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Elettaria cardamomum White et Maton – Cardamom Distribution, habitats
It is native to Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and it is cultivated in the tropics.
Morphology
It is a perennial herb with a thick rhizome or an underground (leafy) stem and roots. The leaf base is broad; the flowers are white or pale green. The plant is in flower from March to April. The many-seeded fruits are 1 to 2 cm long and 0.6 to 0.8 cm wide, greenish-gray, tri-locular capsules. The brownish-black, angular seeds are 2-3 mm in diameter and they have a pleasant odor.
Drug
Cardamomi fructus – Cardamom fruit (seed)
The seeds are released from the capsule only before using, for two reasons. One of them is to prevent the evaporation of the essential oil, the other is the fact that seeds of Elettaria species are very similar, and they can only be distinguished based on capsule morphology – in order to avoid adulteration.
Phytochemistry
essential oil (1,8-cineole, terpinyl acetate)
Characters of Plants
99 I.82
Active compounds of Cardamomi fructus – Cardamom fruit Uses
Spice, aromatic, carminative, used in the perfume industry.
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1,8-cineole (= eucalyptol)
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CH3
α-terpinil-acetate
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
Ephedra distachya L. – Ephedra Ephedraceae – Ephedra family
Distribution, habitats
It is a 0.5 m tall dioecious sub-shrub, native to Central and South-East Europe. In Hungary, it is a very rare, protected plant, occurring sporadically in sandy and loess grasslands or dolomite rock grasslands.
Morphology
The rusty brown, woody root system is creeping, stolon-like. The 1-3-mm-thick, articulated shoot branches look like sticks. The scale-like leaves are decussate (opposite)..Staminate (male) flowers form catkin-like inflorescences at the shoot tips, or sometimes in leaf axils. The pistillate (female) flowers are surrounded by scaly bracts.
The plant is in flower from April to June. On the female plants the bracts surrounding the developing seed become fleshy and red showing a berry-like appearance.
Drug
Ephedrae herba – Ephedraherb Phytochemistry
protoalkaloids [L-ephedrine, (+)ψ-ephedrine, (+)nor-ψ-ephedrine]
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Active compound of Ephedrae herba – Ephedra herb Uses
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic compound, used in the relief and prevention of bronchospasm (bronchial asthma, bronchitis) and it has vasoconstrictor properties (nasal drops, eye drops). The use of ephedrine requires medical supervision. Prolonged use can lead to tolerance.
Characters of Plants
101
Epilobium parviflorum Schreb., E. roseum Schreb. – Smallflower hairy willowherb, pale willowherb
Onagraceae – Willowherb family or Evening primrose family
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Epilobium roseum Schreb. – Smallflower hairy willowherb Distribution, habitats
E. parviflorum is a stoloniferous plant that prefers moist mountain meadows, marshes and swamps. E. roseum is a perennial herb of damp disturbed places, found near streams and canals.
Morphology
The branching shoot is 20 to 50 cm tall. The leaves are decussate (opposite), narrow ovate (egg-shaped), almost sessile. The leaf margin is sharply dentate. The stem and the leaves are pubescent. The flowers are pale purple, arising from the axil of the upper leaves. The plant is in flower from June to August. Each floral whorl consists of 4 members; the sepals are obtuse, ovate to lanceolate; the petals are cordate (heart-shaped). The fruit is a slender, cylindrical capsule opening along 4 lines. The numerous brownish-black seeds are covered with hairs which aid seed dispersal.
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas Drug
Epilobii herba – Willowherb Phytochemistry
tannins (ellagitannins), gallic acid lactones, flavonoids, β-sitosterol
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Active compounds of Epilobii herba – Willowherb Uses
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), anti-inflammatory effect
CH2CH
Characters of Plants
103
Equisetum arvense L. – Field horsetail Equisetaceae – Horsetail family
Distribution, habitats
This perennial plant grows in moist meadows or arable lands. It is native to Europe, East Asia and North America.
Morphology
Fertile, spore-bearing shoots arise from the horizontal rhizome in April. The fertile stem is 15 to 20 cm tall, brown and unbranched. A whorl of several small, black-tipped, scale-like leaves occurs at each node. Whorled sporangiophores (sporophylls) consist of a peltate axis bearing sac-like structures called sporangia (holding the spores). After the fertile stem has wilted, a sterile, green stem starts to grow. It is 20 to 40 cm tall, lacks spores, bears whorls of branches and its main task is photosynthesis. The upper branch segments are shorter than the lower ones. 8-10 vestigial, marginally fused leaves can be seen on each node of the ribbed stem. The surface of the stem is rough to the touch in contrast to the poisonous marsh horsetail (E. palustre), which has a smooth stem.
Drug
Equiseti herba –Equisetum stem(Ph. Eur. 5.0) Phytochemistry
minerals (silicic acid, 10% of which is water soluble silicate), potassium salts, flavonoids, polienic acids, dicarboxylic acids (equisetolic acid), saponins
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Active compounds of Equiseti herba – Equisetum stem Uses
Equisetum stem is diuretic (and does not influence the electrolyte homeostasis), mild urinary antiseptic, is used to quicken the removal of kidney stones. It was traditionally
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Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
used for the treatment of gout and rheumatism. Previously, it was used for dish-washing due to its high silicic acid content.
Characters of Plants
105
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. – Eucalyptus Myrtaceae – Myrtle family
Distribution, habitats
It is native to Australia, but Eucalyptus species are cultivated throughout the subtropical and Mediterranean areas of the world.
Morphology
The stem is quadrangular. The juvenile leaves are opposite, 6 to 15 cm long and bluish grey with rounded apex and a waxy cuticle. The mature leaves are 15 to 35 cm long, narrow, sickle-shaped and dark green. They are arranged decussately on the cylindrical stems. The pointed, ribbed and warty buds are arranged around a central knob. The cream-colored flowers develop individually along the leaf axis, and a strongly flavoured honey can be made from its copious nectar. The woody fruits range from 1.5 to 2.5 cm in diameter and dehisce at their apex. The number of the seeds varies between 3 and 6 per fruit.
Drug
Eucalypti folium – Eucalyptus leaf (Ph. Eur. 5.0), Eucalypti aetheroleum – Eucalyptus oil(Ph. Eur. 5.0)
Phytochemistry
essential oil (monoterpens: 1,8-cineole, p-cimene; low amounts of sesquiterpenes:
globulol, aromadendrene), ellagitannins, flavonoids, triterpenes (oleanolic acid)
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Active compounds of Eucalypti folium – Eucalyptus leaf Uses
expectorant (in bronchitis), available in the form of lozenges, antibacterial, antiviral;
traditionally used as anti-inflammatory agent in diseases of the stomach, intestines and urinary tract
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1,8-cineole (= eucalyptol) α-pinene β-pinene
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas