Herbal Medicine Facts

Medicinal Herbs: An Overview

• In botany, an herb is a plant with a non-woody stem that dies down to the ground after fruiting.
• In pharmacognosy, a herb refers to a drug composed of tender parts of a plant like stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits.
• These parts are taken from annual, biennial, or perennial plants.
• An herbal drug may include:
• Part of the aerial shoot.
• The entire aerial portion of plant (e.g., Lobelia).
• The whole plant including the roots.
• The undifferentiated plant body (thallus) of lower plants such as Thallophyta (e.g., Chondrus, Fucus, Cetraria, Ergot) or Bryophyta (e.g., Sphagnum).

Herba Menthae Piperitae (Peppermint)

• Other names include Peppermint, Mentha piperita
• Parts used are the dried leaves and flowering tops
• The botanical origin is Mentha piperita Linne, belonging to the Labiatae family.
• Contains at least 0.5% volatile oil.
• It is a perennial plant.
• Found wild in Britain, central and southern Europe, and North Africa.
• Cultivated mainly in Britain, France, Germany, and the U.S.A.
• Contains 0.7 to 1.5% volatile oil, with up to 78% free menthol and up to 20% menthol esters, 6-12% of Tannin, up to 17% of flavonoids and caffeic acid derivatives.
• Pharmacological actions are mainly due to volatile oils.
• Displays spasmolytic, carminative, choleretic, diaphoretic, anti-emetic, peripheral vasodilator, antiparasitic, analgesic, and antipruritic effects.
• Relieves colonic spasms and bowel irritability, indicated for flatulence and irritable bowel syndrome.
• Usually administered as an infusion.
• The oil should be administered in enteric-coated format.
• Externally, peppermint oil or menthol acts as a counter-irritant, antiseptic, and stimulant due to its cooling and anesthetic properties.
• Can be used for itching and inflammation.
• Topically used for nasal congestion and as a flavoring agent in oral hygiene products.
• Aromatherapy use offers complementary wellbeing benefits.
• Use is not advised in case of gallstones and severe liver damage, except under medical advice.
• Preparations with peppermint oil should not be applied around the face and nose of little kids due to spasm risks.
• Positive histochemical tests with Sudan III indicates identity.
• Menthol crystals combined with drops of concentrated H2SO4 and vanillin/H2SO4 produce an orange-yellow color changing to violet upon adding water

Herba Thymi (Thyme)

• The dried aerial parts are used.
• Botanical origin: Thymus vulgaris and other Thymus species (Labiatae family).
• Contains at least 1.2% volatile oil.
• Contains over 1% volatile oils (phenolic compounds like thymol and carvacrol), tannins, flavonoids, and triterpenes.

Herba Thymi (Thyme) Actions, Uses, and Identity

• The herb and its oil have secretolytic, broncholytic, and expectorant effects.
• Has disinfectant, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anthelmintic properties.
• Flavonoids provide antispasmodic activity in the bronchial muscles.
• Used internally for dry coughs, whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, upper respiratory tract catarrhs, and emphysema.
• Thymol, an antiseptic, is employed as a deodorant, local anesthetic, astringent, carminative, digestive, and antispasmodic in folk medicine.
• Thymol can cause abdominal pain and collapse, nausea, and respiratory arrest.
• Internal thymol is contraindicated in enterocolitis, cardiac insufficiency, and pregnancy.
• Positive histochemical tests with Sudan III confirms identity.
• A deep bluish-green color develops with thymeol crystals plus 1ml glacial acetic acid, a few drops of concentrated H2S04 and 1 drop of HN03.

Herba Lobeliae (Lobelia/Indian Tobacco)

• Names include Lobelia, Indian tobacco
• The dried aerial parts are used.
• Botanical origin: Lobelia inflata Linne (Campanulaceae family).
• Collected at the end of the flowering stage and has under 60% of stems, under 4% of organic material.
• Yields at least 0.3% total alkaloids (lobeline).
• Contains about 0.48% alkaloids like lobeline (major), lobelanine, and lobelanidine
• Actions are bronchodilatory, expectorant, respiratory stimulant, and emetic, activating neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors.
• It relaxes the bronchial muscles, dilating the bronchioles, useful in spasmodic asthma and chronic bronchitis.
• Lobeline sulphate is found in some anti-smoking products because it can bind to neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors.

Herba Lobeliae (Lobelia/Indian Tobacco) Contraindications

• It is dangerous to susceptible persons due to nicotine similarity, including pregnant women, children and heart disease individuals.
• Lobelia passes into breast milk and shouldn't be used by nursing mothers.
• It has a poor therapeutic index, and the therapeutic dose of lobeline is close to the toxic dose.
• Excessive use may cause nausea, vomiting, heartburn, palpitations, and dizziness.

