Published by the AMERICAN BOTANICAL COUNCIL and the HERB RESEARCH FOUNDATION No. 18/19 Faii1988/Winter 1989

FEATURE ARTICLE: ST. JOHN'S WORT Used for centuries in European folk medicine, this herb is being studied for its potential anti-retroviral activity. Page 24.

SPECIAL REPORT: HUPERZIA: HYPE OR HOPE? Compounds from this traditional Chi­ nese herb are being researched for possible treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Page 21.

MEDIA WATCH: Sir James Black, recipient of the Nobel Prize for his work on drug development supports Evening Primrose Oil research. Page 8. The Hoxsey Film A new documentary asks: "Did the Hoxsey cancer cure really work?" Plus, Dr. Jim Duke's review of this herbal formula. Page 11 .

St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum, from The Natural History MARKET REPORT, MEDIA of Plants, WATCH, BOOK REVIEWS, H ~ Baillon,1880 HERB BLURBS, POTPOURRI, CONFERENCE REPORTS, AND MORE ... FROM THE EDITOR

ABOUT THIS ISSUE

Regular readers of HerbaJGram will A Quick Look at This Issue a brief essay on the antitumor potential immediately note that with this issue Once again we are publishing a of some of the compounds found in the we have significantly changed our for­ major literature review by Christopher Hoxsey herbs. mat Not only are we adding color to Hobbs, a third generation botanist and We briefly profile Sir James Black, the cover and inside pages, but our en­ herbal author who lives in Santa Cruz, one of the three recent winners of the tire layout has been improved, with Cal. This time it is StJohn's Wort. Nobel Prize for medicine, who has had more botanical illustrations and other which we consider an important botani­ a remarkable career in pharmaceutical graphic changes, increasing the overall cal. Hobbs wrote the excellent review drug development. Of interest to our readability, and, hopefully, interest. of Sarsaparilla in our last issue. This readers is the fact that Sir James is one The format changes are a result of has been reprinted in an eight-page of the leading researchers and propo­ the efforts of our new art director, Ira monograph form by ABC as part of its nents of the therapeutic values of Kennedy, who brings over 25 years ex­ reprint project. (There will be more in­ Evening Primrose Oil. perience in art, photography, illustra­ formation on reprints at a later date.) Finally, Professor Ara Der tion, layout. and editorial experience We chose St John's Wort because Marderosian gives us a summary of the with him. The addition of Kennedy to of the recent flurry of interest that fol­ 5th International Ginseng Symposium the Herba/Gram staff is a result of a lowed a report by the National Acad­ held concurrently with the Olympic deeper more significant change, the for­ emy of Sciences indicating possible games in Seoul last fall. The research mation of a new organization, the anq-retroviral activity for some of the on this fabled herb continues in Asia American Botanical Council (ABC). chemical components of this plant As and Europe, but not in the United (See story on page 4.) Hobbs points out, St John's Wort has States and Canada. Ironically, the only Due to organizational requirements been used extensively in European remaining segments of the world's wild inherent in setting up a new non-profit herbal medicine. It is considered a population are still commercially viable corporation, and because of the holi­ boon by many herbalists, a noxious for harvest. days, we are printing a double issue of weed by others, a potential toxin to We hope you will find much bene­ Herba/Gram. This issue represents livestock, and formerly an (incorrectly fit in this expanded issue of Herbal­ both Fall 88 and Winter 89 editions classed) unsafe herb to the FDA. Gram and invite you to let us know (numbers 18 and 19). Subscribers Our Technical Editor, Rob Mc­ your opinions on our content and our please note that. with respect to sub­ Caleb, gives additional information on new format. scriptions, we consider this one issue. the recent St John's Wort study in his In effect, with this double issue, our "Research Reviews" on page 18. subscribers and HRF members are re­ Readers are cautioned not to con­ ceiving an extra bonus issue. fuse Hobbs's article on St. John's Wort (Hypericum) with Steven Foster's essay Addition to the on Huperzia, a Chinese medicinal plant HRF Advisory Board whose alkaloids have recently been We would like to offer a hearty shown to have some potential benefit welcome to Andrew Weil, M.D., a new for Alzheimer's patients. We include a member of the HRF Advisory Board. brief note from Dr. Alan Kozikowski, Dr. Weil is a noted author and lecturer the primary U.S. researcher on the NEW ADDRESS in the areas of medicinal plants and bo­ chemistry of Huperzia alkaloids. tanical drugs. He is a graduate of Har­ On the more controversial side, we We ask our readers to note that vard University where he studied under have devoted some space to report on ABC and HerbalGram now share the eminent Professor Richard E. the recently released documentary film a new address and phone number: Schultes, aclcnowledgedly one of the on Harry Hoxsey,whose herbal formula P.O. Box 201660, Austin, Texas, leading experts on the subject of me­ received wide notoriety as a reputed USA 78720. Phone 512/331- dicinal plants in the world. Dr. Wei! is cancer cure. Hoxsey was continually at 8868. FAX 512/331-1924. author of numerous books and currently odds with both the AMA and the FDA teaches at the University of Arizona and was eventually forced to close his Our mail permit does not allow School of Medicine. He lives in 17 cancer clinics. Without making a HerbaJGram to be forwarded. If Tucson where he also has a clinical case for or against Hoxsey, we offer a you move or change your mailing practice. You will find a review of his report on Santa Fe filmmaker Ken address, please notify us immedi­ recent book Health and Healing on Ausubel's compelling documentary. ately so you will not miss any cop­ page 37. Contributing Editor Jim Duke presents ies.

Page 2- HerbalGram No. 18/19- Faii19881Winter 1989 ~f1'HERBAfGRAM CONTENTS HerbaiGram Nos. 18/19. Fall 1988/Winter 1989 The Amerk:an Botanical Couacll From the Editor ...... _ ...... 2 Board of Trustees Mark Blumenthal, Executive Director Acceaa and Letters ...... 4 James A. Duke, Ph.D. Norman R. Farnsworth, PhD. Herb Blurbs ...... - •••••• -··········-·······•••••••••••••••••••••••• .. ••••• ...... 5 * How Did Van Gogh? * Can Wintergreen Light Up Your Smile? The Herb Researcll Foundatloo * Flax Facts * Tobacco Headed Down Primrose Path In Canada *Chaparral: One of Oldest Plants on Earth?* Did You Read Your President • Rob McCaleb Morning Kenaf? * Epazote: Herbal Cure for Greenhouse Effect? Wintergreen your smile, * Pepped-Up Potency In Herbs p. 5 Each issue of HerbaiGram is reviewed by the Herb Research Foundation Media Watch ······························--············...... & * Nobel Laureate Supports Natural Products Research * Mate Professional Advisory Board prior to publi· Production Rises in Argentina * Marijuana, Cranberries: Gaining cation. Respect * Herbs Ate Becoming a Big Business in China * Notable Northwest Herbalists* Japanese Researchers on Northwest Herb HRF Professional Advkory Board Walk * African Herbal Medicine * The Hoxsey Rim: Can Healing Be a Crime? * The Synthetic Silver Bullet vs. The Herbal Shotgun Dr. Glenn Appelt Shell Professor of Pharmacology Dr. John A. Beutler Market Report ...... 14 Na111ral Products Chemist * Pent-up Demand Surfaces for Herbs/Spices Dr. Robert A. Bye, Jr. * Ephedrine Supplies Become Tighter Professor of Etlmobotany Dr. Subhuti Dhannananda Conference Reports ...... 16 Evening Primrose and Director, Institute for * 36th Annual Congress of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research the Nobel Laureate. p. 8 Traditional Medicine *5th International Ginseng Symposium, Seoul, Korea Dr. James A. Duke Plant Taxonomist Research Reviews ...... 18 Dr. Norman R. Farnsworth *Garlic Review* New Clinical Trial on Garlic* AIDS News: St. John's Wort Inhibits Retrovirus * Souped-up Polysaccharide Research Professor of Pharmacognosy Against HIV * New Feverfew Headache Research * Guar Gum Dr. Richard L Ford for the Heart * Spirulina Returns to the News * Cranberry Juice Professor of Erlrnobotany for Urinary Tract Infections Dr. Harriet Kuhnlein Professor of Nutrition Special Report- Huperzla: Hype or Hope? ...... 21 Dr. Walter Lewis * Steven Foster writes on research that indicates possible new Professor of Biology drug for Alzheimer's patients from a traditional Chinese herb. Huperzia: Hype 0( Dr. Albert Leung Hope, p. 21 Pharmacognosist Calendar ...... 23 Dr. Ara Dec Marderosian Professor of Pharmacognosy Cover Feature ...... 24 Dr. C. Dwayne Ogzewalla *St. John's Wort (Hypericum perloratum)- A Uterature Review by Professor of Pharmacognosy Christopher Hobbs Dr. James Ruth Professor of Medical Chemistry Potpourrl ...... - ...... 34 Dr. E. John Staba * Native American Medicinal Plant Stamps * Flora of China Transla­ Professor of Pharmacognosy tion Becomes International Effort * Crop Diversifications Essential * Dr. Varro E. Tyler Herbal Seeker to merge with Digest Professor of Pharmacognosy Dr. Phil Weber Book Revlews ...... 36 Medical Doctor The New Honest Herbal * Health and Healing * Natural Products Medicine * Food Pharmacy* Living Liqueurs, and more. Dr. Andrew Weil Cover Feature: Medical Doctor Classlfleds ...... 44 St. John's Wort. p. 24

The Education Publication of the American Botanical ColDICil and the Herb Research Foundation Special Double Issue • Numbers 18 & 19 - Fall 88/Winter 89

Editor and Publisher - Mark Blumenthal HerbaJGram is published quarterly by the American Botanical Com­ Technical Editor - Rob McCaleb cit as an educational project of the ABC and the Herb Research Contributing Editors • James A. Duke, Ph.D., Norman R. Farnsworth, Foundation. Editorial and business off'JCeS at the American Botnaical Ph.D., Steven Foster, Christopher Hobbs Council, P.O. Box 201660, Austin. Texas 78720. 512/331-8868. Managing Editor - Barbara Johnston FAX 512/331-1924. Subscriptions: $18/yr; $33/2 yrs; $45!3 yrs. Art Director • &a Kennedy Foreign subscriptions add $10 per year. Circulation/Classified Advertising Manager - Margaret Wright e 1989 American Botanical Council. ISSN I# 0899-5648.

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 3 American Botanical Council LETTERS Sarsaparilla Feedback Formed in November '88 I was interested to read the Editor's note on page 2 of HerbalGram (No. 17, Swruner The American Botanical Council (ABC), incorporated in November, 1988, as a 88) concerning the absence of testosterone non-profit educational organization, is now the publisher of HerbalGram. The priority in the Sarsaparilla plant. Recently I was re­ of mandates for ABC is to enhance editorial and graphic aspects of HerbaJGram, then searching for an article on sarsaparilla (Smi­ lax spp.) and came across several references raise funds necessary to circulate it more widely to members of the medical, pharmacy, indicating that testosterone was present in nursing, research, botany, journalism, natural food, and herb communities. sarsaparilla. These references were: In addition to HerbaJGram, ABC is developing numerous short, non-technical • Dr. Raymond Stark ND, The Book of monographs on the 24 most popular herbs. ABC is also reviewing for reprint various Aphrodisiacs, 1981 (Stein and Day) articles and treatises dealing with the subjects of medicinal plants, ethnopharmacology, (p. 81). pharmacognosy, and related topics previously published in technical and scientific • Richard Lucas, Na1ure' s Medicines, journals. ABC will make these reprints available to the general public, press, and sci­ 1968 (Wiltshire Book Co.) (p. 56) entific and medical communities as part of its educational program. The objective of • Dorothy Hall's Herbal Medicine, 1988 this program is to increase general awareness about the effectiveness and appropriate­ (Lothian) (p. 271) ness of medicinal plants in public health care. I consulted a nwnber of other books on herbs, herbal remedies, and medical botany, HerbaJGram is still published in association with the Herb Research Foundation but have been unable to fmd any references and available to all HRF members. The HRF will continue to offer the same invalu­ at all to sarsaparilla containing sex able editorial and peer review functions as in the past: each issue of HerbalGram is hormones, in fact, such references are very sent to every member of the HRF Professional Advisory Board prior to publication for conspicuous by their absence. fact checking by some of the nation's leading medicinal plant research scientists and I am writing to inquire if you have seen authors. the above statements and if, perhaps, you With the inception of ABC, HerbaJGram will no longer be published for the could shed a little light on the information American Herbal Products Association (AHPA- the trade association of major herb contained therein. manufacturers and distributors). For the past five years, AHPA has provided partial fi­ Unfortunately, there seems to be so much nancial support for publication of HerbalGram. The AHPA Board has indicated its in­ contradictory information available on herbs nowadays, and so often it is the inaccurate tention to provide an educational grant to ABC for continued development of this pub­ information which gets passed on. Her­ lication. For this support we are most grateful. 0 balGram is providing a wonderful source of up-to-date knowledge and I look forward to ACCESS receiving each issue. Kim Fletcher Tasmania, Australia

In this department of HerbaiGram we list resources such as publications, organiza­ (The references listed are not considered to tions, seminars, and networking for our readers. A listing in this section does not con­ be aulhoritative sources from a scientifiC stitute any endorsement or approval by HerbaiGram, ABC, HRF. or the HRF Profes­ poinJ ofview . This letter poinls out a gen­ sional Advisory Board. eral problem with some of the herb litera­ ture currenlly available. It is precisely be­ lntematlonal Journal of Aroma­ cause there is so TTUlCh conlradictory and in­ therapy. Edited by aromatherapy The Ayurvedlc Course; A Home-Study accurate informalion about Sarsaparilla thai author Robert Tisserand. Articles and Program: Offered by the Institute for we prinled Christopher Hobbs's excelknl re­ information on uses of essential oils in Wholistic Education to teach the funda­ view ofthe literalure on Smilax.- Ed.) well-being, designed for practitioners, mental principles of Ayurveda. Three teachers, suppliers, writers, etc. $22/yr. part course includes anatomy, physiol­ Rain Forest Redux Aromatherapy Publications, 3 Shirley ogy, ayurvedic thought, yogic philoso­ On behalf of myself and the National St., Hove, E. Sussex, BN3 3WJ Eng­ phy, constitutional analysis, diagnostic Herbalists's Association of Australia, I ap­ land. methods, diet, herbs, etc. Written and plaud your stance and attention to the Rain developed by David Frawley, co-author Forest issue - an issue I have 'fought' for Homsopathlc Research Reports: of The Yoga of Herbs. Entire course many years, and (about) which I recently Published by the Foundation for Homeo­ $225; first section only, $100. Institute coproduced an article for our NHAA publi­ pathic Education and Research. Recent for Wholistic Education, 33719 116th St., cation. Most Australian herbalists are too research and articles on homeopathic Twin Lakes, WI 53181. complacent over this issue, and don't make medical topics. Tax-deductible donation the connection between the therapeutic use of $25 or more. 5916 Chabot Crest, Renewable Resources Journal: 32- of herbs and their origins in the natural envi­ Oakland, CA 94618. 415/420-8791. page publication of the Renewable Natu­ ronment ral Resources Foundation. Topics in­ Andrew Pengelly The Ozarlcs Herbalist: Quarterly news­ clude preservation of biodiversity, rain Singleton, N.S.W., Australia letter about growing and using herbs. forests, environmental legal develop­ Folklore, book reviews, plant and seed ments, etc. Individual subscription $16; sources, calendar, recipes, etc. 28-30 institutional/corporate $32, from RNRF pps. $10/yr; $14/Canadian and over­ Subscriptions, 5430 Grosvenor Ln., Be­ seas. Sample/$2.75. Route 4, Box 730, thesda, MD 20814. Oak Grove, AR 72660.

Page 4- HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Faii1988/Winter 1989 HERB BLURBS How Did Van Gogh? Does Absinthe Make the Heart Grow Fonder?

Did the famous painter Vincent Van Terpenes are a class of chemicals Gogh commit suicide because be was usually found in essential oils, resins having fearful hallucinations related to and other aromatic products of numer­ his addiction to several substances con­ ous plants, often of the pine and citrus taining toxic chemicals called terpenes? families. One of the most common ter­ That's what art and medical histo­ penes is pinene, a principle ingredient rian Dr. Wilfrid N. Arnold. a Kansas in oil of turpentine. Another is thujone, City, Kansas biochemist at the Univer­ a principle ingredient in absinthe, the sity of Kansas Medical Center writes in now-banned liqueur made from the the Journal of the American Medical Wormwood plant (Artemisia absinth­ Association (Nov. 25, 88). Dr. Arnold ium), which is also the flavoring source has studied numerous accounts of Van for the wine called Vermouth (actually Gogh's life (and death) and believes wormwood in German). that the painter was addicted to ab­ Though not always toxic, some of sinthe, camphor, and turpentine--all of these terpenes, when ingested in large which contain toxic terpenes. Van Gogh, seH portrait amounts over a protracted period of time, can cause a host of undesirable conditions, including convulsions, in­ Can Wintergreen Light Up Your Smile? somnia, nausea, nightmare, restlessness, Scientists have finally figured out on a wavelength equal to atmospheric tremors and vertigo, among others. Re­ what many kids have known for a long lightning. searcher Arnold believes that Van Gogh time: if you go into a dark room or But researcher Sweeting revealed had an unnatural craving for terpenes, closet and crunch down on a winter­ that candies containing both sugar and and probably ingested much more than green-flavored Lifesaver, tiny blue­ wintergreen emit an additional wave­ some of his contemporaries like Tou­ green sparks of light will be emitted length when crushed. Wintergreen is louse-Lautrec, Gauguin and Baudelaire from your mouth. fluorescent. absorbing ultraviolet radia­ who, like many French artists in the These tiny bolts of lightning are tion and re-emitting ;t as a wavelength 1890s, were quite fond of the drink ab­ the subject of research by chemist of visible light When the mints are sinthe. Linda M. Sweeting of Towson State chewed, some of the wavelengths from According to Arnold. Van Gogh University in Baltimore. She knew that the sugar are ultraviolet These are ab­ knew he had an addiction problem, and when sugar is crushed several charges sorbed by the wintergreen and then re­ may have committed suicide because he of positive and negative form on the emitted as the bright blue-green light. feared having recurrent seizures with new surfaces. The polarity creates a (Discover, Dec. 88) hallucinations. situation where electrons leap across the gaps to neutralize the zone. When these electrons combine with nitrogen What's In a Name? has been used as a furniture polish in in the air, they emit a blue-white light industrial applications. When the Flax Facts manufacturer of a new floor covering Flax seed has become popular re­ derived from solidified linseed oil (the cently as consumers begin to use flax Latin word fot oil is oleum) named its oil in cooking. Flax seed (Linum usita­ new product, they naturally came up tissimum ) yields an edible oil high in with the word linoleum. Omega-3 fatty acids. These have been In the British Isles, flax fiber was shown to have numerous beneficial traditionally used to make a beautiful properties. The historical use for flax cloth "known for its strength, coolness has been for its oil (often called linseed and luster." Again deriving from the oil) and for its fiber. In earlier days, Latin linum, we call that cloth linen. gold colored flax straw was called tow, Finally, the term, "linoleic," referring to hence the term ''towhead" for a child the acid found in many vegetable oils, with light colored hair. Wintergreen also derives its name from linum. Gaultheria procumbens, But there's more. Flax has added (From Michael Gartner's syndicated Redrawn from American several other terms to the English lan­ column "About Words," Aug. 15, 88, Medical Plants, Charles guage. The name linseed oil is derived plus additional material from the F. Millspaugh, 1892 from flax's Latin name linum. This oil HerbaJGram staff.).

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 5 HERB BLURBS Tobacco Headed Down Primrose Path In Canada ,hat do you do when a plant an important component in building cell like tobacco falls out of fa­ membranes. GLA has become increas­ W vor with increasingly health- ingly recognized for its medical values. conscious consumers? That is the ques­ (See related article about Sir James tion that many tobacco growers have Black on page 8.) been asking in southern Ontario where Part of the difficulty in keeping up ICI:Il.U'otl~'l~ decreased demand for the crop has left with increasing demand for the seed oil, farmers looking for alternative crops. according to an article in Garden (Nov/ Ib Nonecke and John Baker, Dec 88,) is the two-year cycle the plant agronomists at the University of needs to produce seeds-hence its Latin Guelph, think that they have found a name biennis. The Guelph researchers reasonable replacement which is not claim that they have achieved high ger­ only comparable in dollar value but also mination rates for the seeds by sprout­ beneficial to human health as well. ing them under unusually bright green­ They are recommending that farmers house lights. When they are trans­ planted to fields, the plants are able to Creosote bush plant Evening Primrose (Oenothera hi­ Larrea tridentata. ennis) which is native to the area. The mature and bear seeds in only five for Herba/Gram, seeds yield an oil that is high in months, almost one-fifth the time nor­ Ira Kennedy, 1989 gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which is mally required! Chaparral: One of Oldest Plants on Earth?

