HERBAL MONOGRAPHS SOAPWORT /701They are linear and slightly keeled on the underside. The
outer leaf has an open sheath, the inner leaf a closed sheath.
The bulb is globose to ovoid and approximately 1.5 cm wide.Habitat: The plant is native to Switzerland and Austria as
well as other sections of southern Europe, but also has spread
to other parts of Europe including Bulgaria and the
Commonwealth of Independent States.Production: The Snowdrop bulb is the fresh bulb of
Galanthus nivalis, which is harvested in the flowering
season.ACTION AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (0.2 to 1.6%): including galantha-
mine, hemanthamin, narwedine, nivalidine, hippeastrine,
lycorine, nivaline, narciclasine, pretazettine. The alkaloid
spectrum depends greatly upon the variety.LectinsEFFECTS
The drug is now considered toxic. Previous use was based on
die effect of the alkaloid galanthamine contained in the drug
as a competitive inhibitor of true cholinesterase. The
administration of this isolated alkaloid for decurarization in
connection witfi anesthetics thus appeared plausible, as did
use for postoperative atonia of the gastrointestinal tract and
of die bladder, myasthenia and other conditions. The effects
of ouher alkaloids contained in the drug are virostatic, tumor-
inhibiting, positively inotropic and negatively chronotropic,
as well as being respiratory analeptics.INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Internal application: Snowdrop has been
used for myasthenia, myopathy, symptoms resulting from
polyneuropathy, neuritis, myelitis and injuries to the spine,
as well as postoperative intestinal, gastric and bladder atonia.
It has also been used in anesthetics, for thrombosis and
thrombo-embolism, Glaucoma (rare) and Alzheimer's
disease.DOSAGE
The drug is no longer used therapeutically. The literature
includes mention of previous use of an aqueous solution of
Galanmamine hydrobromide 0.15 to 0.35 mg per kg of body
weight IV, IM, sc.PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
The drug is toxic. Oral ingestion leads to symptoms
resembling those of physostigmine poisoning: diarrhea, colic
and vomiting (acetylcholine esterase inhibition through
galanmamine). Fatal poisonings have not been recorded.
LITERATURE
Amin KT Beillevaire D, Mahmoud E, Hammar L, Mardh PA,
Frman G, Binding of Galanthus nivalis lectin to Chlamydia
trachomatis and inhibition of in vitro infection. APMIS,
103:714-20, 1995 Oct.
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Ed.), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-
1994.
Kalashnikov ID, Isolation of alkaloids from Galanthus nivalis L
Farm Zh, 103:40-4, 1970
Plaitakis A, Duvoisin RC, Homer's moly identified as
Galanthus nivalis L.: physiologic antidote to stramonium
poisoning. Clin Neuropharmacol, 6:1-5, 1983 Mar.
Venturi VM, Piccinin GL. Taddei I, Pharmacognostic study of
self-sown Galanthus nivalis (var. gracilis) in Italy Boll Soc Ital
Biol Sper, 103:593-7, 1965 Jun 15.Soapwort
Saponaria officinalis
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fresh or dried
roots, and the leaves harvested in summer before or during
the flowering season of the first and second year of growth.Flower and Fruit: The flowers generally are flesh-colored,
sometimes white, grow in racemes and have a 5-tipped fused
calyx. The petals have long stems. The ovary is superior and
has 1 style. The fruit is a capsule wim 4 teeth at the tip and
bursts open when ripe. The seeds are reniform-globular and
black-brown.Leaves, Stem and Root: The perennial plant is leafy and
grows about 100 cm high. The stems are round, erect, and
finely downy. The leaves are crossed opposite, oblong to
lanceolate, acute, entire-margined, 3-veined and taper to a
short petiole.Characteristics: The plant has a weak fragrance. The leaves
and root contain bitter tasting saponine and produce suds
when rubbed under water.Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the temperate regions of
North America, Asia, and Europe.Production: Soapwort herb consists of the dried, above
ground parts of Saponaria officinalis. The herb is harvested
in the summer before flowering in the first and second years
of the plant's growtii.Soapwort root consists of the dried roots, rhizomes and
runners of Saponaria officinalis. The roots are plowed up in