Herba Catharanthus (Catharanthus or Vinca)

• Other names include: Catharanthus or Vinca
• The dried whole plant is used.
• Botanical origin: Catharanthus roseus G. Don. (Apocynaceae family).
• More than 150 alkaloids isolated.
• The most important alkaloids are vinblastine and vincristine.
• There is now a higher demand for vincristine than vinblastine.
• Conversion into Vincristine is now possible.
• Exhibits anticancer activity and usefulness in the treatment of a wide variety of neoplasms and Hodgkin's disease.
• Vinblastine sulphate is a treatment generalized Hodgkin's disease and choriocarcinoma.
• The oncryptine sulphate treatment is for Hodgkin's disease childhood leukemia.
• Vinblastine induces gastrointestinal distress and neurological symptoms (headaches, neuritis), respiratory difficulties, and alopecia.
• Vincristine induces alopecia, dyspnea, headaches, transient blindness, buccal ulcerations, and amenorrhea.
• Contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Both vincristine and vinblastine are highly toxic.

Herba Ephedra (Chinese Ephedra)

• Names: Chinese ephedra, Mahuang, Cao Mahuang
• Parts used: the dried young branch lets
• Botanical Origin: Ephedra sinica Stapf, E. shenanigan Tang (Ephedraceae).
• Harvested in the fall.
• Contains 1.3% phenethylamine alkaloids.
• Includes L-ephedrine (50-90%), D-pseudoephedrine, L-nor ephedrine, D-nor pseudoephedrine, L-N-methyl ephedrine, and D-N-methyl pseudoephedrine.
• Acts as an indirect sympathomimetic, similar structurally to adrenaline.

Herba Ephedra (Chinese Ephedra) Actions, Uses, and Contraindications

• The structure of the herb is similar to adrenaline.
• The herb stimulates cardiac automatically with a positive inotropic action.
• Accelerates and increases the intensity of respiration and functions as a bronchodilator.
• Indicated for mild bronchospasms in adults and children over 6 years.
• Used as a local vasoconstrictor for nasal congestion, rhinitis and sinusitis.
• Causes insomnia, motor restlessness, irritability, headaches, nausea, vomiting, urination issues and tachycardia, and dependency.
• High dosage can drastically increase blood pressure.
• Contraindications include anxiety, restlessness, high blood pressure, glaucoma, and thyrotoxicosis.
• Combining herbs with some drugs has unwanted side effects.
• Should not be used with MAO inhibitors, beta blockers or tricyclic antidepressants.

Chondrus (Irish Moss)

• Other names include Irish moss, Carragheen, Caragahen, Carragaheen, Carrageen.
• The dried bleached Thallus is used.
• Botanical Origin: Chondrus crispus (Gigartinaceae family).
• Widely distributed in the northern shores of the Atlantic ocean, abundant coasts of Ireland and Scotland.
• Large quantities are collected annually on the Massachusetts coast.
• Consists of as high as 80% pectin matter, composed of two pectinous substances
• A pectinous substance yields jelly when concentrated.
• Contains calcium salts yielding galactose, sulfur, iodine and sodium.
• A demulcent for air passages and a bulk laxative.
• Used pharmaceutically as an emulsifying agent for oils, a gelling agent, binder for toothpastes, and disintegrating agent in tablet manufacture.

Cetraria (Iceland Moss)

• Names include Iceland moss, Iceland lichen.
• The botanical origin is Cetraria islandica (Linn).
• Indigenous to Great Britain, distributed over the northern hemisphere.
• Collected in Sweden and Central Europe.
• A nutritive principle is lichenin or lichen-starch.
• It dissolves in boiling water and turns watery solutions blue.
• On hydrolysis, lichenin yields a glucose.
• A free lichenin solution is soluble in water, gives a blue color with iodine.
• Yields mannose, galactose, and glucose following hydrolysis.
• A bitter principle is cetrarin or citraric acid
• Works on the demulcent action for gastritis, gastric ulcer or dyspepsia.
• Often used for respiratory catarrh and bronchitis, and acts to dissolve mucous congestion.
• Aids in the treatment of malnourishment debility and anorexia.
• Excessive doses induce-nausea and bowel looseness, ordinary doses improve appetite.
• Should not consumed duirng lactation.

Secale cornutum (Ergot)

• Other names: Ergot; Ergota, Ergot of Rye
• Part used: Sclerotium
• Botanical origin: Claviceps purpurea.
• Ergot has no more than 2% foreign organic matter and .2% in total alkaloids.
• Constituents: ergometrine (ergonovine) and ergotamine groups.
• Derivatives of lysergic acids.
• Contains histamine, tyramine and other amines amino, sterols (ergosterol and fungisterol).
• Largely replaced in pharmacopoeias, ergometrine produces an oxytocic effect.
• Ergotamine is effective in migraine, or lysergic acid diethylamide prepared by partial synthesis with lysergic acid.
• now contraindicated for all therapeutic use, and its discouraged in breastfeeding.
• Side Effects: regular use of ergotamine in migraine may result in dependency.
• Ergometrine is a cause of hypertension attacks
• Toxicity: Ergotism, results from consumption of cereals contaminated during fungus.
• The gangrenous form (St Antony 's fire).
• The convulsive form.

This text covers key facts about various herbal medicines, including peppermint oil, Herba Menthae Piperitae, Herba Thymi, and Irish moss. It discusses safe usage, chemical tests, quality standards, and potential contraindications.