An interesting article in Garden (Nov/ It's like this. The bushes grow in all deriving from the same original Dec 88) asks the question whether the rings around an empty center which seed. There has been no pollination creosote bush, or chaparral as it is was once the site of the original organ­ from another plant where new genetic known in the herb market (Larrea ism which grew from ·a seed. That material would be mixed to form a new tridentata}, might not be older than ei­ bush grew outward, sending out plant ther the 2000 year-old redwoods or the branches that developed roots of their Researcher Vasek has found one 4600 year-old bristle cone pines. Ac­ own. Eventually, the original seedling ring of creosote bushes growing in the cording to research by botanist Frank dies. During a span of thousands of Mojave desert about 150 miles north­ Vasek of the University of California at years, this process creates an area in the east of Los Angeles that he has dubbed Riverside, some of these bushes may middle of bare soil encircled by a ring "King Clone." The elliptical ring is 70 have origins that go back 11,000 years! of genetically identical creosote bushes, feet by 25 feet Samples of the outer edges are I 00 to 150 years old, while old-wood samples measured 540 years. Did You Read Your Morning Kenaf? By projecting the rate of growth from the center, Vasek figured that King The USDA estimates that U.S. newspa­ cash crop for farmers and a supplemen­ Clone is about 11,700 years old. In pers used more than 12 million metric tal source of newsprint (Insight, Oct 1985 the Nature Conservancy pur­ tons of paper last year, two-thirds of 24, 88) chased the 17 acres of land around which was imported at a cost of $4 bil­ This annual, nonwood fiber plant King Clone to preserve it from nearby lion. The department is now taking an­ native of east-central Africa was intro­ development other look at kenaf (Hibiscus duced into the U.S. in the 1940s as a It is still not clear whether the cannabinus L.), a Sunbelt-loving fi­ substitute for jute to produce cordage. chaparral qualifies as the oldest plant brous plant that grows from a seedling Research and development work for on earth. Researchers speculate that the to as tall as 18 feet in less than five pulp, papez, and other fiber products box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachyc­ months. Kenaf was the leader among began in 1960 and continues today. era) growing in western Pennsy_lvania the more. than 500 plants tested 30 Efforts to commercialize kenaf have might be 6000 to 13,000 years old. years ago to determine a viable raw passed through phases of public and There may be other contenders as well. material for newsprint The department private leadership according to Daniel The cattails (Typha spp.) of the Nile has committed $600,000 to kenaf stud­ E. Kugler of the USDA Cooperative spread roots along the river banks and ies at laboratories in Okla. and Texas State Research Service speaking at the spawn endless clones. Unfortunately, during the next two years, with the New Crops Conference at Pmdue Uni­ accurate measurement of their age is hope that the plant will become a new versity, October, 1988. not possible.

Page 6 - HerbaJGram No. 18/19- Faii19881Winter 1989 HERB BLURBS Epazote: An Herbal Cure for the Greenhouse Effect? The Status of Flatus

After seeing our blurb on the herb horses, water buffalo, deer, elk, and Da­ Dr. Duke surmises that the possible Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides) mas. Johnson proposes that if antibiot­ addition of Epazote to livestock feed and its use in traditional Mexican cook­ ics were added to the food of many of may be just the ingredient that Johnson ing as a spice added to beans to help these animals, some of the bacteria that is looking for, although Duke's search reduce gas (see HerbaJGram # 17), our produce the methane would be killed, of the scientific literature has not re­ contributing editor botanist Jim Duke thereby reducing methane "emissions" sulted in any studies that scientifically sent us the following information. by about 30 percent explain or validate folkloric use of A Washington Post article (Dec. Epazote to reduce gas in humans. Nev­ 12, 88) states that some scientists con­ ertheless, this will not stop Southwest­ sider methane gas produced by the em and Mexican cooks from continuing flatulence of livestock to be a major to use Epazote. contributor to atmospheric carbon diox­ Duke writes: ''Ruminants constitute ide (and thus to the greenhouse effect). nearly 75% of the 3,846,008,000 ani­ In fact, one Colorado State University mals cited by the Foreign Agriculture scientist takes this theory quite seri­ Organization Production Yearbook. ously. Donald Johnson, a specialist in Ruminants are one major source of the animal nutrition, has been studying the methane accumulating in our green­ gas produced by range animals for 20 house. While not taking the vegetarian years! stance of removing the animals (90% of According to Johnson, a cow emits the U.S. grain goes to animals), I think 200 to 400 quarts of methane each day! we should look into the remote possi­ The methane rises in the atmosphere bility of reducing ruminant eructations and is converted to carbon dioxide, thus and/or flatulence. increasing the greenhouse effect. Other "The folk belief that Epazote re­ animals that contribute to this phe­ duces flatus in humans prompted the nomenon are sheep, goats, camels, enclosed poem. Perhaps we should in­ vestigate the potential of reducing at­ mospheric methane by including Pepped-Up Potency In Herbs Epazote in ruminant feed. Conversely, if we could somehow harness all that erbalist Michael Tierra gleaned lions. In the West, herbs such as gin­ manure and methane, we wouldn't need this interesting tidbit from a ger, cayenne pepper (Capsicum spp.), quite so much petroleum." H 1981 report in the Journal of or the acrid composition powder of the Ethnopharmacology: It should be of Thomsonians were given in small per­ Gas Under GlaSs interest to herbalists and product for­ centages (usually less than 10%) to en­ (et tu, C0-2) mulators of various herbal products hance the effects of the primary herbs that a study established a scientific ba­ in tonic formulas. In India, Ayurveda We've heard all the dire exclamations sis for the use of herbs in the Ayurve­ has used the combination of long pep­ About C0-2 emanations; dic "Trikatu" group of acrids, includ­ per, black pepper and ginger in a simi­ C0-2 may contribute to our end! ing long pepper (Piper longum), black lar manner. pepper (P. nigrumJ, and ginger "Of course, according to Tradi­ But if the plants that should be planted (Zingiber officina/e). According to the tional Chinese Medicine, there are con­ Help to save our grungy planet, study, these herbs significantly in­ ditions in which the addition of such Plants replace dogs as Man's best creased the overall bioavailability of heating peppers and acrid-tasting herbs friend! drugs (vascine and sparteine) either by would be contraindicated. This would promoting the rapid absorption from be in individuals with 'wasting heat' If vegetarianism comes to pass the gastrointestinal tract, by protecting conditions," Tierra continues. Camivorism shouldn't last; the drug from being metabolized/oxi­ "Experiments such as this that sci­ We should all start eating grass dized in its f1rst passage through the entifically examine the basis for tradi­ And better types of phytomass. liver after being absorbed, or a combi­ tional approaches of herbalists through Conservationists are aghast nation of these two mechanisms. the ages are to be commended as a At the cost of zoomass! According to Tierra, "This estab­ worthwhile direction in the contempo­ Those who live in house of glass lishes a scientific basis for the use of rary evolution of herbal medicine." Should think twice ere passing gas. small amounts of such peppers as cata­ (The study cited was printed in the - Anon fk Flatus lysts and enhancers of the primary Journal of Ethnopharmacology 4 (81), properties of other herbs in formula- pp. 229-232.)

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 7 MEDIA WATCH Nobel Laureate Supports Natural Products Research

ir James Black, 64, of King's fective in dealing with rheumatoid ar­ College Hospital Medical thritis and other disorders associated School in London, was one of with GLA deficiency: some complica­ the three Nobel Prize winners in the tions of diabetes, premenstrual tension, field of medicine announced last fall. and alcoholism. The company is Numerous press reports lauded his hopeful that its drug license will even­ many contributions to medicine: the tually be broadened to include these beta blocker drug propranolol (In­ conditions. deral), used for heart patients, and the At Scotia, Sir James will act as a anti-ulcerdcrug cimetidine (Tagamet). non-executive director, helping to But what the magazine and newspaper guide the company's overall research accounts failed to mention is the fact Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis, from strategy, while most of his time will that, despite numerous invitations and The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening, be spent on his own research at King's Geroge Nicholson. ca 1888. enormous respect among his medical College Hospital in London. and pharmaceutical colleagues world­ cers. Under the trade name Tagamet, According to the Financial Times wide, Sir James is on the Board of Di­ this drug has revolutionized the way article, Black acknowledges that rectors of only one company, Efamol surgeons deal with stomach ulcers. "many orthodox medical researchers Ltd., the pioneer in research and de­ Now, instead of facing surgery, the are suspicious of Scotia's concentra­ velopment of Evening Primrose Oil patient takes the drug which acts to tion on natural products 'because there (EPO). block the effect of histamine that in­ is a feeling that it smacks of folk Sir James shares the Nobel prize duces additional acid secretion. medicine'." But he emphasizes that with two American scientists, George the company follows the best practices Hitchings and Gertrude Elion, who "Black in the laboratory of the modem pharmaceutical indus­ have spent 40 years with the pharma­ has relieved more human try. ceutical fmn Wellcome, for whom suffering than a thousand Another article in the Observer Black also did some research in 1978 doctors in a lifetime at the (Oct. 23, 88) quotes Professor and during subsequent years. Black's bedside., Desmond Laurence, head of pharma­ Nobel Prize comes as a result of the cology at University College London: work he did for ICI (a British pharma­ All of this work was performed "Black in the laboratory has relieved ceutical fmn) in 1964 when he devel­ more human suffering than a thousand oped propranolol, the first drug in a 15 to 25 years ago. Black is now in­ volved with the formation of a small doctors in a lifetime at the bedside." new class called ''beta blockers" that Yet, despite the millions of dollars blocked adrenaline from receptors in new pharmaceutical company called Scotia Pharmaceuticals, a division of in profits made by ICI and SKF on the heart muscle cells. The challenge Black's inventions, he is not a wealthy to Black and his colleagues was to try Efamol Ltd. The company's farst product is a drug called Epogam, con­ man himself, choosing instead to live to get more oxygen to the heart comfortably rather than in luxury. He muscle that was deprived of adequate taining oil from evening primrose. Epogam has received a drug license spends most of his time trying to solve blood supply. Black inverted the chal­ new problems rather than trying to lenge: instead of trying to get more from the British Committee on Safety of Medicines for atopic eczema. Ac­ make money. oxygen to the heart, why not reduce "I am addicted to medicinal the need for increased oxygen by cording to an article in the Financial Times (October 27, 88), EPO was chemistry. I get high on it," he is blocking the adrenaline that produced quoted as saying. "There have to be the need in the farst place. Propra­ tested at 10 medical centers on 350 patients, having the effects of alleviat­ ways to fund work that is at the con­ nolol became the world's largest-sell­ troversial stage. Industry relies on ing drug under the trade name Inderal. ing many of the symptoms of eczema, especially the itching. work that is done into the unknown. Inderal sales were later surpassed It is at its most successful when it is by a new drug, cimetidine, that Black The article also points out that Scotia plans to accumulate clinical not trying to make money, but simply developed for Smith, Kline and French solving problems." 0 in 1972 as a remedy for stomach ul- data to show that Epogam can be ef-

Page 8- HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Fall 1988/Winter 1989 MEDIA WATCH Mate Production Rises In Argentina tip of the HerbalGram media dians. An elaborate custom of preparing lost their roots. Mate helps us hold onto hat to Los Angeles Times staff rna~ has developed in which the bever­ our history." Over 200 brands of the tea writer James F. Smith for his age is drunk hot out of a calabash gourd are currently on the market in Argentina comprehensive article on the popularity (which is also called a mat£) through a of 1,500 that have previously been pat­ and ritual importance of the South silver tube or straw with a bulbous fil­ ented. American beverage yerba matt (flex ter, called a bombilla. It is passed hand Ma~ is considered to be highly nu­ paraguariensis ) which appeared in the to hand among friends and drunk in a tritious. Aside from its caffeine content August 10, 1988 edition. The article ceremonial fashion. Over 2,000 words of 1.2 to 2% (known in Latin America discusses the passionate respect many are included in the matt vocabulary and as mateina) it also contains vitamin C, South Americans have for this herb, its one bibliography cites 270 different vitamins B 1 and B2, with a bit of vita­ ritual uses, and some impressive figures names for the plant and the beverage. min A and sulfur. It helps promote di­ on its cultivation and export. Mate's popularity among various gestion and is diuretic. It was known Among some of the points covered ethnic populations of South America is that Argentinian gauchos (cowboys) are the following: a kind of bonding force in an otherwise could live on beef and rna~ without The herb is enjoyed by both natives ethnically diverse culture. Citing one succumbing to scurvy, presumably due and folks of European ancestry. It was local aficionado, the people in Buenos to ma~·s vitamin C content. Ma~'s originally introduced by the Guarani In- Aires "have become bourgeois, have properties are confinned by Professor Horacio Conesa of the University of Buenos Aires Medical School who has reviewed much of the research on matt. Northwest Herbalists of Note The article quotes him as saying that The Northwest is an area rich in "There is not a single medical contrain­ the use of herbs and alternative medical dication" of the rna~ habit However, therapies. A number of newspapers Herba/Gram editors caution our readers have printed articles on herbs, herbal­ to note that the aspects of consuming ists, and naturopathic medicine over the caffeine-rich beverages apply here. past year or two. We thought it appro­ The future looks bright for the mate priate to include several of them here. plant Once cultivated by Jesuit priests The Oregonian (July 14, 88) in in the 1500s, the plantations were aban­ Portland, Ore. ran a large article on herbalist Cascade Anderson Geller Endive. doned in 1767 when the Jesuits were Chicory expelled from Latin America. Serious titled "Herbalist Soothes with Natural Cichorium Salves." Geller is well-known through­ rna~ cultivation was again initiated at lntybus, from the turn of the century. Apparently, the out the Northwest as an herbalist and Handbook of field botanist She teaches Medical Plant and plant grows only in the general region; Botany at the National College of Floral attempts to grow it in other countries Naturopathic· Medicine in Portland, in Ornament, have failed. Richard G. Argentine consumption now totals addition to conducting numerous lec­ Hatton, 1960 tures and workshops. Among many over 175,000 tons per year, or 11 other issues, Geller points out the herb­ pounds per person. By contrast, coffee alists' concern for the environment: "A consumption is about 40,000 tons annu­ lot of environmental concerns affect ally. Uruguay is the most dedicated herbalists directly. Acid rain is one. ma~-consuming country with 22 The wholesale desttuction of the rain pounds per person per year. Brazilians forests is another. Yet another involves in Sao Paolo drink eight times as much the harvesting of old-growth timber, rna~ as tea and thus, their old-growth gene pool." Argentina's matt exports have "The majority of plants Geller de­ quadrupled since 1976 to 12,000 tons Iiams," which appeared in the Medford, pends on she considers edible as well per year. The primary buyers are Uru­ as medicinal," says the article. For in­ Oregon Mail-Tribune (April 17, 88). Bigginton started as an apprentice at guay, Syria, and Chile. The Argentine stance, the addition of bitter greens­ government has authorized the produc­ like trendy radicchios and endives­ Herb Pharm, a manufacturer of herbal gives evidence that "we're getting back extracts. He was later hired as the tion of an additional 100,000 acres of our ancestral tastes. It's a nice reminder company's production director, in rna~ for next year which will bring total that what we eat should be our medi­ charge of harvesting, processing, ex­ production up to437,000 acres. cine." traction and laboratory procedures, and A new major customer looms on Herbalist Tony Bigginton, the di­ bouling of the extracts. Bigginton has the horizon. The Japanese have been rector of production at Herb Pharm in had two years' training at the National studying rna~ for five years with the Williams, Ore. is the subject of an ar­ Institute of Medical Herbalists in Eng­ possible intention of importing it as a ticle, "English Herbalist Settles in Wit- land before coming to the U.S. supplement to the Japanese diet. 0

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 9 MEDIA WATCH

Japanese Herbalists on Northwest Walk African Herbal Medicine Another article in the Medford Mail­ the cardiovascular system and as a Herbal medicine is alive and Tribune (July 14, 88) discusses the visit treatment for Alzheimer's disease. An­ well in Ghana, West Africa Accord­ of a group of Japanese plant scientists other Oregon plant, Leach's Sophora ing to an article in The Economist who stopped by the southern Oregon (Sophora leachiana), has been used in (November S, 88), the Psychic and area on their way to the joint meeting China to relieve psychological depres­ Traditional Healers Association sion and relieve high blood pressure of the American and Japanese Societies claims to have 30,000 members who of Pharmacognosy in Utah (see Her­ and has recently been used in a com­ balGram number 17). At the invitation mercial drug in Asia Still another care for three-quarters of the of Southern Oregon State College (Ash­ plant, Vanilla Leaf (Achlys triphylla), countty's population. They even land) Professor of Botany and Ecology has produced extracts used to produce a have a research center, The Centre Frank Lang, the three Japanese phanna­ drug for treating leukemia for Scientific Research in Plant cognosists were interested in visiting The idea that several distinct spe­ Medicine, which tests and catalogues the southwestern Oregon area to deter­ cies of the same plant genus occur in traditional herbal remedies and then mine whether some of the local plant two remotely separate geographical re­ distributes the proven ones aroUJ'!d species were similar in chemistry to gions is known in botany as disjunct the countty. The founder of the some related species that they are re­ botanicals. For further information on Centre, Dr. Oku Ampofo, received searching in Japan, and the possibility some of the disjunct species occmring his doctorate in Edinburgh, Scotland. of fmding more potent levels of some in North America and Northeast Asia, of the chemical components desired in the reader is referred to the publication At the Centre, patients are diag­ the production of certain drugs. "East-West Botanicals" by Steven Fos­ nosed according to Western medical For example, a species of Vancou­ ter, available from the author at P.O. procedures, although they are treated veria, "inside-out flower" (anchor plant Box 106, Eureka Springs, AR 72632. with plant remedies. The Centre in Japan), has been used for 3000 years $8.20 postpaid; also "Chinese Herbs in claims to be able to control or cure in Chinese medicine for its tonic prop­ the West" by Christopher Hobbs, Bo­ malaria, asthma and sickle-cell dis­ erties, and more recently to stimulate tanica Press, Box 742, Capitola, CA ease. The article reports that Dr. 95010. Ampofo has been working on an herbal treatment for cancer for 20 "Marijuana, Cranberries: Gaining Respect" years with the National Institute of Health in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Diane Robertson, a researcher from Regarding the pot, a judge at the Drug So reads the title of a short article in the Johns Hopkins Medical School, the September 17, 1988 issue of Sci­ Enforcement Administration (DEA) ence News. The article mentions that recommended in September that the reportedly was cured of cancer by the "two marginal members of the DEA move to reclassify marijuana to a Dr. Ampofo's treatments. clinical pharmacopoeia" received mini­ less restrictive status, thereby allowing The herb, Indigofera arrecta, is mally "tentative support" in the form patients with multiple sclerosis or che­ particularly notable, as it has leaves of an administrative law judge's order motherapy-induced nausea to have eas­ which are made into a tea to treat and a note in the Journal of the Ameri­ ier access to it. The judge called mari­ diabetes. The article says patients can Medical Association, respectively. juana "one of the safest therapeutically who use this tea for three months or active substances known to man." longer claim favorable results. Un­ As far as cranberry goes, two like insulin, the tea does not produce Herbs are Becoming a medical doctors writing in the Septem­ "Big Business" in China hypoglycemia or require a ber 9, 1989 issue of lAMA concluded physician's supervision. According to the March 1988 is­ that there is tenuous evidence that cran­ Cryptolepis is another herb men­ sue of the Chinese Medical Journal berry juice may be useful in preventing the growing of medicinal plants has and treating urinary tract infections. tioned. This shrub might be able to become a big business in China these The physicians were not certain replace conventional anti-malaria days. The article claims that a quarter whether the old folk remedy's mode of drugs which are becoming increas­ of a million households and 6000 action was due to the possible acidifica­ ingly ineffective against malaria, a farms grow medicinal plants and that tion of the urine, or how much cran­ killer of nearly one million Africans 570 pharmaceutical factories produce berry juice is a proper dosage level to each year. Unfortunately, the in excess of 4000 traditional Chinese achieve the purported therapeutic ef­ Ghanan government lacks the funds medicines. (Science News, Vol. 134, fects. (See a more complete treatment to be able to produce a drug from Sept. 17, 88.) of this in Research Reviews; page 20.) this plant, so it appears to be con­ fmed to the use of the indigenous healers.

