berry, Pocan, Poke Root,
Poke Berry, Pokeweed, Red Weed, Red-Ink Plant, Scoke,
Skoke, Virginian Poke
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: POKE FRUIT
Triterpene saponins (mixture termed phytolaccatoxin): phy-
tolaccoside A-G, phytolaccasaponin B, aglycones 28,30-
dicarboxy-oleans, including jaligonic acid, esculentic acid,
phytolaccagenic acid, pokeberrygenin
Triterpenes: including alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, taraxast-
erol, psi-taraxasterol, tirucallol
Lectins (pokeweed-mitogens)
Ribosome: inactivating proteins (1-RIP), in the seeds
Betacyans (red pigments): including among otfiers phytolac-
canin (betanin), particularly in the fruits
Lignans: caffeic acid aldehyde-oligomerics; including
among others americanme A, B and D
Histamine: gamma-aminobutyric acid (in the rhizomes)
Saccharose: cyclitols
EFFECTS: POKE FRUIT
An antihepatotoxic and antiviral effect has been demon-
strated for the fruit. The saponins have an emetic effect.
COMPOUNDS: POKE ROOT
Triterpene saponins (mixture termed phytolaccatoxin): phy-
tolaccosides A, B, D, D2, E (chief component, aglycone
phytolaccagenin), F, G, phytollaccasaponin B, aglycone
28,30-dicarboxy-oleans, including jaligonic acid, jaligonic
acid-30-methyl ester, esculentic acid, phytolaccagenic acid
Amines: histamine (0.13 to 0.16%), in the roots
Starch
EFFECTS: POKE ROOT
An anti-edemic and immune-stimulating effect has been
demonstrated for the root. The saponins have an emetic
effect.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
POKE FRUIT
Unproven Uses: Rheumatism and skin ulcers
POKE ROOT
Unproven Uses: Poke has been used to treat dysmenorrhoea,
dyspepsia, catarrh, rheumatism, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, syph-