PDR for Herbal Medicines

626 /QUINCE PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

EFFECTS

The main active principles are mucilage, some tannins and

vitamin C. There is no information is available on the mode

of action.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Quince is used as a demulcent in digestive

disorders and diarrhea. As a lotion, it is used to soothe the

eyes. The seeds are also used to treat coughs and gastrointes-

tinal catarrh. Additionally, the herb is used as compresses or

poultices for injuries, inflammation of the joints, injuries of

the nipples and gashed or deeplyv cut fingers.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Health risks or side effects following the proper administra-

tion of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded.

Because quince mucilage is prepared from the whole seeds,

and/or the whole seeds are taken internally, the cyanogenic

glycosides are credited with a slight toxicological relevance.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug is used as a powder, a

lotion, a decoction and an extract.

Preparation: Extract/decoction: 1 tsp. -of whole seeds per

cup of water. A viscous poultice is prepared from the ground

seeds.

LITERATURE

De Tommasi N et al., New tetracyclic sesterterpenes from

Cydonia vulgaris. In: JNP 59(3):267-270. 1996.

Huber P, Landw Versuchst 75:462. 1911.

Sommer W, Dissertation Universitat Kiel. 1984.

Further information in:

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

Australian Quinine

Cinchona pubescens

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the dried bark of 6- to

8-year-old trees.

Flower and Fruit: The 35 cm long inflorescence is panicled,

opposite, often leafy and densely blossomed. The flowers are

almost sessile, and the tube is thickly covered in silky hairs.

The calyx has appressed hairs, and the tips are short and

widely acuminate. The corolla is red or pink and 10 to 12

mm long. The fruit is an oblong, glabrous and longitudinally

grooved capsule.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an evergreen tree,

sometimes a bush, which grows from 5 to 15 m high, with a

dense crown. The branches are at right angles to the trunk.

The young branches are usually pubescent. The stipules are

large, ovate, obtuse or acuminate, silky-haired or glabrous.

The leaves have an up to 8 cm long petiole. The leaf blade is

15 to 40 cm long and 7 to 25 cm wide, oblong-elliptoid to

roundish with curved side ribs. The bark occurs in quills or

flat pieces up to 30 cm long and 3 to 6 mm thick. The

external surface is brownish-gray, usually fissured with an

exfoliating cork. Lichens and mosses may be seen as

grayish-white or greenish patches. The inner surface is

yellowish to reddish-brown. The fracture is fibrous.

Characteristics: The bark has an astringent, bitter taste and

the odor is slight.

Habitat: The herb is indigenous to mountainous regions of

the tropical U.S. and is cultivated elsewhere.

Production: Cinchona bark consists of the dried bark of

Cinchona pubescens or other varieties. Trees are felled at

between 6 and 12 years. They are dried slowly in the sun

initially and then artificially dried at maximum temperatures

of 70° C.

Not to be Confused With: Yellow factory bark

Other Names: Peruvian Bark, Jesuit's Bark, Cinchona

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Quinoline alkaloids (5-15%): main alkaloids are quinine

(0.8-4%), quinidine (0.02-0.4%), cinchonine (1.5-3%), cin-

chonidine (1.5-5%)

Triterpenes: bitter acid monoglycosides, in particular,phino-

vic acid-3-O-chinovoside, chinovic acid-3-O-glucoside

Catechin tannins (3-5%)

EFFECTS

Quinine promotes stimulation of tfie secretion of saliva and

gastric juices.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Loss of appetite


• Dyspeptic complaints

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

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Reis D. Vian B, Chanzy H, Roland JC, Liquid crystal-type

assembly of native cellulose-glucuronoxylans extracted from

plant cell wall. Biol Cell, 30:173-8, 1991

Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer

Verlag Heidelberg 1992

Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,

Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.