I.170
Papaver rhoeas L. – Corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, red poppy Distribution, habitats
It is native to Eurasia, but can be found in other continents as well. It is an annual herb living in uncultivated lands, along roads and arable lands.
Morphology
The shoot is 20 to 90 cm tall and contains white or pinkish latex. The leaves are narrow and lanceolate with serrate margin. The bright red petals bear a black spot at their base.
The flowering period lasts from May to July. The fruit is an egg-shaped poricidal capsule (releasing seeds through pores).
Drug
Papaveris rhoeados flos – Red poppy petals (Ph. Eur. 5.0) Phytochemistry
isoquinoline alkaloid (rhoeadine), accompanying alkaloids (papaverrubine), mucilage, anthocyanin glycosides, saponins, the seeds contain fatty oil
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
I.171
Active compound of Papaveris rhoeados flos – Red poppy petals Uses
Rhoeadine is sedative. Red poppy petals are traditionally used as analgesic and antitussive. It is used by food industry for preparing herbal tea mixtures, syrups and candies.
rhoeadine
O O
N
O
O O CH3O
H H
CH3
Characters of Plants
189
Papaver somniferum L. – Opium poppy Papaveraceae – Poppy family
I.172
Papaver somniferum L. – Opium poppy Distribution, habitats
It is an annual plant, native to Southern Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.
Varieties of opium poppy containing high amounts of morphine are widely cultivated.
Morphology
The shoot is 50 to 150 cm tall, greyish-green and contains a white latex. The simple leaves are hairless, the upper ones are surrounding the stem. Flowers can be white, pinkish or violet with a dark patch at the base of the petal. Spring varieties flower in June, autumn varieties in May. The fruit is a 3-5-cm-long poricidal capsule.
Drug
Papaveris fructus (caput) – poppy fruit (head); Opium crudum – Opium, raw (Ph. Eur.
5.0); Opii pulvis normatus – Opium, prepared (Ph. Eur. 5.0)
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas Phytochemistry
opium contains 25-30% alkaloids (10-14% morphine, min. 1% codeine, 0.2-0.5%
thebaine, 0.1-0.4% papaverine, 4-8% noscapine), organic acids (fumaric acid, lactic acid), the seeds contain fatty oil
I.173
Active compounds of Papaveris fructus (caput) – Poppy fruit (head) Uses
Various opium alkaloids have markedly different effects: morphine is analgesic, narcotic and sedative; papaverine is spasmolytic and vasodilator; while noscapine, codeine and narcotine are antitussive. Ethylmorphine, diacetylmorphine (heroin) and hydrocodone are semi-synthetic opioid derivatives. Pulvis opii and Tinctura opii are used in infectious diarrhea and Pulvis opii et ipecacuanhae can be used in intestinal catarrh and as an analgesic and antidiarrhoeal agent. Industrial poppy varieties are used for the production of alkaloids in pharmaceutical industry; while the seeds of food poppies with minimal alkaloid content are processed by food industry.
O
Characters of Plants
191
Passiflora incarnata L. – Purple passion flower Passifloraceae – Passion-flower family
Distribution, habitats
It is a perennial species widespread from North America to South America, but can be found in India and Europe as well.
Morphology
A climbing plant with tendrils; it can grow up to 10 m tall. The leaves are opposite, lobed and 5 to 15 cm long, bearing glands on the petiole. The flowers are bluish white, with a white or purple crown of numerous radial filaments between the corolla and the androecium. The stigma is 3-lobed. The insect-pollinated flowers bloom in July. The fruit is a yellowish berry.
Drug
Passiflorae herba – Passion flower (Ph. Eur. 5.0) Phytochemistry
flavonoids (isovitexin, isoorientin), coumarins, γ-benzopyrone derivatives (maltol), harman alkaloids and polysaccharide arabinoglucane
I.174
Active compound of Passiflorae herba – Passion flower Uses
Passion flower is used as sedative in neurovegetative dystonia, and as spasmolytic and anxiolytic particularly for children.
isoorientin
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
Peumus boldus Mol. – Boldo tree Monimiaceae – Pigeonwood family
I.175
Peumus boldus Mol. – Boldo tree Distribution, habitats
It is native to South America. In Chile, it is a common evergreen shrub or a small tree.
Morphology
The glossy dark green leaves are ovate and have entire margin, rounded apex, waxy surface and bitter taste. The white flowers bloom from August to September. The edible fruit develops from December to February.