Page 10- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Fall 1988/Winter 1989 MEDIA WATCH The Hoxsey Film: Can Healing Become a Crime?

t is one thing when a group of inde­ the highest viewer response to date for asked the producers to donate a copy. pendent fJ.lm-makers produces a a documentary fJ.lm on that channel. Producer/writer Ausubel has taken Idocumentary on a subject; it is yet I first became aware of the Hoxsey an obviously biased position with re­ another when the film is shown on na­ Formula and Harry Hoxsey story in the spect to the AMA's attempts to close tional television on HBO/Cinemax. mid-70s when I heard about it from the Hoxsey down. The film asks some in­ That is exactly what happened with the late herbalist John R. Christopher. He teresting and disturbing questions re­ film "Hoxsey: Quacks that Cure Can­ also had developed an herbal product garding the motives of some elements cer," now being called "Hoxsey: How based on the Hoxsey formula. He of what might be termed "the cancer Healing Becomes a Crime", by Santa called it Red Oover Combination be­ establishment"-questions that remain Fe, New Mexico fJ.lm maker Ken Au­ cause Hoxsey's formula used Red Clo­ to be answered. subel. ver Blossoms as the frrst ingredient I The fllm makes a compelling argu­ Ausubel spent five years research­ was aware that herbalists considered ment for its case. First, Hoxsey ap­ ing the story of Harry Hoxsey, who Red Clover to have "blood-Opurifying" peared to be motivated by altruistic mo­ ran a chain of cancer clinics in the 30s properties; it was therefore a natural in­ tives as well as economic. In spite of and 40s from his base in Dallas, Texas. gredient to include in a combination of the fact that he built his small empire Hoxsey claimed a high success rate of herbs that were intended to help cure into 17 clinics, he continued to honor cancer cures from his clinics. He chal­ cancerous conditions; or at least that his commitment to his father and gave lenged the orthodox medical establish­ line of thinking seemed reasonable to the formula away freely to anyone un­ ment, going so far as to advertise his me at that time. able to pay for the treatment. Second, clinics on radio stations. After repeated The polemics of whether the several of Hoxsey's would-be detrac­ attacks and condemnations by the AMA/FDA were on a witch hunt with tors, including nurse Mildred Nelson American Medical Association, he chal­ respect to Harry Hoxsey are not really and Esquire writer James Wakefield lenged the AMA to prove his cure relevant here. The producers of the Burlce, became two of his chief champi­ worthless. film supply ample evidence to convince ons. Third, Hoxsey was successful in His "cure," known as the "Hoxsey the viewer of just such a position. winning several federal court cases that Formula," was a combination of herb However, what is of central interest to upheld the therapeutic value of the extracts that Hoxsey learned from his HerbalGram readers is the fact that treatment Fourth, he went on record father. The film claims that Hoxsey's Hoxsey apparently enjoyed a degree of numerous times inviting and challeng­ great-grandfather noticed that an old success with his herbal cancer cure. ing the AMA and/or the FDA to test horse, which had been put out to pas­ The film-maker's interview with his formula to determine its efficacy. ture to die from some type of cancer, USDA Botanist James A. Duke reveals This challenge went unmet The film showed recovery after eating some wild that a number of ingredients in the for­ quotes one Dallas-area FDA official as herbs in the field. From this observa­ mula have been proven to contain some saying the reason the cure was not tion, Hoxsey's great-grandfather devel­ chemical compounds with reported tested was because the agency did not oped the herbal cure, adding some antitumor activity. (See accompanying want to give Hoxsey the stature and popular folk remedies. As his father article- by Dr. Duke.) credibility of such recognition. Finally, was dying, so the story goes, Hoxsey The Hoxsey film has received pub­ modem research validates some of the promised to make the remedy available licity since its debut last year. It was potential antitumor properties of some to anyone in need, regardless of ability the subject of a major article in the of the herbal ingredients. (See Table 1 to pay. Hoxsey was subsequently able July/August 88 edition of New Age, on page 13.) to build a large business based on the plus numerous other publications, in­ If all this is true, it supports the cure, but the film contends that he con­ cluding the New York Times, the Los film's thesis that Hoxsey was hounded tinued to give it away freely to anyone Angeles Weekly and Los Angeles Times. by biased and possibly self-interested who could not afford it. It also was picked as the critics' choice officials who were not necessarily act­ Filmmaker Ausubel has gathered in the Chicago Reader. It was even ing in the public interest, even though interviews with numerous personalities shown at the Kennedy Center to repre­ they made repeated charges of quackery who played a part in the Hoxsey drama. sentatives of 70 congressional offices. against Hoxsey. These charges were The film is a combination of narrative This screening was reported on Na­ never proven. In fact, the film points and interview, interspersed with film tional Public Radio. out that Hoxsey was the frrs tever to clips of Hoxsey's own words. The Whether one supports the idea that win a libel suit against the AMA, after documentary has been highly successful plants may hold the key to future can­ the organization had "gone too far" in in the film critics circle, winning such cer remedies or not, this fllm is a wel­ defaming him. honors as the Eastman Kodak Award. come addition to the history of Ameri­ The producers claim that its showing can folk medicine. In fact, the prestig­ on HBO/ Cinemax last fall generated ious National Library of Medicine See Hoxsey, page 12

HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 11 MEDIA WATCH The Synthetic Silver Bullet vs. by James A. Duke, Ph.D.

ow many times has your doctor ances, usually herbs that humans have good that the silver bullet will help. prescribed fiber, vitamins, and/ been ingesting for millennia.1 On the Ninety percent of people who go to the or minerals for you? Chances other hand, your medical doctor might doctor are going to get well, even with­ are good he gave you a synthetic pill even say that most Americans get too out the silver bullet. That 90% might containing a strong chemical com­ many vitamins. But if you smoke (more just as well have taken the herbal shot­ pound. There's at least one chance in than 25% of Americans do) or drink too gun shell, assuming it is innocuous and four he may have prescribed a pill that much (more than 10% of Americans judiciously taken. Middle class Ameri­ contained a natural chemical compound do), you may be short on a few vitamins cans are becoming more and more judi­ from a higher plant, a second chance in and minerals. And if your diet parallels cious about such matters as diet. exer­ four that it came from a fungus or ani­ that of half of Americans, you don't get cise, and alternative medicines. They mal. But that pill will have the isolated enough fiber. If you are.old, and nearly don't want the wrong herb or the wrong chemical, usually omitting the synergis­ a quarter of us are, you may be short vi­ synthetic. They are leaning towards tic and antagonistic compounds that ac­ tamins or minerals, e.g., the calcium and natural dyes, antioxidants, foods, etc., companied the chemical in Nature. but they are being discouraged as they Nature's compounds and their allies are seek out natliral herbal medicines. 2 so complex as to befuddle the pharma­ It's easy to test a single There are poisonous herbs , just as there ceutical profession. So they take one compound, but all but im­ are poisonous synthetics. The herbal compound or so from the plant, usually possible to test that herbal practitioner, unless he is a medical doc­ one of the more active, leaving behind tor, may be suspect if he prescribes. hundreds of compounds that accompa­ mixture ... The herb dealer is suspect if he sells an nied the one they extract. All the fiber, unapproved3 herb if, in the same room, minerals, vitamins, and usually the al­ iron so frequent in herbs, especially the there is published information suggest­ kaloids, glycosides, and more obscure leaves. If you are under stress, and per­ ing medicinal uses for that same herb. secondary metabolites are thrown away, haps another quarter of us suffer stress Most herbs do contain vitamins, so that you will get the purified silver today, that, too, may be depleting you of minerals, fibers, antioxidants, antitumor bullet. It's easy to test a single com­ certain vitamins. And the more than agents, and antiseptics, and many, if not pound, but all but impossible to test that half of us that are female may suffer all, contain, in addition, several other complex herbal mixture that Nature pre­ anemia part of many moons of our lives, types of bioactive compounds. Leaves pared for you. anemias that may call for iron, and vita­ of herbs are particularly rich in vitamins If you were to take a "calculated mins B6 and B12. A, C, and E, iron, calcium, and fibers, risk" and consult with an herb doctor If your M. D. has diagnosed your not to mention that all-important world­ you trusted, you might be getting an one ailment properly (and you suffer feeding chlorophyll, always accompa­ herb, with all its vitamins, minerals, fi­ only one ailment, and are not deficient nied by alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E). bers, and a whole host of bioactive in any of the minor or major nutrients, Seed herbs are more liable to contain compounds, with their checks and bal- vitamins, and/or minerals), chances are essential fatty acids, sterols, and mem-

Hoxsey, continued from page 11

If Hoxsey was guilty of quackery cancer. The film also notes that Oliver the public will continue to hear about (that is, unscientific medicine), it ap­ Field, former director of the AMA Bu­ this interesting chapter in the history of pears that there is no evidence to sup­ reau of Investigation, conceded that a American folk medicine. Producer Au­ port that he was intentionally defraud­ Hoxsey formula did have merit for the subel has signed an option agreement ing his patients. There does not seem external treatment of skin cancer using with Esparza/Katz Productions of Los to be any evidence to support the alle­ very minute amounts applied several Angeles (producers of "Milagro gation that the remedy is not effective, times. What the film seems to miss is Beanfield War" and "The Body Hu­ although critics might want to point to the distinction between the Hoxsey for­ man" for PBS) who are interested in the fact that Hoxsey eventually con­ mula used internally and an entirely making a full-length feature movie of tracted cancer and had to undergo sur­ different formula containing Bloodroot the Hoxsey story. gery when his own remedy failed to (Sanguinaria canadensis) which was In the meantime, interested parties work. And yet, even his most ardent employed for external use on skin can­ may obtain a videotape of the film, antagonist. Dr. Morris Fishbein of the cers. priced at $39.95, from the producers AMA, admitted in court that one of his Regardless of one's personal views by contacting them at 505/983-8956. 0 formulas cured some forms of external on this subject, what is certain is that

Page 12- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989 MEDIA WATCH The Herbal Shotgun Shell - hers of the vitamin B complex, and refute the Hoxsey herbs, just to note the cies of plants in the world, Hartwell re­ gamma-tocopherols (vitamin E). Even activity of compounds therein. Poor ported folk cancer activity for 1%. All woody bark contains a little starch and Hoxsey was haunted by the Health, ten of the Hoxsey herbs were gener­ protein, and less well-known medicinal Education and Welfare Department ously cited in the folklore. Hoxsey cer­ compounds like catechin, epicatechin, (HEW) of the day, whose claims were tainly was not alone in suggesting anti­ ethyl gallate, gallic acid, lignin, quer­ probably no closer to the truth than cancer activity for these plants. cetin, phlorozin, tannic acid, and ursolic Hoxsey's. HEW stated back then, Class I herbs were listed in the 28th acid, plus smaller doses of the usual vi­ "Cancer can be cured only through sur­ Dispensatory of the United States and tamins and minerals plus generous gery or radiation." That was before the Class II herbs were also treated there, doses of fiber. So your herbal shotgun marvels of phytomedicinals like vin­ with Class III herbs considered veteri­ shell is a potpourri of bioactive com­ cristine and vinblastine from the Ma­ nary. None of the Hoxsey herbs were pounds. Some doctors will admit that dagascar periwinkle for leukemia, and relegated to that beastly category. The the homeostatic human body is pretty etoposide for bronchial and testicular dosages suggested for humans in the good at grabbing from this "soup" those cancer from Mayapple root had been Dispensatory were usually about 2 to 3 things that it needs. And there are many derived from the herbal potpourri. magnitudes higher than the dosages in obscure compounds there, ready for the In Table 1, I list the major herbs of the Hoxsey formula. 0 grabbing, if needed. Few doctors will the Hoxsey formula, with the number of agree that the homeostatic human body "Hartwell citations." Before he retired, 1. Most archaeolgists figure that humans en­ can selectively strain the herbal soup Jonathan Hartwell of the National Can­ tered the New World ca 12,000-15,000 years ago, but some few estimate and select only the needed compounds. cer Institute published "Plants Used 100,000 years. Assuming 25 years for a The herbal shotgun shell offers a huge Against Cancer" in the Journal of Natu­ generatio11; that could mean somewhere and varied menu, the silver bullet a very ral Products in II different installments. between 480 and 4,000 generations for empirical observations on American me­ select and specialized compound or two, Since then, Mr. Alfred Hoch reissued dicmal herbs. plus filler, usually non-nutritive. them in one volume (Quarterman Publi­ 2. Hominid evolution through thousands of With that rambling preamble, I cations, Inc., Lincoln, Mass. 01773). generations has exposed our genes and unmune systems to many of ihe natural should like to propose that there do ex­ The number of Hartwell citations indi­ 'QOisons, but not to new synthetics! ist bioactive compounds in that concoc­ cates how many references he cited, in­ 3. To be sold as a drug, it must be proved safe and efficacious for the ailment for tion that has been called "Hoxsey's dicating the usage of the plant in folk which prescribed. It now costs $125 mil­ Hoax." I am not here to support nor to cancer treatments. Of the 300,000 spe- lion to prove a drug (or herb) safe and ef­ ficacious. Table 1 - Major Herbs in Hoxsey Formula

Number of Compounds Human Dosage Hoxsey Reportedly Hartwell from Dosage Anti- Anti- Anti- Herb Citations Class 25th. Dlsp. mg oxidant septic tumor Barberry Root Bark1 6 II 2g 10 1 9 3 Berberis spp. Buckthorn Bark 3 II 1-2 g 20 3 7 3 Rharn!u.u frangllla Burdock Root 25 II 10 2 2 Arctiwn lappa Cascara Sagrada Bark2 3 I 0.6-2 g 5 7 2 Rharn!u.u pwshiana Red Clover Blossoms 33 II 4g 20 4 10 4 Trifoliwn pratense Licorice Root 23 I 3-6 g 20 3 18 5 Glycy"hiza spp Poke Root 32 II 60-1,200 mg 10 2 3 2 Phytolacca americana Prickly Ash Bark 6 II 1 g 5 3 3 Zanlhoxylwn americanwn Stillingia Root 3 2-4 g 10 0 0 0 Stillingia sylvatica Bloodroot' 22 I 60-300 mg External 0 5 5 Sang/linaria canadensis 1 - Vuioua vcnims indicate that this might a1Jo be On:gm Grapa Root (B•rlM.V oqlli{otu-). . . 2 • Some habalisu belic:Ye that "Cuc:ua" ment.imed in the Houey fODDula could have been "Cucua amuga·(S-tiG ptllllllMW), not Cuc:ua upda. Cuc:ua amuga II listed u an ingredient in the Natiollill Fortflllltlry, Edition V(l926), wtdec "Compound fluid extnct of Trifolium." 3. Bloodroot was only pracnt in a formula used f~ extanal cancem.

HerbaiGram No. 18/19 - Fall 1988/Winter 1989 - Page 13 MARKET REPORT

he quarter since our last report has been Pent-up Demand an interesting one in these markets. Lots T of dormant pent-up demand surfaced, seemingly all at once, for spices, medicinal herbs, Surfaces for and potpourri ingredients with spot shortages and rising prices an almost daily feature. Frustrated Herbs/Spices buyers and dealers scrambled to meet production schedules that allowed no flexibility in timing. This trend continues with very thin markets here and long, slow-moving pipelines.

by Peter Landes, KHL Flavors with additional material by Herba/Gram staff SPICES This market featured a sudden crash and almost-as-sudden re­ covery in the prices of Black and White Pepper. While prices have yet to climb back to the levels of 1987, the strength of the overall market and the defaults of Brazilian shippers on low-priced contracts created some fireworks for many importers and grinders. The Cassia situation continues murky with the government-controlled marketing board changing their minds about the marketing system practically hourly- nobody really knows if they'll get their shipments, who will be shipping these goods, when they will be shipped, or at what prices. Needless to say, coverage (if available) is advisable for as far out as can be managed, es- y on Sticks. Ceylon Cinnamon is especially tight with arrivals snapped up as soon as released. Cloves have declined in price with Indonesia actually exporting rather than importing Cloves this year. The benefit to users is the availability at reasonable prices of beautiful Indonesian Cloves. Whole Peppermint Leaves are fmally back in stock. Cumin Seed is reasonable and coverage should be extended. Sage continues steady but prices are expected to rise in February. Chilies (especially hot ones) are a problem. China is renegotiating their contracts, upwards, naturally, and may not ship anyway.

BOTANICALS Many items that were in short supply for quite a while are now available with arrival of new crop material from Eastern Europe, but supplies are thin, probably in response to thin demand. This market has become increasingly strange with spikes in demand creating shortages and precious little Dandelion follow-through. A large order will wipe out small spot sup­ Taraxacum officinale, plies and dealers, faced with no continuing demand, will not from Common Weeds restock. Vigilance is required; buy when material is avail­ of the United States, able or be prepared to wait This refers to Althea Root U.S. Department of Agricul­ ture, 1970 (Marshmallow Root), Dandelion Root (Raw and Roasted), Elecampane Root, Horsetail (Shave Grass), and Eyebright Herb. Juniper Berries and Egyptian Chamomile are ex­ ceedingly tight at holiday press time.

Page 14- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Fall 1988/Winter 1989 MARKET REPORl

POTPOURRI INGREDIENTS Strong demand continues for Echinacea Root (both E. pur­ purea and E. angllStifolia). Production figures are up as new Demand in this marlcet exploded right after Labor Day with growers enter into this marlcet. Some producers claim a brisk manufacturers desperately ordering to fill neglected supply marlcet for leaf material, as well as root lines. It is believed that by this time spot U.S. manufactur­ ers will have to pay more attention to advance contracting to There's still demand for Prairie Dock Root (Parthenium in­ meet their growing needs. Source countries are hard-put to tegrifolium) as some manufacturers use it as a filler in "Echi­ meet increased demand and ingredients seem to fall from fa­ nacea" products. The flowers are finding a willing market as vor as fast as they are introduced. Almost as soon as pickers "American Feverfew" for use in the potpourri market (Note: and growers are educated to produce a good-quality crop at a This is not to be confused with the Feverfew plant currently reasonable level, the material goes out of style and demand being investigated for use in migraine headaches. See "Re­ drops to zero. For example, according to Fred Hathaway, a search," page 19.) major potpourri dealer, terrific competition at all levels has driven prices down, leaving relatively expensive items like American Ginseng Root growers are still able to export Bouganvillea Flowers with little demand. their harvest to Asia, but the continued ability to do this seems uncertain as U.S. herb experts have observed fields of Pink Rosebuds are available, while Red are becoming scarce American Ginseng being cultivated in China. until arrival of new winter crop shipments. The Globe Amaranth shortage should be relieved in February or March In closing, the obvious should be pointed out: given the va­ with arrivals expected then. Calendula is available at amaz­ garies of these disorganized little markets, the best way to as­ ingly low levels. Spina Christi is back in stock. Good­ sure a continued supply of quality spices and botanicals at looking Orange Peel in potpourri cut is almost unavailable reasonable prices is close cooperation and consultation with until after the winter pickings. The ubiquitous Wood Chips trusted, proven suppliers. All else basically constitutes irre­ are even becoming short with manufacturers looking for good sponsible and unsound speculation. 0 quality at low prices; the two rarely go hand-in-hand. Ephedrine Supplies Become Tighter DOMESTIC BOTANICALS s cold and flu season has come, supplies of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine have become more scarce. The Goldenseal Root prices are about four to five dollars per two drugs are alkaloids derived from the Chinese pound lower than last year. Current supplies look good. Mahuang plant (Ephedra sinica.) Both drugs are used in over­ Apparently more buying this year has anticipated shortages the-counter cold and flu preparations for their decongestant like those of last year. One insider doubts that there is even properties. Natural ephedrine is tight due to seasonal buying a shortage this season; there seems to be plenty available in by pharmaceutical companies for OTC drugs, plus the current spite of severe drought conditions in some areas. shortage of plant material from China, a major world supplier. Although weather conditions in Inner Mongolia where the Lady's Slipper Root: Sources indicate that collectors can't plant is harvested have been quite favorable to produce ade­ give it away because the industry has been so effective in quate supplies, market reports indicate that growers are finding dealing with the conservation issue. This refers to the ASPA other crops that produce higher profit and are therefore switch­ and IHGMA (International Herb Growers and Marketers Asso­ ing over. It is also rumored that the Chinese may be stockpil­ ciation) resolutions in which the herb industry has agreed not ing ephedrine in order to start production of pseudoephedrine. to buy wildcrafted Lady's Slipper Root. (See story in Her­ Both natural and synthetic ephedrine and pseudoephedrine balGram #17.) are used in OTC pharmaceutical products, where pseu­ doephedrine is becoming increasingly popular in decongestant There is still some interest for dried Ginkgo Lear, but it is products. The U.S. consumption of both drugs is estimated at isolated as most demand from manufacturers is for the im­ 420 metric tons annually with a 5 to 8 percent annual increase. ported extract. not raw material. Although not usually con­ In a related development. in November the Drug Enforce­ sidered a "domestic" herb, Ginkgo trees do grow in the U.S. ment Agency placed ephedrine and pseudoephedrine on a list since they were introduced from Asia. Dealers claim that it of controlled substances that are essential or precursor chemi­ is difficult to get domestic raw material as Americans won't cals sometimes used to make illegal drugs. This would simply pick it require that importers and manufacurers keep on file all trans­ actions for four years. (Chemical Marketing Reporter, Nov. 21. 88 with additional information from the HerbalGram staff.)O

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 15 CONFERENCE REPORTS

THE 36TH ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE SOCIETY FOR MEDICINAL PLANT RESEARCH by Rob McCaleb ... three of the hottest topics in natural products research are anti­ tumor agents, polysaccharides, and immunomodulating agents . . . . these three studies grow closer together with the realization that many antitumor agents may owe their activity to stimulation of the immune system; and many of the plants currently under intensive study contain polysaccharides with this effect.

he 36th Annual Congress of the Society for Medicinal Westendorf et al., report on possible carcinogenicity of Plant Research was held September 12-16 in Freiburg, the active principles of several laxative plants, including Aloe, T W. Germany. Professor Varro E. Tyler of Purdue Uni­ Senna and Frangula (Buckthorn). The battery of three short­ versity kindly provided abstracts of the papers presented. term tests used for the detection of mutagenic/carcinogenic Therapeutic use of willow bark (Salix spp.) was discussed properties are said by the authors to have shown 80-90% pre­ by B. Meier et a/. The commonly-used S. alba (white willow) dictive value for the detection of chemical carcinogens. Of is actually quite poor in its content of the active salicylates the 16 glycosides tested (hydroxyanthraquinones), four were compared to other species. The authors recommend prepara­ found to cause mutation in more than one strain of bacteria tions standardized to the salicin content specified in the Ger­ used in the assay. As the implications of this research are un­ man monograph (60-120 mg per daily dose). Also recom­ clear, these plants should be investigated by the more reliable mended is a pH-controlled extraction, rather than consumption rodent carcinogenicity assays to determine if they actually rep­ of the powdered bark, since salicylates are only slowly me­ resent any potential risk. tabolized in the intestines. Constituents ofPauo D'Arco (Tabebuia avel/anedae) were investigated by B. Kreher et a/., (including H. Wagner). Tabebuia species have been investigated for antitumor effects. In the current research, nine compounds were found to possess dose-dependent immunomodulating effects on human immune system cells. This indicates that the ability of Tabebuia com­ Onions pounds to destroy cancer cells may be due at least partly to Allium cepa, stimulation of our own immune systems. from De Viribus Research at the Univ. of Munich continues (R. Bauer, H. Herbarum, Wagner et al.) in the search for the active principles of Echi­ Macer Floridus, nacea. As Herba/Gram reported earlier this year (Herbal­ 1482 Gram 15), the most active constituents of Echinacea now ap­ pear to be in the lipophilic fractions (non-soluble in water). The current article describes the isolation and structure of newly discovered alkamides from the roots of two Echinacea Bayer eta/., reported on antiasthmatic effects of onion ( species. Research continues on the pharmacology of the alka­ Allium cepa). Extracts of onion have been shown to inhibit al­ mides and other constituents of the lipophilic fractions, and lergen-induced asthmatic reactions in humans and guinea pigs. these will be the subject of a future paper. This study fractionated the active chloroform extract, and iso­ Herba/Gram readers surely recognize that three of the lated two classes of compounds apparently responsible for this hottest topics in natural products research are antitumor agents, effect (5 thiosulfinates, 2 1,4-dithiane derivatives). polysaccharides, and immunomodulating agents. It is quite Research by Ghosal et a/., has added another validation of exciting to watch as these three studies grow closer together L'le major Ayurvedic medicinal plants Withania somnifera with the realization that many antitumor agents may owe their (" Ashwaganda") and Sida cordifo/ia ("Bala") as adaptogens. activity to stimulation of the immune system; and many of the In a battery of tests, compounds from the plants stimulated plants currently under intensive study contain polysaccharides phagocytosis and immune cell proliferation suggesting "strong with this effect I am sure we can expect more articles about potential as immunostimulatory agents ... [and] validate the use polysaccharides in higher plants such as Echinacea and also in of the two plant drugs as health promotive agents in Ayurve­ dic medicine." See Congress, page 43

Page 16- HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Fall 1988/Winter 1989 CONFERENCE REPORTS The Fifth International Ginseng Symposium, Seoul, Korea

by Ara Der Marderosian, Ph.D.

