I.38
Betula pendula Roth.– Silver birch Distribution, habitats
Under natural conditions these monoecious tree species occur in the taiga climatic zone (northern conifer forests). They have moderate demands and good adaptability. The downy or white birch is a protected plant.
Morphology
The white bark is scaly, the boughs of the canopy are bending downwards. The spirally arranged leaf buds are shiny and sticky. The leaves are triangular-ovate or rhomboid, double serrate, sometimes slightly lobate. The young shoots and the lower surface of the leaves in downy birch are hairy, the leaf is ovate or rhomboid, with an irregularly serrate leaf edge. At the tip of the long shoots the staminate (male) flowers cluster into one to three cylindrical catkins. The flowers open at the time of leafing in April and May, but the catkins appear already in the autumn of the previous year. The female catkins are shorter, and appear at the tip of short shoots. The fruit is a kind of nut with a pericarp extended into a membraneous wing.
Drug
Betulae folium – Birch leaf(Ph. Eur. 5.0) Phytochemistry
flavonoids, flavonoid methyl ethers soluble in lipids, essential oil, leucoanthocyanidins, phenolcarboxylic acids (chlorogenic acid) and resin
Characters of Plants
55 I.39
Active compounds of Betulae folium – Birch leaf Uses
Birch leaf is a diuretic, adjuvant in kidney and urinary infections, used against gout and rheumatism, as well as for detoxifying. It is traditionally used to quicken the removal of kidney stones. With producing large amounts of urine it also helps to flush the urinary system, washing bacteria out of the urinary tract. It is used externally to prevent hair loss. Birch tar is useful in dermatology as antiparasitic, keratolytic and antipruritic agent to treat scabies, pruritus, psoriasis or chronic eczema. Birch sap can be collected during spring, it contains sugars (namely xylitol), which is a popular sweetening agent. Birch sap is traditionally used as a diuretic and against hair loss. The infusion of the leaves is traditionally used against frostbite and leg pain.
O
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
Calendula officinalis L. – Calendula, Pot marigold Asteraceae – Sunflower family
I.40
Calendula officinalis L.– Calendula, Pot marigold Distribution, habitats
It is an annual plant native to Western Asia, but sometimes it is able to survive the winter.
Morphology
It has a taproot system. The shoot is 40-50 cm tall, the stem is squared. The alternate leaves are spatulate and attenuate at the bottom, while the upper leaves are sessile and ovate. The apical inflorescences are 3 to 5 cm in diameter. The capitulum is composed of ray (ligulate) and disc (tubular) florets, whose colour varies from pale yellow to dark orange. Only the ovaries at the edge of the capitulum are able to develop into cypsela fruits, which are curved like a claw.
Drug
Calendulae flos – Calendula flower(Ph. Eur. 5.0) Phytochemistry
little essential oil, triterpenes, flavonoids, carotenoids, bitter substances
Characters of Plants
57 I.41
Active compounds of Calendulae flos – Calendula flower Uses
Calendula flower is used as antibacterial, antiviral, antimutagenic, antiphlogistic, spasmolytic, non-specific immune stimulant and choleretic drug in cases of pharyngitis, dermatitis, ulcus cruris, ulcus duodeni and gastritis. It is used in many ointments and other medicines, as dyeing agent and component of salads. It is traditionally used as a diaphoretic, diuretic, anthelmintic and emmenagogue plant.
quercetin
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
Cannabis sativa L. – Cannabis, Hemp Cannabaceae – Hemp family
I.42
Cannabis sativa L.– Cannabis, Hemp Distribution, habitats
It is an annual taxon native to Central Asia. Some varieties are cultivated for their high fibre and/or oil content.
Morphology
It has a taproot system. The shoot is 1-2 m tall. Hemp is a dioecious plant, the female plants being more vigorous. The leaves are decussate, the upper leaves are alternate, palmately compound with 3 to 7 leaflets. The leaflets are slender lanceolate and serrate.
Flowers from July to August. Staminate flowers form a pseudoumbel, pistillate flowers cluster into a cymose inflorescence. The perianth is a calyx-like perigonium in both types of flowers. In addition, female flowers are surrounded by hooded bracts, which bear resinous glandular hairs. The fruit is a brown nut with a marble-like pattern, covered with bracts.
Drug
Cannabis sativae fructus – Cannabis seed, hemp seed Phytochemistry
The fruit contains fatty oil, proteins and resin. The leaves (herb) contain little resin, flavonoids and phenol-carboxylic acids.
Characters of Plants
59 I.43
Active compound of Cannabis sativae herba – Cannabis herb Uses
Fibers are obtained from the stem, oil is extracted from the fruit, and the protein-containing residue is utilised as fodder. The emulsion made from the oil is used against gout, rheumatism and problems of the stomach and intestines.
O OH
C5H11
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. – Shepherd's-purse Brassicaceae – Mustard family
Distribution, habitats
Annual or biennial overwintering weed species.
Morphology
It is a 20-40 cm tall weed with a 10-15-cm-long, spindle-shaped root. First the plant develops a leaf rosette, with segmented or completely segmented leaves, and later it develops long internodes. The spirally arranged stem leaves are sessile, stem-clasping and lanceolate, with a sagittate leaf base. The main blooming period lasts from April to May. The inflorescence is a racemose corymb. The sepals are green and ovate, the petals are white and 2-3 mm long. There are 2 shorter and 4 longer stamens. A columnar nectar gland is located at the base of the shorter stamens. The ovary consists of 2 carpels, which later develop into a heart-shaped or inverse triangular silicle. The small seeds are brown.
Drug
Bursae pastoris herba – Shepherd’s purse flowering shoot Phytochemistry
biogenic amines (choline, acetylcholine, histamine, tyramine), hemostyptic peptid, saponins, flavonoids (rutin, diosmin) and glucosinolates.
I.44
Active compounds of Bursae pastoris herba – Shepherd’s purse flowering shoot Uses
Characters of Plants
61
Capsicum annuum L. var. minimum (Mill.) Heiser – pepper, paprika; Capsicum frutescens L. s. l. – Chili pepper
I.45
Capsicum annuum L. var. minimum (Mill.) Heiser – pepper, paprika