PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS ROSEMARY / 645

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

TRADE NAMES

Rosemary Leaf (available from numerous manufacturers and

as combination product)

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the oil extracted

from the leaves and the leafy stems, the flowering, dried twig

tips, the dried leaves, the fresh leaves, the fresh aerial parts

collected during flowering and the flowering branches.

Flower and Fruit:" Labiate flowers grow on tometose

inflorescences in the leaf axils of the upper part of the

branches. The calyx is 3 to 4 mm. green or reddish, initially

tomentose, later 5 to 7 mm and glabrous. The venation is

conspicuous. The corolla is 10 to 12 mm long, bluish,

occasionally pink or white. The nutlet is brown.

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

subshrub, 50 to 150 cm high with erect, climbing or

occasionally decumbent brown branches. The leaves are

linear, coriaceous, entire-margined, light gre^en and some-

what rugose above. They are tomentose, 15 to 40 mm by 1.2

to 3.5 mm.

Characteristics: The plant has a very pungent aroma.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean region

and Portugal and is cultivated there as well as on the Crimea,

in the Transcaucasus, Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia,

South Africa, Australia and the U.S.

Production: Rosemary leaves consist of the fresh or dried

leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis collected after flowering as

well as their preparations. The leaves are harvested after

flowering on sunny, warm days and dried.

Not to be Confused With: May be confused with Ledum

palustre, Andromeda polifolia, Teucrium montanum, Taxus

baccata, Santolina rosmarinfolia, and S. chamaecyparissus.

Other Names: Polar Plant, Compass-Weed, Compass Plant

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Caffeic acid derivatives: chief component rosmarinic acid

Diterpenes (bitter): including carnosolic acid (picrosalvin),

isorosmanol, rosmadial, rosmaridiphenol, rosmariquinone

Flavonoids: including cirsimarin, diosmin, hesperidin, hom-

oplantiginin, phegopolin

Triterpenes: chief components oleanolic acid, ursolic acid
and their 3-acetyl esters

Volatile oil (1.0 to 2.5%): chief components 1,8-cineole ( 20

to 50%), alpha-pinene (15 to 25%), camphor (10 to 25%),

including as well camphene, borneol, bornyl acetate, beta-

caryophyllene, p-cymene, limonene, linalool, myrcene, al-

pha- terpineol, verbenone

EFFECTS

The drug is mildly antimicrobial and antiviral (probably

because of the diterpenes).

Animal tests have demonstrated spasmolytic effects on the

gallbladder ducts and on the upper intestine. The tests have

confirmed choleretic, liver-protective, anti-convulsive, anti-

mutagenic and tumor-inhibiting effects. The metabolism of

the drug is accelerated by the presence of 1,8 cineol. In

humans Rosemary oil improves circulation when applied

externally because of a certain skin irritating effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Blood pressure problems


• Dyspeptic complaints


• Loss of appetite
  .• Rheumatism

Rosemary is used internally for dyspeptic disorders and

externally for hypotonic circulatory disorders and rheumatic

conditions.

Unproven Uses: Rosemary is used in folk medicine for

digestive symptoms, headaches and migraine, dysmenorrhea,

amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea, states of exhaustion, diz-

ziness and poor memory. It is used externally as a poultice

for poorly healing wounds, for eczema, as an analgesic for

injuries of the mouth and throat, topically for myalgias,

intercostal neuralgia and sciatica. '

Homeopathic Uses: Rosmarinus officinalis is used for

gastrointestinal disorders.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Rosemary preparations should not be used during pregnancy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards or side effects are known in

conjunction with the proper administration of designated

therapeutic dosages. Contact allergies have been observed on

occasion.

Pregnancy: Not to be used during pregnancy.

OVERDOSAGE

Very large quantities of rosemary leaves misused for the

purpose of abortion, can lead to deep coma, spasm, vomiting,

gastroenteritis, uterine bleeding, kidney irritation, and to

death in humans.