It was my pleasure this year to be invited to present a paper on our research at this symposium. I found the meet­ ing to be exciting and a wonderful way to meet many of the foreign researchers in a beautiful setting. We were treated royally in the fantastic Lotte Hotel in Seoul and had a chance to be part of the Korean Olympic scene. We even managed to be interviewed during the interna­ tional coverage via NBC and Bryant Gumble on the topic of ginseng. The segment was understandably short but well done and even featured how ginseng is grown in Wisconsin. The meetings were sponsored by the Korea Monopoly Corporation and boasted an attendance of several hundred re­ searchers from all over the world. The organizers of the symposium (Chong Hwa Lee, Chairman; Too-Pyo Hong, President, Korea Monopoly Corp.; Kwan Lee, Ministry of Science & Technology; and many others), are to be com-

... as more and newer classes of sub­ stances ...are isolated from ginseng .. .a whole new range of activities can be verified. mended for their skill in bringing together all the major in­ Ginseng vestigators in the field. The hotel and the social and scien­ Panax quinquefolius, tific gatherings were superbly organized and presented an from Materia Medica elegant setting for the successful meeting. There were a total and Pharmacology, of forty papers listed in the program. Among the ginseng­ Culbreth, 1927 related topics were: Potential anticancer properties in humans Utilization in cosmetics Cytoxic effects against L 1210 cells Antianorexigenic properties Tumor growth inhibitory substances Cytosolic epoxide hydrolase activity Anti-oxidative action of phenolic components Kidney protective properties Anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides in ginseng Catecholamine effects · Experimental amnesia Protective effects on myocardial ischemia/infarction Morphine tolerance and dependence Proteins in ginseng Polymorphonuclear leukocytes Reticuloendothelial system potentiating polysaccharides Immunological studies As can been seen by this wide spectrum of research ef­ Modification of interleukin responses forts in several countries (England, United States, Korea, Ja­ Cytotoxic principles pan, China, Canada, and Italy), there is no doubt about con­ Micrometerological requirements in culture tinuing interest in ginseng. It is also obvious that as more Shape and compound relationships in ginseng quality and newer classes of substances (besides the ginsenosides) Biological activities of water-soluble fraction of ginseng are isolated from ginseng (flavonoids, polysaccharides, poly­ A chemical study of the saponins and flavonoids of acetylenes, etc.), a whole new range of activities can be veri­ dwarf ginseng (Panax trifolius L.) fied. It certainly behooves those of us in the U.S. to be RNA and protein biosynthesis in rat liver aware of these studies so that they may help us in research Alcohol detoxification on the American species (Panax quinquefoliu.s L.) in more Chi-deficiency syndrome detail. Arachidonic acid metabolism Finally, it should be noted that Koreans and other Essential hypertension Asians, should be commended for their long-term commit­ Aged heart failure patients ments to ginseng research through interdisciplinary ap­ Polyacetylenic compounds on lipid peroxidation proaches involving the government, academia and industry. Liver cell proliferation This is the sure way to success and their studies are certainly Diabetic rats a model for all of us to follow. 0

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Fali19881Winter 1989- Page 17 RESEARCH REVIEW

BENEFITS OF GARLIC

GARLIC REVIEW The author commented on possible immunostimulant ef­ fairly good review of the literature on garlic can be fects, saying: "Garlic may be a potent. nonspecific biologic re­ sponse modifier." It increases phagocytosis by which invading found in the Journal of the National Medical A.- Association (80(4), 88, 439-45). The review by T. organisms and abnormal cells are eliminated from the body . Abdullah et al. from the Akbar Clinic and Research Founda­ The dramatic increase in Natural Killer (NK) cell activity tion, with 109 references, summarizes the benefits of garlic. caused by gru:lic is no doubt involved in its anticancer, antivi­ though in a fairly non-critical way. The article summarizes ral and antimicrobial effects. anecdotal and research evidence for garlic in many areas. At least 20 of the cited references refer to antitumor ef­ Antimicrobial effects of garlic protected French priests fects. Garlic is toxic to some tumor cells, prevents implanta­ from the bubonic plague; and British, German and Russian tion of others, inhibits tumor enzymes, and may "unmask or soldiers from battlefield infections. The authors point to alter" tumor cell antigens, increasing their susceptibility to our proven effectiveness against opportunistic microbes like Her­ immune systems, which themselves are stimulated by garlic. pesvirus hominis type I. cryptococcal, mycobacterial and can­ "Residents of a region in China who did not eat garlic had dida! organisms. It is also antifungal, antiparasitic and anti­ 1,000 times more stomach cancer than those in a region who protowan. consumed large quantities of garlic regularly." Garlic's ability to lower serum lipid levels has been thor­ oughly researched. 20 references are offered in this review. In Conclusion "Hyperlipemia is the underlying pathophysiology of the num­ The article errs in showing an excess of zeal for Allium. ber one killer. atherosclerotic coronary artery heart disease." Several undocumented mentions are made to raw or "cold­ aged whole-clove garlic" showing the greatest medicinal G~lic also has an anticoagulant effect (inhibits blood clotting) which complements the hypolipemic activity. Studies suggest value, and one unsupported claim is made about the superior­ that garlic may lower blood pressure by acting like ity of organically-grown garlic from "germanium- and sele­ nium-rich unpolluted soil." Still, I happen to share the au­ , prostaglandin E1 which decreases peripheral vascular resis­ tance. thors' enthusiasm for garlic, and I cannot summarize better Garlic contains many nutrients, but we probably don't than this single sentence from the authors: "No other sub­ consume nearly enough of it for it to be a meaningful source stance, either natural or synthetic, can match garlic's proven of the vitamins and minerals listed in this article, a point that therapeutic effectiveness." - R.M. 0 should have been made. Micronutrients, however, including trace minerals selenium and germanium, may be important to the activity of garlic. New Clinical Trial of Garlic As an antihepatotoxic, it protects the liver against liver toxins like carbon tetrachloride, and may be effective in treat­ Garlic has been known to have a beneficial effect on se­ ing lead, mercury and other heavy metal poisonings. It is also rum lipid (blood fat) levels since at least 1965. Many subse­ a "free-radical scavenge;" eliminating these highly reactive quent studies have verified this effect, both for garlic and for ox~~tion products. Free radicals are implicated in aging, ar­ cooked or raw onions. Since high levels of lipids (i.e., choles­ thritis and cancer. The authors suggest that in addition to re­ terol, triglycerides) in the blood are correlated with higher risk tarding aging, the antioxidant effect could be a useful adjunct of cardiovascular disease, lowering these levels may be an ef­ to radiation or chemotherapy by reducing oxidation damage to fective preventive strategy against our leading killer disease. normal tissue caused by these therapies.

Page 18-HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Fall 1988/Winter 1989 RESEARCH REVIEWS AIDS NEWS: St. John's Wort Inhibits Retrovirus he prestigious Proceedings of researchers Meruelo et al., these chemi­ Testing involved injection of the the National Academy of Sci­ cals were highly effective in preventing purified Hypericum extract either with T ences (85, 7/88, 5230-4) reports the spread of retroviruses both in vitro live virus or within one day of that two chemicals in StJohn's Wort and in vivo. "A single injection of a infection. Oral doses were also effec­ (Hypericum spp.) have "potent an­ small dose totally prevents the onset of tive. A single dose completely inhib­ tiretroviral activity." The chemicals are FV -induced [Friend leukemia virus] ited splenomegaly (enlargement of the the aromatic polycyclic diones hyper­ disease and death in experimental ani­ spleen) caused by the aggressive FV vi­ icin and pseudohypericin. In testing by mals. Preliminary in vitro studies with rus. The virus could not be found ei­ New York University Medical Center pseudohypericin indicate that it can re­ ther in the spleen or blood of treated duce the spread of IllY." animals. Most importantly, these com­ pounds were devoid of "any serious toxic side effects" when tested on over New ~ Feverfew Headache Research 800 mice. (The compounds do show The Lancet (July 23, 88, 189-92) pres­ better" and 1% .. much worse"; com­ toxicity at higher doses, and can cause ents the results of an excellent study of pared to 21% and 10% of placebo peri­ photosensitivity.) Make no mistake Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) for ods. Also, without knowing which pe­ about it, this is a remarkable discovery. migraine headache prevention. The riods were which, 59% of patients re­ Every compound previously used study was everything it needed to be to ported the Feverfew periods were more against retroviruses is extremely toxic conclusively confirm the plant's effec­ effective. No serious side-effects were to normal cells, and this toxicity is the tiveness: a randomized, double-blind, reported. Research was performed by J. greatest limit on their use. Further­ placebo-controlled crossover study. Af­ Murphy et al., Dept. of Medicine, Uni­ more, the compounds can gain access to ter a month in which all patients took a versity Hospital, Nottingham. Authors the brain, which is a reservoir of the vi­ placebo, the 72 volunteers were allo­ summarize: ''Treatment with Feverfew rus in mv infected individuals. The cated to a control or placebo group for was clearly associated with a reduction authors conclude: four months, then switched for the final in migraine frequency, and in the vom­ "Hypericin and pseudohypericin four months. Feverfew reduced the iting associated with auacks; there was display an extremely effective an­ number of migraine attacks by 24% also a trend towards a reduction in mi­ tiviral activity when administered with a significant reduction of accom­ graine severity ... " The authors caution to mice after retroviral infection. panying nausea and vomiting. There that long-term effects should be studied, Their marked activity can com­ was no effect on the duration of attacks. since lifelong treatment may be needed pletely prevent the rapid sple­ Two "global assessments of efficacy" for migraines. Quality of commercial nomegaly induced by aggressive vi­ showed that Feverfew outperformed the products must also be addressed, espe­ ruses ... The antiviral activity is re­ placebo. In the fust, patients ranked cially in light of a study showing wide markable both in its mechanism ... each two-month period from "much differences in activity between products and in the potency of one admini­ better" to ..much worse." Patients rated (Lancet 86, i: 44-5). stration of a relatively small dose 36% of the Feverfew periods ..much of the compounds. Availability of -- the Saint Johnswort plant through­ out the world and the relatively Souped-up Polysaccharide Against HIV convenient and inexpensive proc!!­ The Hypericum article and last issue's mor effects (see Herbal Gram 16), but it dure for extraction and purification Castanospermum article (Antiviral Al­ shows virtually no effect against HIV. of hypericin and pseudohypericin kaloids Inhibit AIDS Virus, Her­ When researchers modified the chemical further enhance the potential of ba/Gram 17) along with this next item by sulfation, it displayed the ability to these compounds." illustrate one point: As with so many prevent the HIV virus from infecting Technical details: Extraction of H. other diseases, our best hope of conquer­ human cells in vitro. The new chemical, triquetrifillum was at flowering time ing AIDS will probably come from the lentinan sulfate, gains the antiviral effect with acetone, cleanup by silica column plant kingdom. The research team of but loses its anticancer effect. The an­ chromatography. FV-induced sple­ Yoshida et al. from Yamaguchi U. tiviral ability of inhibiting reverse tran­ nomegaly in BALB/c mice completely School of Medicine is experimenting scriptase (>98% reduction) is apparently with chemical modification of natural completely due to the sulfation. Further inhibited at 10 days. 25 clinical para­ compounds to enhance antiviral effect research is needed to explore the meters were tracked in toxicity testing. against HIV. Several algal sulfated immuno-modulating effects of sulfated Radiation leukemia virus inhibition, polysaccharides have been previously and non-sulfated poly-saccharides. tested by changes in H-2 antigen ex­ shown to inhibit the HIV virus. Leoti­ (Biochemical Pharmacology, 37(15), 88, pression, was dose-dependent, 30-60% nan is an immunomodulating polysac­ 2884-91.) inhibition.O charide being studied for potent antitu-

HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 19 RESEARCH REVIEWS Spirulina Returns to the News pirulina is a multicellular blue­ erogenic index, indicating that it "likely Spirulina prices, it represents only a green algae with excellent nutri­ has a favorable effect on atherosclero­ tiny portion of total dietary food intake. tional properties containing over sis." There was no significant effect on This research, along with the excellent 60% protein as well as various miner­ serum triglyceride levels. No adverse nutritional value of Spirulina, supports als, vitamins and chlorophyll. It en­ effects were noted. Though 4.2 grams proponents' belief that Spirulina may be joyed brief but lucrative popularity as a per day is a fairly high level at today's a valuable food of the future. diet aid a few years back and has been seemingly in search of a market ever since. As a nutrition source it is consid­ Guar Gum for the Heart ered superior to the green alga Numerous sources of dietary fiber have tal. 15-30 g. of guar gum per day re­ chlorella, because chlorella is difficult now been shown to reduce blood cho­ duced serum cholesterol 12-20%, with to digest due to its thick cell wall. Re­ lesterol (oat bran, psyllium, xanthan only the expected side effects. As with cent research on Spirulina has focused gum, guar gum and others). A recent other dietary fibers, laxative effects on its ability to lower blood cholesterol study in Finland (Atherosclerosis, 72, were common as was flatulence (caused levels. In 1986, a study by the Chiba 88, 157-62) by J. Tuomilehto et al. by gut bacteria consuming the nutrients State Hygienic College (Study Report demonstrated the effectiveness of guar our bodies can't use). However, since 4:29, 86) demonstrated a positive effect gum in the treatment of severe hyper­ lower doses seemed to work as well as on the growth of infant rats; and in cholesterolemia. Since the prescription higher, these effects could be con­ 1984 Japanese researchers Kato et al., drugs commonly used to treat this con­ trolled. No weight loss was reported, demonstrated the effect of Spirulina on dition have serious side effects, less indicating that guar gum does not in­ reducing cholesterol in the blood of rats toxic therapies should be considered vi- hibit nutrient metabolism. (Japan Nu1ritional Food Association Journal 37(323), 84). Cranberry Juice for Urinary Infections A current study in Nutrition Re­ ports International (37, No.6, June 88) Cranberry juice has long been recom­ sive results. Nonetheless, a 1968 study reports on experiments by Nakaya et mended and used for the treatment of by Prodromos et al. reported a clinical al., in which human volunteers were persistent urinary tract infections. The improvement in 73% of patients who tested using a high cholesterol diet with Journal of the AMA (lAMA 260(10) 9/ were given 480 ml of cranberry juice a and without Spirulina. The level of 9/88, p. 1465) summarizes research on day for 21 days. While research has Spirulina used in the study was 4.2 this aspect of cranberry juice. While it failed to identify any cause for the ef­ grams per day, a substantially lower has long been speculated that cranberry fectiveness of cranberry juice in urinary level than that used in the rodent ex­ juice lowers the pH of urine, direct ex­ tract infections, AMA's own manual, periments. This dosage produced a sig­ periments could only identify a tempo­ "AMA Drug Evaluations" (ed. 4, 80 p. nificant reduction of total serum choles­ rary increase in urinary acidity. An­ 1326), suggests using liberal amounts terol without significantly reducing other study attempted to evaluate the of the juice in conjunction with drug beneficial high density lipids (HDL) adherence of E. coli bacteria to the uri­ therapy as a prevention for these infec­ and produced an improvement in ath- nary tract mucosa, also with inconclu- tions.

Garlic, continued from page 18 ------­ Still, most people seem unaware of this remarkable effect of sidered the worst culprits. The experiments also demonstrated the Alliums, and the medical profession has hardly rushed to a significant lowering of blood pressure and platelet aggrega­ encourage their patients to increase their consumption of these tion (thus lowering the risk of blood clots which could cause foods, let alone encourage supplementation with garlic prepa­ heart attack or stroke.) The dosage of garlic was 18 mg of rations. A recent article in the Journal of Orthomolecular garlic oil per day, equivalent to 9 grams of fresh garlic, or Medicine (2(1), 87 15-21), by Bastyr College researchers S. about 2-3 large cloves. The article does not divulge whether Barrie, J. Wright and J. Pizzomo, confrrms beneficial effects such a dosage is actually available in a commercial product, of garlic on blood chemistry. This is just the kind of testing but 9 grams of fresh garlic is not an unreasonable level in the needed to validate the effectiveness of natural products whose diet safety is already conceded. The double blind crossover study* found garlic oil perles could produce significant reductions in * In double-blind studies, neither the researchers nor the sub­ serum cholesterol levels, while significantly raising the level jects know who is receiving placebos in order to avoid bias. of high density lipoproteins. HDLs are considered "good" lip­ Crossover means that the placebo (control) group is then given ids which do not form artery-hardening plaque, while low-den­ the active substance and vice versa, to neutralize any individ­ sity (LDL) and very low-density (VDL) lipoproteins are con- ual differences between groups. LJ

Page 20- HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Fall 1988/Winter 1989 SPECIAL REPORT he source plant Huperzia serrata (Thunb.) Trevis. is placed in the family Huperziaceae by some botanists. THowever, the plant is more widely placed in the Lycopo­ diaceae (Club Moss Family), and is better known in Western­ language botanies as Lycopodium serratum Thunb. (fmt de­ scribed by Carl Peter Thunberg in Flora Japonica, 1784). Ac­ HUPERZIA: cording to OhwP it is a common and variable plant of woods in mountains in much of Japan, north to the south Kuriles, Hype or Hope? Sakhalin, Korea, much of China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and India Spores of various Lycopodium species have been used in western traditions for a variety of purposes. The powder has been used to dust pills and suppositories to prevent adhesion. by Steven Foster The spores of Lycopodium clavatum, official in the United States Phannacopoiea from 1863 to 1947 and the National Formulary from 1947to 1960, were used medicinally as an ab­ An AP wireservice report on sorbant to irritated surfaces, especially the folds of the skin in research about a memory-en­ infants, as well as an absorbant styptic. Popular nineteenth cen­ hancing Chinese medicinal tury works on medicinal plants may often list the spores as plant, "Huperzia," poten­ "vegetable sulphu.r" The whole plant was once used as a diu­ tially useful against retic and antispasmodic, and decocted for rheumatism, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, ap­ plus lung and kidney ailments. The spores are highly flam­ ~~-- peared in newspapers around mable. They have been used in the manufacture of explosives, the U.S. in mid-September. frreworks, and in the flash powders of nineteenth century pho­ The reports focused on the re­ tography, as well as being used by magicians for quick search of Dr. Alan Kozikow­ ski, a professor of chemistry at the University of Pitts­ ... huperzine A improved learning and burgh. Dr. Kozikowski has memory retention and may be of succeeded in synthesizing therapeutic value in improving human "huperzine A," an alkaloid cognitive function. isolated in 1986 at the Shang­ hai Institute of Materia Medica. In clinical trials on "flashes." The pyramid-shaped spores have also been used as 200 patients in China, plant­ pointers on mounted microscope slides. Historically it was derived preparations were sometimes adulterated with the pollen of pines and frrs, talc, shown to significantly im­ and starches. prove impaired memories. Huperzia serrata is used in Chinese medicine. It is known According to the report, as lin Bu-Huan (Chin Pu-Huan) and formerly as Qian-ceng-ta huperzine A, like tetrahy­ (Ch'ien-ts' eng-t'a). It is fmt listed in Wu Chi-chon's "Chih wu droaminoacridine (THA), a ming shih tu kao" (The Authentic Names and Illustrations of substance currently being re­ Medicinal Plants, compiled in the Qing Dynasty in 1848}1 searched for Alzheimer's, The whole herb is collected year 'round, and used fresh or Huperzla blocks an enzyme responsible dried. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is considered bitter, Lyoopodium for breaking down ace­ slightly sweet, and neutral. It is indicated for promoting circula­ se"atum, tylcholine, a neurotransmitter tion, dispelling stagnant blood, and is anti-inflammatory, anes­ from Flora known to be deficient in thetic and analgesic. Major uses include an external application Japonica, Alzheimer's patients. to bruises, swelling, hematemesis (the vomiting of blood due to Thunberg, Huperzine A appears to be gastric disorders), hematuria (blood in the urine}, and hemor­ 1787 more potent and less toxic rhoids (3-10 g). It is also used for boils, scalds, and snake bite. than THA. Further animal The herb is used as a poultice or decocted. Injectable drugs de­ trials are under way in the veloped from plant extracts have been used against sciatica, ar­ U.S. and Switzerland. thritis, and severe gall stones. According to one reference, the The AP report has re­ herb is considered slightly toxic, contraindicated during preg­ sulted in numerous queries to nancy, with warnings about over-dosage for internal use.3 herbalists and herb sources Pe~ lists properties as antispasmodic, diuretic, a correc­ about availability of tive against nocturnal emission, and irregular menses. In New Huperzia, mostly from con- Guinea it has been used as a laxative for dispersing "the spell­ , sumers with relatives suffer­ of-death." ing from Alzheimer's. These Duke and Ayensu' cite Perry, and also state that the spores inquiries prompted this Her­ are used to keep pills and people dry, and are used externally on balGram report. abscesses, athlete's foot, and fungoid ulcers.