Drug
Boldi folium – Boldo leaf (Ph. Eur. 6.0) Phytochemistry
isoquinoline alkaloids (boldin), 2-3% essential oil (p-cimene, cineol, ascaridol), triterpenes, tannins, rubber and flavonoids
Characters of Plants
193 I.176
Active compound of Boldi folium – Boldo leaf Uses
Boldo leaf increases the secretion of gastric juices, it is choleretic and stomachic, so it can be used as appetizer in dyspepsia. It is useful against rheumatism and gout, and is used in homeopathy. In South America, it is traditionally used to treat indigestion and gonorrhoea. It is contraindicated in the following cases: pregnancy, biliary obstruction, gallstones and kidney disease (since terpinen-4-ol may cause kidney irritation and damage). Ascaridol previously was considered to be anthelmintic, now it is thought to be hepato- and neurotoxic, and the oil must not be used for pharmaceutical purposes.
boldin
N
OH O O H
O CH3
C H3
C H3
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
Phaseolus vulgaris L. – Common bean Fabaceae – Bean family
Distribution, habitats
It is an annual plant native to the tropical regions of America. Many varieties are cultivated worldwide.
Morphology
The shoot of runner beans is climbing and winding. The leaves are cordate (heart-shaped), have entire margin and acuminate apex. The 1-1.5-cm-long yellow or greenish-white papilionaceous flowers cluster into a raceme and bloom from June to September.
The fruit is a pod containing 9-16-mm-long seeds.
Drug
Phaseoli pericarpium (legumen) – Bean fruit wall (Bean pod) Phytochemistry
betaine, amino acids, cyanogenic glycosides in traces, inosite, hemicellulose and silicic acid
I.177
Active compounds of Phaseoli pericarpium (legumen) – Bean fruit wall (Bean pod) Uses
In elderly patients it is used against mild diabetes, gout and rheumatism, but it also has diuretic effects.
Characters of Plants
195
Pimpinella anisum L. – Anise, Aniseed Apiaceae – Carrot or parsley family
I.178
Pimpinella anisum L. – Anise, Aniseed Distribution, habitats
It is an annual herbaceous plant native to the Eastern Mediterranean, but it is cultivated in many countries.
Morphology
The shoot can grow up to 1 m tall. The lower leaves are simple, cordate or segmented, the upper ones are bi- or tripinnately compound with segmented leaflets. The compound umbel is composed of white flowers which bloom from May to June. The fruit is a ribbed double achene.
Drug
Anisi fructus – Aniseed (Ph. Eur. 5.0) Phytochemistry
essential oil (trans-anethole, anisaldehyde, cis-anethole, anisic acid), 25-30%
sesquiterpene, coumarins, flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides
I.179
Active compounds of Anisi fructus – Aniseed
OCH
CHO 3
H3C-O
anisaldehyde t-anethole
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas Uses
Aniseed is a common spice. It is expectorant, carminative, spasmolytic, aromatic, digestive agent, galactagogue, aphrodisiac, abortive, antibacterial, antifungal and insecticide. It is processed by the liqueur and food industries.
Characters of Plants
197
Plantago lanceolata L. – Ribwort plantain Plantaginaceae – Plantain family
I.180
Plantago lanceolata L. – Ribwort plantain Distribution, habitats
It is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Eurasia. It occurs along roads, in meadows, rock grasses and sunny habitats.
Morphology
The above-ground part is 20 to 30 cm tall. The narrow, lanceolate leaves have entire margin and parallel leaf venation and form a leaf rosette. The inflorescence is a spike borne on the scape. The inflorescence is composed of small brownish white flowers, which open acropetally. The flowering period lasts from April to August. The fruit is a 3-4-mm-long capsule containing 2-3-mm-long seeds.
Drug
Plantaginis lanceolatae folium – Ribwort plantain (Ph. Eur. 5.0) Phytochemistry
polysaccharides, flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin), iridoid glycosides (catalpol, aucubin), tannins, chlorogenic acid, silicic acid and coumarin (esculetin)
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas
I.181
Active compounds of Plantaginis lanceolatae folium – Ribwort plantain Uses
Ribwort plantain is antibacterial, antiphlogistic and immunostimulant, so it can be used to treat respiratory diseases, common cold and heartburn. It is traditionally used externally to treat wounds and haemorrhoids.
O OH O O H
O H
OH
O OH
O H
O
OH OH
scutellarin luteolin
Characters of Plants
199
Podophyllum peltatum L. – Mayapple, may apple Berberidaceae – Barberry family
I.182
Podophyllum peltatum L. – Mayapple, may apple Distribution, habitats
It is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to North America.
Digital Herbarium and Drog Atlas Morphology
The shoot is 20 to 30 cm tall. The leaves are palmately compound, the leaflets are ovate and strongly divided. The white or pinkish flowers bloom from March to May. The fruit is a yellow or pinkish fleshy berry.
Drug
Podophylli resina – Mayapple resin, Podophylli rhizoma – Mayapple rhizome Phytochemistry
resin, lignans (podophyllotoxin), α- and ß-peltatin and flavonoids
I.183
Active compound of Podophylli rhizoma – Mayapple rhizome Uses
It is cholagogue, laxative, anthelmintic, diuretic, cytotoxic, citostatic (podophyllotoxin).
Mayapple rhizome is a very poisonous drug, which can only be used under strict medical supervision. It is also used in homoeopathy.
O
O O
O-CH3 O-CH3 H3C-O
OH
O
podophyllotoxin