HerbaiGram No. 18119 - Fall 1988/Winter 1989 - Page 21 SPECIAL REPORT loid was due to an effect on the cholinergic system. Preliminary Chemical components include the alkaloids huperzine A, clinical trials showed that L~e alkaloid preparations improved huperzine B, lycodine, lycodoline, serratine, serratinine, serra­ short- and long-term memory of patients suffering from cerebral tanidine, tohogenine; the triterpenoids: serratenediol, serratriol, arteriosclerosis with memory impairment. 21-epi-serratenediol, and tohogenol (Duke and Ayensu; Hsu, Huperzine A and huperzine B were first isolated in 1986 by H.Y. et al. op. cit). Liu J.S. et a/.1 These researchers were the first to report on the Since 1986 several articles on the phannaco1ogy of the anticholinesterase activity of the alkaloids. In vitro studies by plant by researchers at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Wang, Yue-e et al., "Anti-cholinesterase activity of huperzine Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have appeared in Acta A,"' further confmned that the alkaloid has a potent inhibitory Pharmacologica Sinica and other Chinese journals (in Chinese effect on cholinesterase, an enzyme which breaks down the with English abstracts). An article by Tang Xi-can et al. ''Ef­ neurotransmitter acetylcholine. A study by Xu Hong and Tang fects of huperzine A on learning and retrieval process of dis­ Xi-can of the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica' reported on crimination performance in rats"~~ reports on the isolation of the cholinesterase inhibition of huperzine B, which was found huperzine A and its effect on rats placed on an electrified Y­ to be less potent than huperzine A. maze grid and the animals' subsequent ability to learn to run in Researchers Yan Xiao-Fang et al. 10 reported on studies in the safe area. The researchers suggest that the action of the alka- · animal models that further suggested the compounds may be of Huperzia: The China/Pittsburgh Connection Dr. Alan Kozilcowski, whose research more potent than the commonly used huperzine A and the new analogues on group includes a number of Chinese sci­ cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine. the isolated cholinesterase enzyme. This entists, indicated that, on a recent trip to Currently, the anticholinesterase agent enzyme breaks apart the neurotransmit­ China, one researcher found Huperzia known as tetrahydroaminoacridine (

Page 22- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Fall1988tWinter 1989 CALENDAR possible therapeutic value in the treabnent of functional defi­ ciencies of peripheral and central cholinergic systems. A recently published report by Lu Wei-hua et al.U again studied the reaction of rats in a Y-maze. The researchers con­ March 16-17- National Conference on Organic/Sustainable Ag­ cluded that huperzine-A improved learning and memory reten­ riculture Policies. Sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Minnesota and Texas Deptartments of Agrirul­ tion and may be of therapeutic value in improving human cog­ ture, and the Institute for Alternative Agrirulture. Contact: Dan How­ nitive function. An article by Zhu Xiao-dong and Tang Xi-can12 ell, CSPIIOrganic Conference, 1501 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. showed similar results. 20036. (202) 332-9110. In several of the studies physostigmine, a substance with March 30-April 2- Society of Ethnoblology. Two days of paper known anticholinesterase activity, was tested against huperzine presentations, one day of unannounced activities. Contact Betsy A and B as a comparison. Huperzine A was found to be more Lawlor, Dept. of Anthropology, U. of Cal., Riverside, CA 92521 . potent than physostigmine in the experiments, while huperzine 714fl87-5524. B was less potent Other members of the club moss family (Lycopodiaceae) April 13-30 - Herbology of Greece and Turkey. Travel to the Mediterranean and learn ancient herbal wisdom with Svevo Brooks, undoubtedly share chemical components of similar or identical Helen Nearing, and Juliette de Bairacli Levy. $3,150 complete. Con­ structure to the alkaloids in Huperzia serratum (i.e.,lycodine, tact Traditional Tours, Box 564, Creswell, OR 97426. 5031895-2957. lycodoline,lycopodine). Since articles in the popular press have brought the plant to the attention of a broad public, inevitable Aprll14- American Herbal Products Aun. General Meeting. 10 am. Jolly Roger Inn Restaurant, Anaheim, CA. Pre-registration claims will probably be made for related species. Consumers recommended. Contact: Kathy Hathaway at 7141523-8155. will seek out the herb or substitutes. It is probably one of those natural products that we will have to wait ten or twenty years April 16-19- Caribbean-Europe Health Ethnopharmacologlcal before a commercial drug is widely available. When (and if) Seminar. Inventory of Traditional Medicine, Investigation and Pro­ that time comes, it could be a bonanza for future natural prod­ motion of Medicinal Plants in the Caribbean. In collaboration with the French Enthnopharmacological Association and ENDA-CARIBE. ucts research. Until such time that questions of efficacy and Contact Alex Huyghues-Despointes, 50-54 rue Ernest Deproge, safety on the crude herb or extracts, and those of related plants, 97200 Fort De France, Martinique, F.W.I. Phone 596/63-00-08. are studied more thoroughly, it is my opinion that the plant Telex CHAMCO 912 633 MR. should not be recommended to consumers. Certainly we will April 28-June 23 -Traditional Medicine Tour to China. Visits to hear more on this one in the future. major traditional medicine colleges, hospitals, and herbal research Additional references: centers in 5 major cities; ginseng growing areas in Shenyang prov­ Oaus, E.P. 1961. PllarmDCogNKy 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febi.ger. ince in North. Contact Australasian College of Herbal Studies, P.O. Hsu, H.Y. et al., 1982. TM CMmical CoiiStituents of Oriental Herbs Vol. 1. Box 4451, Auckland, New Zealand. ph: 00fl27-927. Los Angeles: Oriental Healing Ans Institute. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Academy of Traditional Chinese Medi­ June 11·14- Society of Economic Botany Symposium, cine. 1975-1978. All China traditional and Mrbal drugs (Quan Guo Zhong Knoxville, TN. "Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources." Coa Yao Hui Bian). Beijing: People's Health Publishing House, 2 vols. Jiangsu New Medical College, eds. 1977-1979. Encyclopedill ofTraditional Contact: Ed Shilling, Dept. of Botany, U. of Tenn., Knoxville, TN Chillue Medicine. (Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian). Shanghai: Shanghai Science 3 7996-11 00 and Technology Publishing Co., 3 vols. Kumning Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences. eds. 1984. Index Florae July 22-25 Herbs '89 - Herb Growers and Marketers Confer· YWinaneiiSis. Kumning, Yunnan: The People's Publishing House, 2 vols. ence/Fourth annual sponsored by the International Herb Growers Thunberg, C.P. 1784. Flora Japonica. Reprinted. 1975. New York: Oriole Edi­ and Marketers Association, Purdue Univ. and Univ. of California, tions. Davis. Red Lion Inn, San Jose, CA. Contact: Maureen Buehrle, Wood, G.B. and f_ Bache. 1849. TM DispeiiSatory oftM United States of IHGMA, P.O. Box 281, Silver Springs, PA 17575. America. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Grigg, Elliot and Co. Wu Cheng-yih (ed.) 1983. Flora Xinzangica. Vol. 1, Beijing; Science Press. July 27-August 15 - Tibetan Herb Walk and Practical Seminar. 'Ohwi, Ji&aburo. 1984. Flora of ltlfHlll. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Pn:sa. p. A two week seminar on herbs of the Tibetan tradition, to take place 23. in ladakh, India, near the Tibetan border. Cost is $3500 which in­ 'Hsu, Hong-yeng et al. 1986. Orielllal Mauria Medica; A Cotteise Guide. LOngbeach, CA: cludes air fare from the U.S. West Coast. Payment due by May 1, Orient.! Healing Ana Institute p. 468 1989. Contact: Chakpori Institute of Medicine, P.O. Box 956, Boul­ 'Li Ning-hon etal. 1984. ChiMS« MediciMI HerbsofHortf Ko,.,. Vol. S, pp. 8-9. der, CO 80306. • Perry, L.M. 1980. MediciMI Plartl.r of East tvtd Sollllwasl Asia. Cambridge. MA: MIT Pn:sa, pp. 247-248. 1 Duke, J.A. and E.S. Ayensu. 198S. M«diciMI Plartu ofCIIiNL Algonac, Ml: Rc!cn:nce August 6-10 - American Society of Pharmacognosy Sympo­ Publications. Vol. 2. p. 416. sium "Natural Products and the Disease Condition." Sessions • Tang Xi-an, Han Yi-fan, Chen Xiao-ping. and Zhu Xiao-dung. 1986. Acra Phanrtacol· on "Documentation of Use," "Potential of Plant Use For Cancer and orica Sillica . Nov; 7(6):S07-S11. AIDS," "Biotechnology of Natural Products." Contact Dr. Pedro 'Liu, J.S., Yu, C.M., Zhou, Y :Z.. d al. 1986. 'The lll'llcture of hyupc:rzine A and B, two new Chavez, School of Pharmacy, U of PR, G.P.O. Box 5067, San Juan, alkaloids exhibiting marir:ed anticholinestcnse activity." Cart. J. Clwm. 64: 837. P.R. 00936. 800fl58-02525. 'Wana Yuc:-c, Yue Dong-xian, and T~ng Xi-can. 1986. AcraPI!anrtaco/ogicaSUtica. Mar; 7 (2): 110.113. November - International Conference on Holistic Health and ' Xu Hong and Tana Xi-can. 1987. Cholinesterase inhibition by huperzine B. Acra Pllarma· colorica Sillica. Jan; 8(1): 18-22. Medicine. Bangalore, India. Contact: Dr. Issac Mathai, International "Yan Xiao-fang. Lu wei-hua, Lou Wei-jiang. and Tana cl-ean. 1987. "Effect& of huperzine Conference on Holistic Health and Medicine, c/o Travel Corporation A and B on skeletal muscle and elc:ctroencephalogram." Acra Pltannacolorica Sillica. India Pvt. Ud., 9 Residency Rd., Bangalore-560 025, India. 0 Mar; 8(2): 117-123. 11 Lu Wci-hua, Shou Jiang, and Tana Xi-can. 1988. '1mproving effect of huperzine A on discrimination performance in aged nu and adult rats with experiment.! cognitive impainnem." Acra Pllanr!acolorica Sillica,. Jan; 9 (I): 11-1S. " Zhu Xiao-dong and T ana Xi-can. 1987. ''Facilitatory effecta ol huperzine A and B on leaming and memory olat-lial discrimination in mice." Acra PllarmDulllica Sillica. 22(11): 812-817.

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii1988/Winter 1989- Page 23 ST. JOHN'S WORT Hypericum perforatum L. A Review by Christopher Hobbs

BOTANY------

Taxonomy and Description St. John's Wort is a member of the genus Hypericum, of which there are 400 species worldwide. There is some disagreement as to the plant's family, some placing Hyper­ icum in the segregate family Hypericaceae, while others place it in the family Guttiferae. However, most researchers now think that the morphological and chemical differences of the two families are insufficient to justify separating them1.2. The plants are described as glabrous perennials, erect and usually woody at the base. The ovate to linear leaves are sessile, opposite, and well-supplied with translucent glan­ St. John's Wort dular dots. The regular flowers have five short, subequal, Hypericum entire, imbricate, basally connate sepals, and five persistent­ perforatum, withering yellow petals. The ovary is superior, capsicular, from School Botany, and three-styled. Stamens are many, arranged in bundles of Descriptive Botany, threes. The flowers are profuse, arranged in branched cymes and Vegetable which bloom from June until September. In the absence of Physiology, John Lindley, 1880 insect pollination, apomixis (a state where a plant doesn't sexually reproduce, but self-pollinates, e.g., dandelion; re­ production by seeds without fertilization) commonly occurs. St. John's Wort has been for centuries in folk medicine as St. John's Wort should not be confused with rose of a protective medicine for nervous disorders, wounds, burns, Sharon (H. calycinum), a common ornamental ground-cover and urinary infections. Modern research validates some anti­ in the United States. Rose of Sharon flowers and leaves are bacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, sedative, and brain-chem­ istry modification activity. Recently, a strong inhibition of the much larger than those of St. John's Wort (though interest­ AIDS virus, with low toxicity, by hypericin and psuedohypericin, ingly, antibiotic substances have been extracted from H. ca­ two main active constituents from St. John's Wort, was con­ lycinum that are similar in activity to substances in H. perfo­ firmed. Photosensitization has been reported in animals graz­ ratum).3 ing on the plant, and the FDA, therefore, has not granted safe status to whole plant preparations. Despite this, there has Range and Habitat never been a report of toxicity in humans. St. John's Wort is native to Europe, West Asia, North Africa, Madeira and the Azores, and is naturalized in many INTRODUCTION------parts of the world, notably North America and Australia.4 ~ The plant spreads rapidly by means of runners or from the prodigious seed production and can invade pastures, dis­ mong the many medicinal herbs used throughout the turbed sites, dirt roads, the sides of roads and highways, and long history of Occidental culture, St. John's Wort sparse woods. A, .(Hypericum perforatum L., has always been and still is In the western United States, St. John's Wort is espe­ of great interest. From the time of the ancient Greeks down cially prevalent in northern California and southern Oregon, through the Middle Ages, the plant was considered to be im­ hence one of its common names, "Klamath Weed." Because bued with magical powers and was used to ward off evil and of the known photosensitizing properties of the plant, which protect against disease. As a practical folk remedy, it has can be toxic to cows and sheep, it has been considered a pest been used widely to heal wounds, remedy kidney troubles, and in some places. Prior to 1949, it was estimated to inhabit alleviate nervous disorders, even insanity. 2.34 million acres of rangeland in northern California. For In the last thirty years Hypericum perforatum has under­ years an attempt was made to control the plant with herbi­ gone extensive clinical and laboratory testing. The present ar­ cides,6 but with little success. The solution to the problem ticle reviews the plant's botany, history of use, chemistry, finally proved 10 be with biological methods of control, not pharmacology, phannacodynamics, medical uses, and prepara­ pesticides. In 1946, the leaf-beetles Chrysolina quadrigem­ tions. ina Rossi, and to a lesser extent C. hyperici Forst, were in-

Page 24- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989 ST JOHN'S WORT troduced from Ausb'alia, where it had been observed that the beetles had a voracious appetite for Hypericum. Their appe­ tite proved to be so voracious, in fact, that by 1957 northern California's stands of St. John's Wort were reduced to only 1% of their original number.' Ironically, however, at the time of release of the Chrysolina beetles in California, it was not known that herb­ alists would one day keep Hypericum populations well under control through harvesting large quantities.

Some early Christian authors claimed that red spots, symbolic of the blood of St. John, appeared on leaves of Hypericum spp. on August 29, the anniversary of the samt's beheading ...

Etymology of Nomenclature The name Hypericum is ancient and may have several derivations. Yperikon was first mentioned by Euryphon, a Greek doctor from 288 BC.7 Pliny called the ground pine Hy­ perikon, though also Chamaepitys and Corion. 8 One common explanation for the name Hypericum is that it may derive from Common St. John's Wort ereike (heather) and hyper (above)-9 However, although one Hypericum perforatum, Greek species of Hypericum looked similar to heather (though from Handbook of Plant it grew taller), it seems more likely that the name derives from and Floral Ornament, eikon (a figure, possibly an unwanted apparition) and hyper Richard G. Hatton, 1960 (above), which relates to the ancient use of St. John's Wort to exorcise evil spirits or influences,10 since the plant may have been placed over religious icons as a symbol of protection. Theophrastus recommends H. lanuginosum, a Greek spe­ Linnaeus, who described the genus, thought that Hypericum cies, for external application, while Pliny says it should be came from yper (upper) and eikon (an image).U taken in wine against poisonous reptiles. H. coris, another The common name, St. John's Wort, is obviously a ref­ Greek species, was mentioned by Hippocrates and Pliny.15 Al­ erence to St. John. The use of this name may date back to the though many older authors attest that the ancients knew of Hy­ 6th century AD when, according to Gaelic tradition, the mis­ pericum as Fuga daemonum and used it to drive away de­ sionary St. Columba always carried a piece of St. John's mons, none make reference to any specific writers.16 Diosco­ Wort because of his great regard for St. JohnP Some early rides, Pliny, and Theophrastus do not mention either this name Christian authors claimed that red spots, symbolic of the blood or this use of the plant, but herbalists from the 16th and 17th of St. John, appeared on leaves of Hypericum spp. on August centuries commonly mention the name. 29, the anniversary of the saint's beheading, while others con­ In the early humoral system of medicine, Galen sidered that the best day to pick the plant was on June 24, the considered Hypericum to be hot and dry, while Paracelsus day of St. John's feast.10 In the Christian tradition, St. John wrote of the plant in the early 1500s that it could be used as an represents light, hence the flowers were taken as a reminder of amulet against enchantments and apparitionsP St. John's Wort the sun's bounty.13 was used in early pre-Christian religious practices in England, and it has many legends written about it.18 For instance, one belief was that bringing the flowers of St. John's Wort into the house on midsummer eve would protect one from the evil eye, HISTORY OF USE------banish witches, etc. Another belief was that if one slept with a piece of the plant under one's pillow on St. John's Eve, "the Dioscorides, the foremost herbalist of the ancient Saint would appear in a dream, give his blessing, and prevent Greeks, mentions four species of Hypericum-Uperikon, one from dying during the following year."17 The favor St. Askuron, Androsaimon, and Koris-which he recommends for John's Wort enjoyed is well expressed in the following sciatica, "when drunk with 2 heim of hydromel (honey-wa­ poem:I9 ter)." He also claims that it "expels many cholerick excre­ ment, but it must be given continuously, until they be cured, St. John's wort doth charm all the witches away, and being smeared on it is good for ambusta (bums)." H. If gathered at midnight on the saint's holy day. crispum and H. barbatum, he writes, have "a diuretical And devils and witches have no power to harm facility .... and of moving ye menstrua. The seed being drunk Those that do gather the plant for a charm: for 40 days drives away tertians and quartans (fevers occurring Rub the lintels and post with that red juicy flower; every 3 or 4 days, possibly malaria).14 No thunder nor tempest will then have the power

HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Faii1988/Winter 1989- Page 25 ST. JOHN'S WORT

To hurt or to hinder your houses; and bind Nonetheless, King, in his Dispensatory (1876), mentions Round your neck a charm of a similar kind. its use in urinary affections, diarrhea, worms, jaundice, menor­ rhagia, hysteria, nervous imbalances with depression, and its Several noted English herbalists, reflecting the general usual external applications, including the use of the saturated beliefs of their time, wrote very favorably of the virtues of St. tincture as a substitute for arnica, in bruises.30 In the later Fel­ John's Wort. For instance, Gerard (ca. 1600) tells of the oint­ ter-Lioyd revision of King's Dispensatory, tincture of St ment he made of the plant as being a "most precious remedy John's Wort, in a dose of 10-30 drops mixed with 4 ounces of for deepe wounds," and adds that "there is not a better natural water, taken in teaspoonful doses every 1-2 hours, is pre­ balsam ... to cure any such wound '020 scribed for spinal irritation, shocks, concussions, puncture wounds, and hysteria. 31

" ... it is a singular wound herb, healing in­ Today, modem American herbalists still use St John's ward hurts or bruises," and that as an oint­ Wort for many of the same conditions for which it has been 32 33 ment "it opens obstructions dissolves recommended throughout the ages. • swelling and closes up the lips of wounds."

Culpeper (ca. 1650), who was fond of ascribing astro­ logical signs to medicinal herbs, says that Hypericum "is under the celestial sign Leo, and the dominion of the Sun." He goes on to say that "it is a singular wound herb, healing inward hurts or bruises," and that as an ointment "it opens obstruc­ tions, dissolves swelling and closes up the lips of wounds." Also, he claims it is good for those who "are bitten or stung by any venomous creature, and for those that cannot make wa­ St. John's Won, Hypericum perforatum ter"-which use modem science confirms-and adds that the 1. Pistil of 3 united carpels 2. Flowers 3. Capsule cut across, plant helps with "sciatica, the falling sickness and the palsy."21 from Botany for Young People and Common Schools, Asa Gray, M.D., 1858 Other early uses of Hypericum include as an oil (made by macerating the fresh flowering tops of the plant in oil and then placing them in the sun for two or three weeks), which CHEMISTRY was "esteemed as one of the most popular and curative appli­ cations in Europe for excoriations, wounds, and bruises. "22 The genus Hypericum has an exceedingly complex and This preparation was even used by the surgeons to clean foul diverse chemical makeup. H. perforatum has been the most wounds, and was official in the first London Pharmacopeia as intensively studied, but there are data available on 66 other Oleum Hyperici. 23 species.34 The compounds that have been identified from H. perforatum can be divided into several classes, which are sum­ Other popular folk-uses for St John's Wort have in­ marized along with their pharmacological activity in Table 1. cluded: as a decoction for gravel and ul~erations of the ure­ (Ed note- Footnotes 35- 83 appear in Table 1.) ter,2A for ulcerations of the kidneys, febrifuge, vermifuge, jaun­ dice, gout, and rheumatism;25 as an infusion (I ounce of herb The hyperoside and tannin content of H. perforatum is to I pint water) for chronic catarrhs of the lungs, bowels, or higher at growth temperatures above 14 degrees C. {15.06% of urinary passages; and as a warm lotion on injuries to the spi­ dry weight) than below (13.42%). Both hyperoside and rutin nal cord, for lacerated or injured nerves, bedsores, and lock­ content is higher in dry conditions (1.25% and 2.32% respec­ jaw.26 tively) than wet conditions (no figure given and 1.89%, re­ The native American Indians used several indigenous spectively). Hyperoside content is variable during the day and species of Hypericum as an abortifacient, antidiarrheal, derma­ is highest at 7 p.m.84 Total tannin content is highest when the 85 86 tological aid, febrifuge, hemostatic, snake bite remedy, and buds are forming, just prior to flowering, in June. • general strengthener. After St. John's Wort was introduced by European settlers, they used it as well for similar condi- Higher amounts of flavonoids, including rutin, quercetin, tions. 27.211 and hyperoside occur in plants of northern slopes with few generative shoots.87 Flavonoid content (rutin, hyperin, quer­ As for the young United States, StJohn's Wort was not cetin, and quercitrin) is highest in the leaves of StJohn's well-known and was rarely mentioned by prominent writers on wort, and is at maximum concentration during full bloom. In the subject of medicinal plants. One of the frrst references to the flowers, the content of flavonoids is highest at the start of the plant is from Griffith {1847), who says it can be used as flowering, falling sharply during flowering.88 an oil or ointment for ulcers, tumors, and as a diuretic.29 Even the Eclectics, medical doctors from the late 1800s and early St. John's Wort (flowers) had the highest content of fla­ 1900s who favored herbs in their practice, did not use St. vonoids (11.71 %) of any of 223 species tested.89 John's Wort much.

Page 26- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989 ST JOHN'S WORT

Table 1. Summary of Constituents and Activities of Hypericum perforatum

Constituent & Activity & References References Dlantbrone derivatives (35, 36, 37) (38, 39) hypericin, JlSeudohypericin, frangula-ernodin photodynamic, antide:F,essive anthranol (and a mlXture of the precursors, (MAO inhibitor), anbviral proto-hypericin & hypericodehydrodianthrone) Flavanols (40, 41) (42) (+)-catechin ( + polymers: condensed astringent. anti-inflammatory, tannins), leucocyanidin, (-)-epicatechin styptic, antiviral (total tannin content is 6.5-15%)

Flavonols (43 - 49) (50-54) hyperoside (hyperin), quercitin, capillary-strengthening, anti­ isoquercetin, rutin, methylhesperidin, inflammatory, diuretic, cho­ iso-quercetrin, quercitrin, 1-3/11- lagofic. dilates coronary 8-biapigenin, kaempferol artenes. sedative, tumor inhi­ bition. antitumor, antidiarrheal Xantbones (55) 56-58) xanthonolignoid compound (roots) generally, xanthones exhibit antidepressant, antitubercular, choleretic, diuretic, antimicro­ bial. antiviral and cardiotonic activity

Coumarins (59) umbelliferone, scopoletin PbenoUc carboxylic acids (60,61) caffeic acid. chloro~enic acid, gentistic acid. ferulic acid

Phloroglucinol derivatives (62-64) (65) anti-bacterial (StaplrylococciiS aJUeiiS) Essential oil components (68,69) (67) Monoterpenes (34, 35) the physiological activity (small -amounts--0.05-03%); of mono- and sesquiterpenes alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, myrcene, limonene are reviewed elsewhere; (66) sesquiterpenes (70) H.f.erforatum essential oilJS caryophyllene, humulene antifungal

n-Alkanes (71,72) " methyl-2-octane~ n-nonan~ methyl-2-dec:an.e, n-un~cane, all m the senes C 16-C29' (espectally nonacosane) n-Alkanols (73) (74-80) 0.43% of total dried herb: health products including octa­ 1-tetracosanol (9. 7%), 1-hexacosanol (27 .4%) cosanol are sold in Japan 1-octacosanol (39.4%), 1-lriacontanol (23.4%) and the U.S. as "metabolic stimulants" (Japanese studies show it stimulates feeding of silkworm larvae; studies with neurological disorders (Parkinson's, ALS, MS) show mixed results Carotenolds (81) (82) epoxyxanthophylls available oxygen in xan­ tho~ylls ~ay explain bum­ hea1irig actlVlty John's Wort St. Phyt.osterols (83) Hypericum perforatum L. Beta-sitosterol A, Habit - x 0.5; B, enlarged leaves - x 1.5 from, Common Weeds of the United States, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1970

HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Fall 1988/Winter 1989- Page 27 ST JOHN'S WORT

in particular nerve pathways. One method_ fo~ t;reating ~epres­ sion uses the monoamine oxidase (MAO) mhibitors which re­ tard one of the enzymes responsible for monoamine (a prec~­ sor) breakdown, increasing the concentration of neurotransmit­ 93 ters in the central nervous system. • !14

Because of StJohn's Wort's history of use for psychiat­ ric conditions, it was tested for MAO-inhibiting activity. Suzuki et al. (1984), in an international effort, first demon­ strated that xanthones, common in the Guttiferae (the family of StJohn's Wort) and the Gentianaceae (Gentian family), in­ hibit both type A and B monoamine oxidase. Among these is the compound isogentisin, which has been found in some spe­ 95 96 cies of Hypericum, but not H. perforatum·. • A further stu~y by the same group found that hypericin from H. perforatum If­ reversibly inhibits type A and B MAO in vivo. The authors stress, however, that although this study is suggestive, no defi­ nite conclusion can be drawn yet regarding St. John's Wort's antidepressant activity.97 St. John's Wort, Klamath Weed Hypericum perforatum. A standardized (hypericin) extract ... has 1. plant in flower; been found to enhance the exploratory . 2. portion of stem activity of mice ...and decreased aggressiVe with leaves; behav1or in socially isolated male m1ce. from Weeds of North Central States, Univ. of Illinois, 1971 -~~~ A standardized (hypericin) extract of H. perforatum has been tested in various animal models generally used for deter­ mining antidepressant activity, and has been found to enhance the exploratory activity of mice in a foreign environment, ex­ tended the narcotic sleeping time dose-dependently, and has shown reserpine antagonism and decreased aggressive behav­ ior in socially isolated male mice.98

Muldner and Zoller (1984), in a clinical trial with 6 de­ pressive women, 55-65 years old, measured metabolites of no­ radrenaline and dopamine in the urine, and found that after taking a standardized hypericin extract, there was a significant Extracts of the flowering tops of Hypericum perfora­ increase in 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglucol, a marker for tum have shown a variety of effects in the laboratory, in­ the beginning of an antidepressive reaction. The same re­ cluding psychotropic activity, wound- and bum-healing ac­ search team, working with 15 women taking a standard hy­ tivity, bactericidal effect against pathogens in pyelitis and percin extract, demonstrated an improvement in symptoms of cystitis, antiviral effects, sunscreen activity (disputed), an­ anxiety, dysphoric mood, loss of interest, hypersomnia, ano­ tidepressive activity, and diuretic, anthelmintic, and mildly 90 91 92 rexia, depression (worse in the morning), insomnia, obstipa­ uterotonic activity. • • Although much more work needs tion, psychomotor retardation, and feelings of worthlessness. to be done to validate the use of StJohn's Wort, there are a They reported no side effects.99 few laboratory studies which corroborate its use for some of these conditions and point the way for further research. Following is a summary of the laboratory work that Wound and Burn Healing has been conducted on the pharmacological effects of St John's Wort extract or oil. In a number of studies St. John's Wort extracts have demonstrated antibacterial and wound-healing activity. For in­ Anti-depressive and Psychotropic Activity stance, two widely prescribed Russian preparations of Hyper­ Three of the most common psychological illnesses to­ icum, Novoimanine and Imanine, have been tested for Staphy­ day are depression, bipolar affective disorder, characterized lococcus aureus infection in vivo and in vitro, and been found by swings between depression and mania), and( schizophre­ 100 101 102 to be more effective than sulfanilamide • • • Hyperforin, a nia. One of the best-known (but controversial) theories hy­ bicyclic tetraketone from H. perforatum, is reported to be a pothesizes that depression is caused by deficiency or de­ main antibiotic constituent of Novoimanine.103 creased effectiveness of norepinephrine and serotonin, acting One German patent mentions that an ointment contain­ as nerve impulse transmitting substances (neurotransmitters), ing an extract of StJohn's Wort flowers shortened healing

Page 28- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989 ST JOHN'S WORT time of bwns and showed antiseptic activity. 104 According to CLINICAL APPLICATIONS ----- the report. frrst degree bums healed in 48 hours when treated with the ointment. while second and third degree bums healed Clearly, the potential scope of clinical application of St. without keloid (a type of scar tissue) formation three times John's Wort is extensive. However, if one narrows the focus faster than burns treated by conventional methods. down to those activities that are most mentioned, such as anti­ Further studies reported that a freeze-dried StJohn's bacterial, antiphlogistic, diuretic, and antidepressive, specific Wort extract suppressed inflammation and leukocyte clinical applications become more restricted. infiltration in vivo, 105 and that St. John's Wort oil has been used in commercial products as a sun screen. However, re­ In modem European medicine, St. John's Wort extracts ports of its efficacy in this latter regard are contradictory _Hl6. 107 are included in many over-the-counter and prescription drugs for mild depression, and have clinical application for bed­ wetting and nightmares in children. The extract is included in Antiviral Effects diuretic preparations, and the oil is taken internally by the tea­ spoon to help heal gastritis, gastric ulcers, and inflammatory International interest increased in StJohn's wort after conditions of the colon (using a retention enema). no The oil is researchers from New York University medical center and the also used extensively in burn and wound remedies, externally. Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel demonstrated that two compounds from the plant strongly inhibit a variety of Table 2, taken from the German Health Department's Qf­ retroviruses in vitro and in vivo. 1 <~~ Several points bear citing ficial monograph on St. John's Wort (1984), summarizes the 105 106 from their report: current clinical applications of the plant •

• "When the compounds interact with the infecting par­ ticles shortly after in vivo administration, disease is completely prevented." Table 2. Clinical Indications • "Preliminary in vitro studies with pseudohypericin in­ for St. John's Wort dicate that it can reduce the spread of HIV." • The total yield of hypericin and psuedohypericin from H. triquetrifolium Turra was 0.04%. Herb source: flowers of Hypericum puforatum, gathered dur­ • The compounds were still effective when administered ing the time of blooming or of the dried partS above the orally or i.p. within 1 day of infection. ground, as well as their preparations, in effective dos­ • No serious toxic side effects were noticed after testing ages. over 800 mice with the compounds. Administration of the compounds did not result in abnormalities in Clinical applications: lnlernally: psychovegewive distur­ any of a wide variety of clinical tests performed on bances, depressive states, fear and/or nervous distur­ the animals. bances. Oily hypericum preparations during dyspeptic • Hypericin shows toxicity to some human cells at very disturbances. Externally: Oily hypericwn preparations high concentrations (> 10 J.lg/ml, or lower for some for the treabnent or after treatment of sharp or abrasive cell types). Pseudohypericin is less toxic. Fortu­ wounds, myalgias (muscular pain) and fust degree nately, the compounds show remarkable antiviral po­ bums. tency "after one administration of a relatively small dose of the compounds." Contraindications: None known. • ''The compounds directly inactivate the virions or inter­ fere with assembly or shedding of assembled viral Side effects: Photosensitization is possible, especially in fair­ particles." skinned people. • ''The compounds can cross the blood-brain barrier" (important for HIV infection). Interference witb other drugs: None known.

One word of caution, however: although Hypericum ex­ Dosage schedule: Average daily dose recommended is 2-4 tracts appear promising for the treatment of retroviral infec­ grams of the powdered herb as a powdered extract. tions, including HIV, it must be stressed that there has been no equivalent to .02-1.0 g hypericin. clinical evidence of its efficacy in humans to date (i.e., for HIV infection), and several questions remained unanswered. Method or use: Cut or powdered plant, liquid and solid forms For instance, there is no information about the concentration for mtl administration. Liquid and semi-solid forms for needed for efficacy, even if the compounds are effective in external use. HIV infection in humans. Furthermore, if a large concentra­ tion is effective, is it close to the photosensitizing dose? Also, Effects: Mild antidepressant action (monoamine oxidase it must be pointed out that the total content of these two com­ (MAO) inhibitor), oily preparations have antiphlogistic pounds in Hypericum is quite low (dried H. perforatum has activity. Diuretic activity ...direct effect on smooth been reported to contain 0.24% hypericin). 109 Consequently, a musculature. standardized extract (to hypericin content) may be the surest way to administer the plant for viral therapy.

HerbaiGram No. 18119 - Fall 1988/Winter 1989 - Page 29 ST JOHN'S WORT

dose of 1 g per kg bodyweight of dried Hypericum showed no photosensitization or changes in liver enzymes, but 3-4 g did. If humans were as sensitive to hypericin as cattle, this dose would correlate to 59 g for a 130 lb individual. Additionally, hypericin does not seem to be accumulative.118

Although there have been a considerable number of studies published demonstrating the phototoxicity of hypericin 119 120 in various animal species • a thorough search by this writer brings to light no evidence that there has ever been a case in­ volving human toxicity.

The FDA declared Hypericum perforatum an unsafe herb ...apparently ... on the basis of its reported toxicity to cattle, and not based on any reports or studies on human toxicity.

Sl John's Wort Some authors recommend caution when using large Hypericum quantities of St. John's Wort extract for medicinal uses, par­ from, The Herbal, ticularly for people with fair skins, who should not expose John Gerard, 1633 themselves to strong sunlight during Hypericum therapy. 121 Judging by the available literature, a very moderate dose, up to 4 g of the dried herb, 30 ml of the 1:5 tincture (40% EtOH), or 240 grams of the 1:5 powdered extract per day (standard­ ized to 0.125% hypericin), should not pose a problem, if sun­ light restriction is followed,122. 123 especially given the wide­ spread use of H. perforatum extracts in Europe. One major product is recommended by the manufacturer to be taken as 40 mg tablets (1-2 tablets, 3 times a day).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regu­ TOXICITY------lates the sale of foods and drugs, with respect to their safety, purity and efficacy, declared that Hypericum perforatum was 1 Besides its long history of use as a medicinal plant, St an unsafe herb, in its list of 27 "unsafe herbs" (1980). :z.4 The John's Wort is also known as a photosensitizing plant that can herb was apparently included in the list on the basis of its re­ cause sickness and even death in grazing animals (when large ported toxicity to cattle, and not based on any reports or stud­ amounts are eaten), particularly cattle, sheep, horses, and ies on human toxicity. In an earlier regulatory statement by goats, but also rabbits and rats. 111 This toxic activity of St. the FDA (Jan. 30, 1965), under "Food additives permitted in John's Wort was frrst noted in the literature by Cirillo (1787), food for human consumption," StJohn's Wort was included, and since then, there have been many papers published con­ proposing that it be granted safe status as a natural flavoring cerning this effect, and the effect mentioned numerous agent, and asking for comments. This action was subsequent times. 112 The plant, however, does not seem to be a major to a petition filed by the International Vermouth Institute, as threat to livestock, because the ftrst symptoms of Hypericum an extract of the plant had been used in making various alco­ intoxication includes loss of appetite, which makes the absorp­ holic beverages, including vermouth. After comments were tion of the photodynamic pigment, hypericin, self-limiting.113 reviewed, it was concluded that there is not enough informa­ tion to grant "Generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) status, In the case of Hypericum toxicity, the compound hyper­ but an alcoholic, hypericin-free extract was approved for use icin is absorbed from the intestine and concentrates near the in alcoholic beverages only.',., skin. When the skin of the animal is exposed to sunlight, an allergic reaction takes place. Oxygen is necessary for the pho­ todynamic hemolysis, leading to tissue damage. In the ab­ PREPARATIONS------sence of sunlight, a reaction will not occur, and the compound 4 115 does not show particular toxicity.U • This ftrst type of reac­ Hypericin was more effectively extracted with glycol tion is called 'primary photosensitization'. 116 Another, more and sunflower seed oil when the moisture content of the herb serious type is secondary photosensitization, where the liver was between 50 and 70%, and 2-7 times higher at 70" than at and other internal organs can be damaged.111 20". The menstruum was saturated after 12 hours and 24 Cattle appear to be more sensitive to the phototoxic­ hours respectively, but it took 3-4 extractions to exhaust the ity of hypericin than sheep. In one test with cattle, a single herb. 126 The total extraction in one hour of hypericin with

Page 30- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Fali19881Winter 1989 ST. JOHN'S WORT ethanol was not dependent on water content of the herb. The Ideally, the commercial drug should consist mostly of flower­ authors conclude that ethanol is the most suitable menstruum ing tops, but in common practice the whole above ground plant for the extraction of dried material.1Z7 with a considerable quantity of stem may be present Aowers Freshly air-dried herb was moistened to 70-72% mois­ should consist of 70-90% (or more) immature capsules, other­ ture and extracted at 70" C. at 1:7 with sunflower seed oil. wise the plants may have been harvested too late in the season. The total content of hypericin was 2.5 mg%, and extracting The hypericin content declines immediately after anthesis the marc with ethanol could increase the content to 3.32 mg% (flower maturity and pollination). (a 25% increase)} 28 The leaves, when observed with a lOX hand lens, should Hypericin content of a juice of H. perforatum and a be characterized by many punctate glands, clearly distinguish­ powdered extract dropped by 14% during 1 year, and the dry able by holding them up to a light source. The flowers will all extract remained stable, when stored at 20" C. When stored contain fragments of the persistent dried petals, which may at 60" C, the hypericin content dropped 33%, 33%, and 47% have red glands (appearing b1ack) around the perimeter. from a powdered extract, tablets, and liquid juice, respec­ The taste (and smell) of St. John's Wort is characteristi­ tively.129 cally slightly sweet, bitter, and astringent A commercial oil In one extensive srudy, up to 80% of the hypericin was or tincture of Hypericum should be vivid, almost fluorescent destroyed by drying the fresh plant in sunlight} 30 For this red. If the preparation is pale red to pinlc, the hypericin con­ reason, modem herbalists generally grind the fresh tops of tent, and thus the quality of the product, is suspect Hypericum and immediately macerate them in olive oil or Several methods are given in the literature for the 1LC sunflower seed oil. The oil is then pressed and filtered after and HPLC identification of hypericin, n:z-.140 and Katalin et al. two weeks, and should be stored in amber bottles away from (1982) report on the histological examination of StJohn's heat and light. An alcoholic tincture is made in the same Wort leaves!41 way, macerating the fresh, ground tops in a mixture of 70% Since tannins play a role in the therapeutic action of St. ethyl alcohol and 30% distilled water. John's Wort extracts, standardization with this fraction has St. John's Wort is currently official in the pharmacope­ been recommended (liquid extract containing I% tannins)}42 ias of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, and the Soviet Un­ ion.m LITERATURE IDENTIFICATION AND ADULTERATION- Review: An earlier review (1969) covers the history, de­ For identification of cut and sifted material from the velopment and photodynamic effect, chemical constiwents, commercial drug market, note the two opposite ridges on the synthesis of hypericin, pharmacology and uses with 127 refer­ stems. These are prominent, and an important character in ences.143 differentiating Hypericum species (see illustration, page 27).

Distribution of Hypericum perforatum L. from Common Weeds of the United States, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1970.

HerbaiGram No. 18/19 - Fall 1988/Winter 1989 - Page 31 ST JOHN'S WORT

1. Robson, N.K.B. 19n. Bwll. Br. MilS. (NaL HisL), Botany 5:293. 44. Doro11iev, I. op cit. 2. Taskhtajan, A.L 1980. Bot. Rev. 46: 225. 45. Stoyanova, A. et al. 19fr7. "Thin-layer chromatography of extracts 3. Shakirova, K.K., el al. 1970. "Antimicrobial properties of some spe­ of Hypericum perforalum," Farmalsiya 1: 8-13 (CA 107:205272q). cies of St. John's wort cultivated in Uzbekistan," Mikrobiol. Zla. 46. Hoel.zl, J. &. E. Ostrowski. 19fr7. "St. John's wort (Hypericum (Kiev) 32: 494-7 (CA 74: 34570d). perforatum L) HPLC analysis of the main compo~~ents and their 4. Hickey, M &. C. King. 1981. 100 Famil~s of flowering planLs, variability in a population," Dtsch. Apotla. Ztg. 127: 1227-30 (CA Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 107:112686). 5. Wichtl, M. 1986. "Hypericum perforatum L -Das Johanniskraut", 47. Berghoefer, R. &. J. Hoelzl. 1987. "Biflavonoids in Hypericum Litsclvift fwr Phytolla.rap~ 3: 87-90. perfor alum. Part 1. Isolation of 13,ll8-biapigenin," Plallla Med. 6. Cam~U. M.H., el al. 1979. "Effect of time of application of herbi­ 53: 216-17. ctdes on the long-term control of SL John's wort (Hypericum per­ 48. Kogel, T.A. 1972. "Determination of the amount of quercitrin in foratum var. ang11Stifolium)," AIISI. I. Ezp. Agric. Anim. HIISb. 101: Hypericum perforatum," Khim. Prir. Socdin. (2): 242-3 (CA 746-8. 77:45514b). 7. Pickering, C. 1879. Clvo110logical History of Plants, Little, Brown 49. Maksyutina, N.P. &. T.A. Kogel. 1971. "PolYJlhenols from the &. Co., Boston. grass Hypericum perforatum and the preparallon novoimanin," 8. Jones, W.H.S. 1964. Pliny-Natural History v. VI: 8, 53. Harvard Khim. Prir. Socdin. 7: 363-7 (CA 75:115923u). University Press, Cambridge. 50. Holzl, J. &. E. Ostrowski. [d.m.]. "Analysis of the essential com­ 9. Bailey, LH. 1930. Til. SUllldard Cyclopedia of Horticwltwre, pounds of Hypericum perforatum," Plan/Q Medica [v.m.]: 531. Macmillan, London. 51. Vasilchenko el al. 1986. "Analgesic action of flavonoids of Rho­ 10. Fernie, W.T. 1897. Herbal Simples, John Wright & Co., Bristol. dotkndron luteum Sweet, Hypericum perforatum L, Lupedeza 11. Jaeger, E.C. 1972. A Source-Book of Biological Names and Terms. bicolor Turoz. and L. hedysaroides (pall.) Kitag," Rastit. Resur. Charles C. 'Thomas, Springfield, ll... 22: 12-21 (CA 104:142140k). 12. Vickery, A.R. 1981. "Traditional uses and folklore of Hypericum in 52. Dittmann, J. ct al. 1971. "Normalizing glucose metabolism in the British Isles", Eco110mic BoiDny 35: 289-295. brain tumor slices by hyperoside," An:ncim.-Forsch. 21: 1999- 13. Fernie, Herbal Simples. 2002 14. Gunther, R.T. 1933. Til. Greek Herbal of DioscoriLks. Hafner Pub- 53. National Academy of Sciences. 1975. "Herbal Pharmacology in lishing Co. 1968. the People's Republic of China," N.A.S., Washington, D.C. 15. Pickering, op cil. 54. Vasilchenko, E.A. el al. 1986. Op cil. 16. Vickery, op cil. 55. Nielsen, M. & P. Arends. 1978. (Title missing), Phytochemistry 17. Alleyne, J. 1733. A New English Dispensatory, Tho. Astley, Lon­ 17: 2040. . don. 56. Sumki, 0. el al. 1984. "Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase by 18. Pratt, A. 1898. Til. flowering plants, grasses, sedges, and ferns of Hypericin." PlaniD Med. 50: 272. Great Brilain, Frederick Warne &. Co., London. 57. Hostettmannn, K. &. H. Wagner. 1977. (fitle missing), PhytocMm­ 19. Vickery, op cil. istry 16: 821. 20. Gerard, J. 1633. TM Herbal. Revised and enlarged by T. Johnson, 58. Denisova-Dyatlova, O.A. & V1. G1yzin. 1982. (fitles missing), reprinted by Dover Publications, NY. 1975. Glyzin. Usp. Khim. 51: 1753. 21. Culpeper, N. 1847. Til. Complete Herbal, Thomas Kelly, London. 59. Karryev, op cit. 22. Fernie, op cit. 60. Ayuga, C. & Rebuelta, M. 1986. "Comparative study of phenolic 23. State Historical Society of Wisconsin. 1944. Ph4rmacopocia Londi­ acids of Hypericum caprifolium Boiss. and Hypericum perforalum nensis of 1618 reproduced in facsimile, Madison. L," An. R. Acad. Farm. 52: 723-7 (CA 107: 74319k). 24. Hill, J. 1808. TM Family Herbal, C. Brightly & T. Kinnersley, 61. Ollivier, B. et al. 1985. "Separation and identification of phenolic Bungay. acids by high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet 25. Greene, T. 1824, The Universal Herbal, Cu.ton Press, London. spectrosc

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ments," Japanese patent: 1P 85149367 A2, date: 850806. JHrforatum) on cattle and sheep," USDA Technical bulletin No. 77. Mori, M. 1982. "n-hexacosanol and n-

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Fali19881Winter 1989- Page 33 POTPOURRI Native American Medicinal Plant Stamps Imagine that you can walk into meaning behind the Latin names, You, your company, or organization your local post office and buy a com­ mythological references to the herb, could add further support with a small memorative stamp series of beautiful and historical folk medicine uses. It donation to the IHGMA to help defray colorful plants. These would include would be highly educational if the pro­ administrative costs for the project. such favorite herbs as Goldenseal, posed U.S. series were to be accompa­ The total budget is only $1200 (mail­ Echinacea, and Evening Primrose, plus nied by a similar book using the same ing, copies, stamps, etc.,) so even a medicinal trees like Slippery Elm, Wil­ artwork in the stamps. Hopefully, this small donation will be appreciated. low, and Witch Hazel. book would be in color! One more note: The Postal Service A project to have such a series is­ cannot consider issue of stamps for a sued started with Barbara Downs, an commercial product. It is important to herb grower in Oklahoma Downs pre­ emphasize that this is not what the sented it to the International Herb stamps are about However, as people Growers and Marketers Association who are already aware of the historic (IHGMA), an organization of herb value of native American plants, mem­ growers, which has adopted the project bers of the natural food and herb indus­ The American Herbal Products Asso­ tries as well as members of garden ciation (AHP A), an organization clubs, botanical and native plant socie­ composed of many leading herb manu­ ties, and health professions need to facturers and distributors, has adopted a support and promote adoption of this resolution in support of the project and idea is sending petitions and related materi­ You must act now. The original als to all of its mem hers. deadline was mid-November 88. The Of course the idea of a series of Postal Service has extended the dead­ stamps of specific plants is not new. A mass mailing of letters and peti­ line in order to network more people The U.S. Postal Service has, from time tions to the U.S. Postal Service from or­ and create more impact, resulting in a to time, issued plant pictures, usually ganizations and individuals supporting greater likelihood of favorable response flowers. What is novel and exciting the proposed project will allow the Post in the realization of this unprecedented about this proposed issue is that all Office to issue a series of commemora­ opportunity for educating the American fifty proposed plants have previous or tive postage stamps depicting colorful public about herbs. currently employed value as medicinal renditions of Native American plants herbs. This list was prepared by noted that have been used by Native Ameri­ USDA Botanist James A. Duke, a pro­ cans and/or early settlers as medicines. Native American Medicinal lific author on the subject of medicinal HerbalGram readers have an excel­ Plant List plants in both technical journals and the lent opportunity to support a project for Commemorative Stamp Proposal lay press, and Steven Foster, a botanist that will have deep impact and lasting and author who has written widely effect in promoting appreciation of Na­ Birthroot (Purple Trillium), Trillium about Native American plants (espe­ tive American medicinal plants. erectum cially Echinacea) and Chinese herbs. Write a letter on your personal, Black Cohosh, Cimicifuga racefTIIJsa Many European countries have is­ company, or organization letterhead to Black Haw, Viburnum prunifolium sued medicinal plant stamps. Emory E. Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides the U.S. Postmaster General urging the Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis Cochran, Ph.D., describes 42 herbs Post Office to adopt the Commemora­ Boneset, Eupasorium perfoliatum that are depicted in a series of medici­ tive Medicinal Plant Stamp Project. Butterfly Weed (Pleurisy Root), Asclepias nal plant stamps from Yugoslavia in Get others in your network to write tuberosa 1963 in his volume Philatelic Therapy similar letters or sign a petition indicat­ California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis (1964). There is a black and white pic­ ing support for this J>roject. Send your ture of the stamp and a two-page article Chaparral, LIJrri!Jl tridenlata letters and petitions NOT to the Post Cowparmip, Heracleum maximum on each herb. Plants included are Cha­ Office directly, but instead to the Inter­ Cranesbill, Geranium maculatum momile, Valerian, Primrose, Marigold, national Herb Growers and Marketers Culver's Root, Veronicastrum virginicum Hyssop, Sage, and St. John's Wort. Association, Attention Maureen Echinacea (Coneflower), Echinacea pur- The book covers interesting information purea and angustifolia Buerhle, P.O. Box 281, Silver Springs, Elder, Sambucus canadensis on each plant, such as the reason and PA 17575. Phone 717/684-9756.

Page 34- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989 POTPOURRI

Evening Primrose, Oenothera biennis Field Mint, Mentha arvensis Ginseng, Panax quinquefolillS Flora of China Translation Goldemod, Solidago odora Goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis Becomes International Effort Indian Tobacco, Lobelia inflata Large Cranberry, Vaccinium 111/lCrocarpon Lady Slipper, Cypripedium calceolllS The Missowi Botanical Garden has Completion of the English transla­ May Apple, Podophyllum pellatum been designated the organizational cen­ tion of the Flora of China -a com­ Mistletoe, American, Phoradendronflaves- ter for an international effort to trans­ plete listing of the plants of that coun­ cens late the Flora of China into English. try- is expected to take 12-15 years. New Jersey Tea, CeanothllS americanllS The editorial committee for the project Chinese scientists will do most of the Oregon Grape, Berberis aquifolium (Ma- met at the Garden in October to discuss translating, with Tai and the Garden honia) a plan of action. being responsible for editing the final Oswego Tea, (Bee balm), Monarda didyma The editorial committee is co­ product Data from the project will be Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata entered in the Garden's computerized Pipsissewa, Chimaphila umbel/ala chaired by Garden Director Dr. Peter Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana H. Raven. Dr. William Tai, formerly data base. The translation will be pub­ Prickly-pear Cactus, Opuntia compressa Professor of Cytogenetics at the Uni­ lished in twelve volumes. Saw Palmetto, Serenoa repens versity of Manitoba, has been hired by The Missouri Botanical Garden is Self-heal, Prunella vulgaris the Garden to coordinate the project also coordinating the Flora of North Seneca Snakeroot, Polygala senega Other editorial committee members in­ America project Under Morin's direc­ Skullcap, Scutellaria lateriflora clude Dr. Bruce Bartholomew from the tion, that project will produce an all-en­ Spicebush, Lindera benzoin California Academy of Sciences, Dr. compassing flora of all vascular plants Spikenard, Aralia racemosa David E. Boufford, from the Harvard growing without cultivation in North Sumac, RhllS glabra University Herbaria, Dr. Nancy Morin America north of Mexico. Sunflower, HelianthllS annullS Sweet Aag, AcorllS calamllS from the Garden, and seven scientists Wild Ginger, Asarum canodense from the People's Republic of China. Wild Senna, Cassia marilandica Wild Yam, Dioscorea villosa Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens Crop Diversification Essential Wormseed, Chenopodium ambrosioides Yarrow, Achillea mil/efolium Speaking at the First National Sympo­ "We have vulnerable economic Trees sium on New Crops at Purdue Univer­ systems because they are too depend­ Black Cherry, Prunii.S serotina sity in October 1988, Dr. Noel Viet­ ent on one crop," he said. "We have Cascara Sagrada, Rhamnii.S purshiana meyer of the National Academy of overproduction and low prices because Persimmon, Diospyros virginiana Sciences (Washington, D.C.) spoke of in some places we have produced too Sagebrush, Artemisia tridenta few crops. There are at least 3,000 Sassafras, Sassafras albidum the need for diversification of agricul­ tropical fruits, and we use only four Slippery Ebn, Ulmus rubra tural crops. Sweet Gum, Liquidambar styracijlua substantially. There are 20,000 species Trembling Aspen, PopulllS tremuloides of grasses. We use only seven or White Pine, PinllS strobllS eight in an intensive way... There are Willow, Salix nigra Herbal Seeker to 18,000 legumes that are remarlcably re­ Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana Merge with Digest silient and nutritious. We only use six intensively ...There are 60,000 medici­ Note: This plant listing was done in The Herbal Seeker, a bi-monthly nal plants but only a couple of new consultation with several botanists and newsletter on herb marketing and pharmaceuticals." herbalists and an extensive list of writ­ production by Laura Clavio, formerly Dr. Vietmeyer reported that most ten references. When two plants were co-ordinator of the three Purdue of our present foods are only 400 to of similar importance, weight was given Herb Conferences, is merging with 500 years old. The discovery of the to their suitability as stamp material: The Herb, Spice, and Medicinal New World opened up new possibili­ color, shape, etc. A bibliography of Plant Digest. The Digest is pub­ ties as foods for Europeans. "It is references used in compiling this list is lished by the Co-operative Extension clear that we will rely on a totally dif­ available by request. More than 50 Service of the University of Massa­ ferent mix of species in the future for herbs are listed in order to give the art­ chusetts at Amherst. The proposed food," he told the audience of over ists some choices. merger is expected to be effective in 400. "This is the best time in history the Spring of 1989. Prospective for diversity of food For the first subscribers should contact Dr. Lyle time the whole world's diversity of E. Craker, Dept. of Plant and Soil foods is coming available." (The Sciences, Stockbridge Hall, Univ. of Herbal Seeker, Vol. I, #6, Dec/Jan88/ Mass., Amherst, MA 01003. 89.)

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 35 BOOK REVIEWS

Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D. 1987. George F. Stickley Co., 210 The New Honest Herbal W. Washington Sq., Philadel­ phia, PA 19106. 254 pp. $18.95. Softcover. review of this book in Herbal­ acid (vitamin B15), 1-tryptophan, and Gram is frankly long overdue. hive products like honey, pollen, propo­ AA previous version of this ar­ lis, and royal jelly would be included in ticle was written over a year ago (at an "herbal." The probable answer is that time I was going to call it "An that the author is attempting to deal Honest Review of The New Honest with numerous popular natural products Herbal"), but I was never quite satis­ used by people attempting to self-medi­ fied with my own assessment of the cate. book. At that time, my initial article The book is set up as a series of was more critical of Tyler's volume­ short one- and two-page monographs possibly a reaction to what I, at that on each herb. These appear in para­ time, considered to be the author's own graph fonn, often beginning with a overly critical or at least highly "con­ short quote from some literary source. servative" position about herbs. Tyler offers a bit of background on In the meantime, I have found my­ each plant, sometimes some of the bot­ self using· this book more and more as any, a brief statement of the reputed one of the ten or twelve volumes in my of most modem herbalists." He later folk uses, with a non-technical discus­ library used most often for reference. wrote in a European journal that the sion of the plant's chemistry and phar­ After all, a man of Professor Tyler's herb and natural food industries did not macology. Then he offers his own position and importance in the scien­ accept his book presumably due to its evaluation of the plant's real or mythi­ tific community cannot be overlooked. critical tone. This may have some truth cal properties. It is in this area where (He is the co-author of several editions to it. I suspect the relatively high price many of Tyler's critics take issue. of the textbook Pharmacognosy, re­ tag ($18.95 for a 250-plus page paper­ Several herbalists with whom I viewed in HerbaJGram #16, and nu­ back is "pricey" to say the least; the have spoken have wondered whether merous scientific articles.) previous version was available only in Tyler merely reads and studies the It is because of his background and hardback for about $26) as well as the plants that he writes of, or whether he acceptance that this book and its prede­ actually uses them himself? This is of­ cessor have become one of the most of­ ten one of the major distinctions that ten quoted or referr,ed-·to herb books ... botanist and writer separate the Sheep Sorrel from the published in the last ten years. I am friends share the same Goat's Rue, as far as practicing herbal­ certain that some of my botanist and ists are concerned. But that may be writer friends share the same thought thought when researching missing the point here. What Tyler is when researching an article: "I wonder an article: "I wonder what offering is evaluation based on "au­ what Tyler says about this herb?" Tyler says about this thoritative" scientific references-not The Honest Herbal was initially herb?" history and hearsay. Tyler is looking published in 1982. It was an attempt for what is scientifically verifiable by the author, then Dean of the School publisher's apparent lack of marketing ("Varrofiable?''), that is, according to of Pharmacy at Purdue University (he effort in these areas are equally respon­ controlled studies that confonn to the is now Executive Vice-President), to sible for lackluster sales in these mar­ scientific method. provide accurate ("honest") information kets. In this area. unfortunately, he is about some of the more popular herbs. In my opinion, herbalists and mem­ also subject to criticism. In his treat­ This in a marketplace where numerous bers of the natural food industries ment of "Ginseng and related drugs" herb books were being printed, often should purchase this book, if for no (one of the longer passages in the containing what he called "inaccurate other reason than to afford themselves book), he states, "Nothing about gin­ and deceptive information." the perspective of balance. What Tyler seng seems to be totally free from con­ The publication of The Honest is offering is an acknowledgedly con­ troversy. Most of the literature in this Herbal was not well received by some servative, yet scientific, approach to area is based more on superstition and members of the herb and natural food looking at the reputed properties of subjective opinion than on objective, communities who thought that Tyler's many popular herbs. The book is able scientific evidence." He then goes on treatment of many popular herbs was to deal with only about 120 herbs and to cite the infamous Siegel study that unduly judgmental, negative, and possi­ natural substances, and even here the was published in the Journal of the bly even harsh. In the book's preface critical reader might wonder why such American Medical Association (79) dis­ Tyler anticipated such a reaction, espe­ health food items as bran, New Zealand cussing the so-called "ginseng abuse cially when "compared to the writings green lipped mussel extract, pangarnic See Honest Herbal, page 43

Page 36- HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Faii19881Winter 1989 BOOK REVIEWS

By Andrew Weil, M.D. 1983, HoughJon, Mifflin Co., Boston, MA 02108. 296 pp. Health and Healing $8.95 paperback.

his is one of the most informa­ medicines by native peoples. Weil tive books to be published in the went on to obtain his medical degree past ten years on the subject of but his botanical training under Schul­ "alternative" medicine. Originally pub­ tes left an indelible imprint on him. lished in 1983, it has just been reissued Weil wrote the best-selling The Natural in a revised edition. Mind in the 70s, a book about the use Even though it is not an "herbal," it of licit and illicit drugs approached is nevertheless one of my favorite books from a new perspective. That book on the subject of the state of 'medicine was followed by the controversial From in the late 20th century. Chocolate to Morphine, a sourcebook The book does contain information of psychoactive drugs that attempts to about some herbs, especially those me­ hold a rational discussion about the dicinal plants that have been used in the human propensity to use, misuse, and materia medica of conventional medi­ abuse various plant products whether cine in the past hundred years or so: used as foods or drugs. coca, ephedra, and digitalis as ex­ learned, resulted from a weak heart that Since much of Health and Healing amples. Weil presents an excellent in­ could not pump adequately, causing an deals with "alternative" medicine, it is troductory lesson into some of the basic accumulation of fluids m the lower ex­ important to note that herbs are not an principles of pharmacology with a co­ tremities. alternative to modem medicine. Herbs gent argument for benefits of the use of But interesting as his treatment of have always been an important part of whole plants and/or their extracts over herbs is, Dr. Weil discusses herbs the history and development of medi­ their pharmaceutically isolated "active within the context of a much broader cine, from its early beginnings to mod­ ingredients." conversation: the development of mod­ em times. Even today, it is estimated For example, his discussion of the em medicine over the past several that 25 percent of all prescription drugs toxicological aspects of digitoxin and hundred years, and those alternative or are derived from higher plants. digoxin (commonly used heart medica­ competing modalities that have arisen Weil is willing to use whatever tions from the Foxglove plant (Digitalis to challenge medicine along the way. methods and remedies that are appro­ purpurea) is a lesson that many physi­ priate for the situation and the patient. cians could take to heart (pun intended). Dr. Wei/ discusses herbs He is not bound by ideology or dogma Weil shows that the whole digitalis leaf as an M.D.; his concern, like most of acts more slowly and has less potential within the context of a his medical colleagues, is for the wel­ for toxicity, despite the common medi­ much broader conversa­ fare of the patient. He admittedly ad­ cal criticism that whole plant materials tion; the development of heres to numerous "allopathic" tech­ vary in the levels of "active" principles. niques where he deems them appropri­ This distinction is important, but it is modern medicine. ate. Weil has found a comfortable worth noting that digitalis is not an herb middle ground in his medical practice. sold in the herb and health food mar­ In this sense, Health and Healing offers He uses botanical remedies with four kets; its use is strictly pharmaceutical. a recent historical panorama of medi­ out of five of his patients in his clinical An interesting historical footnote is cine, seen through the eyes of a dedi­ practice. He also uses other modalities that digitalis became a favored heart cated student and practitioner of the as well, including Oriental medicine. remedy only after 1775 when British healing arts who has a serious training As a sidenote, Dr. Weil is on the fac­ physician William Withering was per­ in botany and botanical medicine. An­ ulty of the University of Arizona Medi­ suaded by his wife to visit a woman drew Weil has a working knowledge of cal School in Tucson. herbalist to find a cure for dropsy (now botany, ethnobotany, and plant pharma­ This book provides an excellent referred to as dependent edema), a con­ cology that is vastly superior to most of overview of alternative medicine in dition of accumulation of fluids in the his medical colleagues. these trying times. Weil's view is criti­ legs with large swelling in the feet and There is a good reason why Dr. cal; he does not accept all alternative ankles. Weil says that before this time Weil is so conversant in the area of modalities a priori. For example, while digitalis was employed only by women medicinal plants. He spent his under­ he is willing to concede that chiroprac­ herbalists because physicians refused to graduate years at Harvard studying un­ tors can be excellent physical thera­ condescend to talk to these "old wives." der the internationally famous and re­ pists, he does not accept their general The old women herbalist recommended spected ethnobotanist Richard Evans digitalis leaf for the dropsy condition, Schultes. Schultes has spent over 17 knowing that it stimulated the heart's years living in the Amazon rain forests pumping action. Dropsy, it was later studying the ethnic uses of plants for See Healing, page 42

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 37 BOOK REVIEWS

By Ara Der Marderosian, PhD., and Lawrence Liberti, M.S. George F. Stick­ Natural Products Medicine: ley Co., 210 W. Washington Sq., A Scientific Guide to Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics Philadelphia, PA 19106. 1988. Soft cover, xi, 388 pps. $39

his book is born of the authors' without a complete critical discussion perception of the frustration ex­ of the information contained therein. Tperienced in the medical commu­ The chapter does, however, give a good nity and the public in obtaining factual evaluation of those herbs for which tox­ information about natural products icity is known and provides appropriate used in medicine. It combines phar­ warnings of use to both consumers and macological and botanical information the medical profession. with a clinical approach to provide the Chapter 6 - "Health Foods/Natural health-care professional with a vade Foods as Drugs" begins, "It is difficult mecum (handbook; constant reference). to defme 'health food' since it means The book is divided into two main different things to different people." sections. The first, consisting of nine The authors opened the discussion in an chapters, contains general discussions appropriate manner as they proceed to of major topics and one major chapter worsen confusion in this short digres­ organized by chemotaxonomic class sion from pharmacology to sociology, and pharmacological system. This sec­ as they attempt to define fads. This tion is preceded by three chapters and for the health-care provider. It gives space could have been put to better use. a preface. The preface has some ill­ detailed background information on Chapters on "Natural Products as defined definitions of various modali­ chemical groups and plants that affect Cosmetics," and extensive chapters on ties of alternative medical treatments. various body systems or act in a spe­ "Poisonous Plants" and "Marine Phar­ Bonafide practitioners of naturopathic cific manner. For example, the first macology: Drugs From the Sea" follow. medicine, licensed in eight states, for area of discussion, the central nervous Those readers who deal with plant poi­ example, will take issue with the defi­ system, discusses cerebral, brain stem, soning on a clinical level will want to nition of "Naturopathy." Some confu­ spinal cord and medullary reflex be familiar with the useful chapter on sion is developed here. In one breath stimulants; cerebral depressants; nar- this subject and its resources. the authors tell health-care professional colic analgesics, expectorants, and anti­ An appendix follows with lists of they must approach medical "unortho­ tussives; plus non-narcotic analgesics periodicals, important books, and data­ doxies" with an open mind, yet a few base services. Unfortunately, periodi­ sentences later the best stance becomes The approach is conserva­ cals and abstracting services are listed "informed skepticism." only by name, with no information on Chapter 1 - "Pharmacognosy To­ tive, and often the conclu­ how to contact the publishers or those day" provides a fme overview of mod­ sion is that the substance who provide the services. Herb News em medicine's use of natural products . may have some promise (a forerunner of HerbalGram) is listed, It will effectively convince health-care even though it hasn't been published providers that herbs as such are not pending further studies of for over seven years, and HerbalGram throw-backs to the Dark Ages, but an safety and efficacy. is absent from the listing. Similarly, integral part of modem health-care. the now defunct Herb Trade Associa­ Chapter 2 - "Classification of and anti-inflammatory agents. Other tion is discussed in an earlier chapter as Natural Products" provides good back­ major headings include autonomic if it is an extant entity. ground for understanding how organ­ drugs; local hormones and autocoids; When one begins to read, then isms are arranged by taxonomists and psychotropic drugs; the somatic system; use the reference (Part 2 - the the relative significance of classifica­ the senses and integument; agents af­ monographs), one wishes that the au­ tion for the health-care provider. fecting cellular integrity and immunity thors had devoted an entire book to Chapter 3 - "Economic and plus foods, pharmacological activity, monographs covering the majority of Phytogeographic Considerations of and drug interaction. This section will natural products in commerce. Fifty­ Plants" covers economic and phytogeo­ give a much better understanding of seven natural products are treated in graphic considerations of plants. While plant drugs and their range of action. the monographs. Each briefly covers the economic aspects are well covered, Chapter 5 treats the inevitable dis­ nomenclature, botany, history, chem­ the word "phytogeographic" could cussion on "Herbal Teas: Benefits and istry, pharmacology, toxicology, and have been left out of the chapter title Hazards." While providing a meaning­ clinical notes. The approach is con­ as the subject matter is barely touched ful review of how herb teas have been servative, and often the conclusion is upon. and are viewed by the FDA, the less that the substance may have some Chapter 4 - "Classification by than meaningful 1975 "classic", "Herb promise pending further studies of Pharmacological Action" is perhaps Ratings by the FDA," is reproduced as the single most enlightening chapter reference with all its iniquities, and See Natura/Products , page 42

Page 38- HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Faii19881Winter 1989 BOOK REVIEWS Book-of-the-Month Club Selection Jean Carper. 1988. Bantam Boo/cs, 666 5th Ave., NY, NY 10103. 367pp. The Food Pharmacy Hardcover. $18.95.

ou are entering into a world plore their larger pharmacological com­ where the ordinary takes on a plexities." Y technical dimension; where the "Scientists are beginning to under­ technical and scientific is found in the stand how food and food chemicals can commonplace. A dimension where an­ exert influence against disease at a cel­ cient myth meets modem science, lular level." where the testing laboratory meets the "Fantastic discoveries in both the annals of folldore. Medical texts, phar­ underlying mechanisms of disease and macoepias, and the PDR are con­ the drug activity of foods are merging founded with the Monday morning to inject new validity and vitality into shopping list. Tum left at the dairy the food pharmacy." case, go past the cough and cold reme­ "There is a revolution going on in dies to the produce counter. the way we think about food. And No, you are not in the Twilight what a wonderful revolution it is! Like Zone; you are in The Food Pharmacy. Hippocrates, we, too, are beginning to Submitted for your consideration: realize that food is potent medicine." A land where illness and disease are American nutrition and medical com­ Enough said. The book discusses discussed in terms of diet. A place munication the simple and basic idea ftfty common foods, from garlic and where the term "drug" is replaced with that common foods do have beneficial onions to ginger and chilies; from cof­ "food"; where garlic is used for antibi­ health value. Consider the following fee to tea, milk to fish. In a simple, otics and also as an anti-clotting agent quotes from the introduction to this non-technical manner, the author elabo­ and hypotensive; where chili peppers book: rates some of the most recent research are used as lung tonics and deconges­ "Eating turns out to be the world's that seems to bear out some of these tants; where cranberries are eaten for greatest pharmacological experiment." foods • ancient reputations as medicines. their therapeutic value as urinary tract Author Carper is to be commended disinfectants; where Chinese mush­ "Scientists are beginning to for her approach and the breadth of her rooms are eaten to bolster the immune understand how food and research. She has apparently done function. Imagine a clinic where the much of her homework relying on such patient is brought a meal on a tray by food chemicals can exert noted medicinal plant experts as Profes­ the nurse/waitress, instead of the usual influence against disease sor Norman R. Farnsworth (University array of pills and medication! at a cellular level." of Illinois) and Dr. James A. Duke Sound like ancient Egypt or Meso­ (USDA) to provide her with much of potamia? How about the good ole U.S. "The pursuit of knowledge about her data and networking. of A. in the 1980s---or maybe the year the food pharmacy is not an inconse­ What Jean Carper is saying in this 2000. If you think that the bran/colon quential event. It is engaging some of book will not be any surprise to herbal­ cancer reduction connection is big the best scientific minds in the world." ists, many alternative health practitio­ news, or the oat bran/cholesterol reduc­ "Much of the new scientific inter­ ners, natural food consumers, and even tion is a breakthrough-then you are in est in the food pharmacy is linked with some researchers and a few medical for an even bigger surpris~. The bran ancient and current folklore." doctors and pharmacists. The value of deal is just the tip of the proverbial ice­ "What distinguishes current food food and spices as potential preventa­ berg. What's available just under the knowledge from folklore is an under­ tive and curative agents in health is al­ surface is a whole range of pharmacol­ standing of the mechanism by which ready well-known by many people. ogically active substances to be found foods control the human physiology." But where this book will have its in everyday fruits, vegetables, and "There's no question that plants, biggest impact is with the mainstream spices, and other common foods. including those in the diet, are pharma­ American consumer who is just begin­ Author Jean Carper (Jean Carper's cologically active as proven by the fact ning to accept the idea that diet, exer­ Total Nutrition Guide), formerly a that we make their essences into cise and other lifestyle changes can health correspondent on CNN, has drugs." play an important role in preventive done a great service to the herb and "Scientists, who once saw foods as health-care. In addition, hopefully it natural food movement. Ms. Carper, mere collections of individual nutrients, possibly more than any other writer, are now vigorously beginning to ex- has brought to the mainstream of See Pharmacy, page 42

HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 39 BOOK REVIEWS

CULINARY BOTANY: THE ESSENTIAL HANDBOOK. Brant Rogers and Bev Powers-Rogers. PRP, Box 5403, Kent, WA 98064-5403.176 pp. 1988. Softcover. $12 postpaid.

For the many single yuppies that cruise the produce aisle in the nearby gourmet market, looking for radicchios and redheads, this could be the book you've been waiting for. Let's admit it: most of us have probably had a tough time keeping up with all the UVING LIQUEURS. James A. Duke. COMMON FRAGRANCE AND FLA· funny shapes and funnier names that Illustrated by Peggy Duke. Quarterman VOR MATERIAL; PREPARATIONS, we see popping up at the produce Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 156, Lin­ PROPERTIES AND USES. counters. I know I've felt like a com­ coln, MA 01773. 1987. Softcover. 110 Kurt Bauer and Dorothea Garbe. VCH plete idiot at times! We can take heart pp. $15. Publishers, Suite 909, 220 East 23rd St., for there is a guide to the many new NY, NY 10010. 1985. Hardcover. 213 foods that are surreptitiously slipping n a number of occasions I've pp. $59. into our American diet From Ama­ heard people ask jokingly, "I ranth to Arrowhead, from Casava to This is one of those useful books wonder what Jim Duke does Cherimoya, and from Sapotes to Sor­ for research and development workers in his spare time?'' Stop wondering. rel-this book will educate any dunce in the herb trade that just hasn't re­ Here it is. This collection of writings on the ins and outs of exotic produce. ceived much publicity in the U.S. The on fifty herbs commonly used as flavor Most of the shon monographs con­ ingredients in liqueurs includes a dis­ book represents a translation of the chapter on fragrance and flavor mate­ ~n plant descriptions, culinary uses, cussion of "culture," "uses," and "folk­ p1ctures, and botanical classification. rial in Ullmanns Encyklopadie der lore" for each plant. This is an excel­ Appendices contain tables showing nu­ technischen Chemie Vol. 20, 4th ed. lent compilation of important details in tritional values of many of the new (Verlag Chemie GmbH, Weinheim, W. the many herb periodicals and books vegetables, plus rankings by fiber con­ Germany. 1981), with additions andre­ we all have on our shelves but never tent and other nutritional components. visions. The first half of the book is a have time to read. Dr. Duke has to be There's the International Names of new listing of single fragrance and flavor commended for saving us the trouble. fruits and veggies-a handy cross refer­ components by chemical group, ex­ The culture information includes ence of English, French, Spanish, Can­ plaining the nature and structure of much statistical data that is difficult to tonese, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese, Chi­ each compound or group of com­ come by in most herb gardening books nese, and Vieblamese; plus a taxonomic pounds, its natural sources, and product - unique gleanings from less than chart of veggies by family, order and use. The next section covers essential widely distributed sources. The infor­ other botanical classes for those veggie­ oils,. their characteristics, composition, mation on uses includes lists of the techs out there. qual1ty determinants, production re­ ways in which each plant is used in Hey babe. How about coming over cooking. Here is where you will find gions and notes on use. The book has an extensive bibliography and a for­ to my place for some Cardoon Crisps ~e "living liqueurs"-recipes, sugges­ Jujube Jam and Mangosteen Chutney? mula index with CAS registry numbers. uons for making various spiritous con­ No? Oh, well. If this book doesn't coctions, some enticing; others you Particularly useful for natural product chemists, those in product develop­ help your social life, it's bound to sho~ld save for a rainy day in a tropi­ stimulate your appetite! - MB cal Jungle. As one would expect in a ment, and the curious. - SF book from Jim Duke, the information imponant in Chinese medicine. Thera­ ~n medicinal use consists of strings of hsts extracted from the various works FRUIT AS MEDICINE. Dai Yin{ang peutic applications are quite specific at hand, interspersed with opinions and and Liu Cheng-jun, translated from the with precise dosages and combinations a humorous quip here and there. Fol­ Chinese by Ron Edwards and Gong with other ingredients suggested pro­ lowing each article are a few lines of Zhi-mei. Rams Skull Press, box 274, viding a valuable and interesting jour­ Duke's self-styled "varicose verse." If Kuranda Q4872, Australia. 135 pp. ney into an imponant aspect of a time­ honored tradition. The translator is also you ~tart perusing this book, simply by 1987. Softcover. $15 postpaid. reading the poems, you will probably expecting to publish Vegetables As want to read the rest of the text, be­ Originally published in 1982 in Medicine and Flowers As Medicine in cause this varicose verbosity could China, this book lists over 150 fruits the near future. The combination drive one to drink! It's a "fun book " and their traditional applications within would make an excellent addition to but you'll also fmd little gems of inf~r­ Chinese folk medicine. Each fruit is any serious student's library, especially mation between each sip. - SF described botanically with the tradi­ clinicians with an interest in the role of tional aspects of taste and other factors traditional foods as medicines. - MB

Page 40 HerbaiGram No. 18/19 Fall 1988/Winter 1989 BOOK REVIEWS

THE STATE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS RESEARCH IN NIGERIA Edited by Abayomi Sofowora. Ibadan University Press, /badan, Nigeria. Available in the U.S. from Dr. James L. Edwards, Dept. of Philosophy, Nassau Comm. College, Garden City, NY 11530. 1986. Softcover. 404 pp.

his work is a collection of ple­ nary lectures, contributed pa­ T pers, lectures of invited foreign contributors, abstracts of posters, and reports from the Workshop on Medici­ nal Plants held in lfe, January 7-11, WILDFLOWERS ACROSS AMERICA. 1986. Tropical Africa is still an under­ Lady Bird Johnson and Carlton B. being studied. The masterful and me­ explored frontier for medicinal plants Lees. 1988. National Wildflower Re­ ticulous preparation and publication of and biologically active compounds search Center & Abbeville Press, 488 this book is yet another step toward her from plants. This collage of articles on Madison Ave, Ny, NY 10022. 312 pages goal of a more beautiful, flowerful traditional medicine, sourcing raw ma­ with 300 color photos. Deluxe America terial, veterinary aspects of medicinal hardcover. $39.95. Co-author Carlton Lees is well­ plant research, treatments for specific known among botanists and horticultur­ disease conditions, and chemical as­ Get this book! Whether you are the ists. Among other accomplishments, he pects of various plants provides a good type who has the time to stop and is the former senior vice-president of overview of the state of medicinal plant smell the flowers or not. No kidding. the New York Botanical Garden, past research in Nigeria Along with China, The color photos are so vivid that they director of several state horticulture so­ India, and a handful of other countries, appear to be in 3-D! Absolutely one of cieties, and editor-in-chief of Horticul­ Nigeria has been at the forefront of the the most beautifully prepared volumes ture magazine. World Health Organization's effort to on the subject of wildflowers ever as­ The text is inspiring; the photos blend traditional and modem medical sembled. The authors are obviously no breathtaking. A mandatory requirement modalities. Those interested in the tra­ strangers to the subject. Lady Bird for herb enthusiasts, gardeners, horti­ ditional medicines of.Africa will want Johnson, former First Lady, is still ac­ culturists, and shut-ins who cannot get to read these papers.- SF tively engaged in the Beautification of out of the house on a cold dreary America interests that she began during winter's day, but would like an easy her late husband's presidency. In 1982 and inexpensive escape into the vivid colors of the prairies and mountains of AN ACCOUNT OF THE FOX­ she donated $125,000 to the develop­ America. The only thing missing is the GLOVE AND ITS MEDICAL USES ment of the National Wildflower Re­ 1785·1985. search Center near Austin, Texas, "scratch and sniff' ink, but I swear I could smell these pages anyway.- MB J.K. Aronson. Oxford University Press, where various ornamental and commer­ 200 Madison Ave., NY, NY 10016. cial uses of native wild flowers are 1985. Hardcover. 399 pp. $45. Few plant compounds have become THE PLANT BOOK: A PORTABLE Appended to the text is a synopsis of such an important part of the annature DICTIONARY OF THE HIGHER Cronquist's system for the arrangement of modem medicine as those found in PLANTS of flowering plants (based on Cron­ the common Foxglove (Digitalis pur­ D. J. Mabberly. Cambridge University quist, A. 1981. An Integrated System purea). Aronson celebrates the 200th Press, 510 North Ave., New Rochelle, of Classification of Flowering Plants, anniversary of William Withering's NY 10801. 1987. 706 pp. $34.50. Columbia University Press); "Ac­ famous "Account of the Foxglove... " knowledgement of Sources," which in­ with the publication of this volume. This is essentially a dictionary of genera cludes an extensive and useful list of First is a reprint of Withering's classic and families of plants which provides floras and handbooks, plus periodicals; with copious notations from Aronson. quick, concise information on the num­ and general abbreviations and abbrevia­ Second is a thorough account of the ber of species in a genus, common tions of author's names (with dates). history and modem use of this plant names, distribution, economic use, No sense in spending more time drug. synonyms, and often, the most current with zealous accolades. I find this This fascinating chronicle of an botanical publication on a particular book more than useful. I fmd it essen­ exceptionally important medicinal plant plant group. It replaces J.C. Willis's tial. If you deal with or in plants, in is recommended as a resource portray­ Dictionary of the Flowering Plants and whatever form, you will want to have ing at least one medicinal plant as Ferns, last published in this convenient this book. - SF mainstream rather than medieval. "pocket-size" in 1931. -SF

HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 41 BOOK REVIEWS

activity. Those in the Turmeric ttade Healing, continued from page 37- will fmd the review article on this plant of interest Elliot Middleton's review HERBS, SPICES, on the effects of plant flavonoids pro­ philosophy that the origin of all dis­ AND MEDICINAL vides a good overview of how these eases can be traced to subluxations of PLANTS; Recent compounds are utilized in cellular func­ Advances the spine. Further, while praising the In Botany, tions, and their antiviral, antitoxic, general non-invasive philosophy of Horticulture, and metabolic, mutagenic and carcinogenic naturopathy, he laments the former Pharmacology. activities. The extensive review on status of naturopathic education in this Volume 3. Centella asiatica reveals a good deal of country, acknowledging that it has im­ interesting pharmacological data, espe­ proved in the past few years. cially from India's scientific literature. I recommend this book without Akos Mathe's article on medicinal plant reservation to anyone in the health food introduction should be required reading and herb industries who is interested in for all in the herb trade. the subject of natural healing, and also As the editors state in their preface, to health professionals and those anti­ Lyle E. Crolcer and James E. Simon, "Those desiring either general informa­ Eds. Oryx Press, 2214 North Central health fraud and anti-quackery activists tion or specific details, related to as­ who often summarily dismiss alterna­ at Encanto, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1483. pects of crop production, ecology, tive healing techniques as unscientific 220 pp. $69.50. chemistry, pharmacology, and medical and without a valid foundation. -MB '.· his is the third. volume . in the . application of herbs, spices, and me­ welcome revtew senes covenng dicinal plants will fmd this volume of all aspects of the title matter. the review series especially useful." The release of these annual volumes is If you are involved in production, becoming an awaited event in the natu­ product development, or research, you ral products literature, as each volume should keep this, and the two previous is full of useful infonnation from re­ volumes of the series, within arm's Natural Products ---­ searchers the world over. length of your desk. - SF continued (;om page 38 This year's release contains seven articles. 1) Culinary Herbs and Spices safety and efficacy. I have pulled the of Finland, by Seija Halva; 2) Pharma­ Pharmacy ------­ book off the shelves several times, cokinetics of Polyphenolic Compounds, continued from page 39 only to find important natural prod­ by T. Adzet and J. Camarasa; 3) The will affect many sincere and well­ ucts absent. One wonders, for ex­ Biochemical Basis of the Hypoglyce­ meaning health professionals who, un­ ample, why Echinacea is not in the mic Effects of Some Plant Extracts, by fortunately, have not had adequate nu­ book, while the authors have devoted Meir Perl; 4) Advances in the Agron­ tritional training in medical school. space to 'White Cohosh," rarely, if omy and Production of Turmeric in In­ This book can be considered an in­ ever, used as a natural product, dia, by G.S. Randhawa and R.K. dispensible addition to any medical though sometimes encountered in Mabey; 5) Plant Flavonoid Effects on cases of poisoning from ingestion of Mammalian Cell Systems, by Elliot doctor's post-graduate education, and should be required reading for all medi­ the fruits. The answer probably lies Middleton, Jr.; 6) Clinical Applications in the fact that the latter is a subject of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., by Theo­ cal and pharmacy students as well. Not of a monograph in the junior author's dore Kartnig; and 7) An Ecological to mention every Jewish Mother or Lawrence Review of Natural Prod­ Approach to Medicinal Plant Introduc­ Grandmother who wants to add to her ucts, while the former is not tion, by Alms Mathe. arsenal of home remedies that already Clinicians will be disappointed that The article on culinary herbs and includes the formidable and all-purpose the "clinical notes" generally include a spices of Finland provides an interest­ Chicken Soup. In an era when the term summary of intended use, effects, and ing overview of that country's medici­ "preventive medicine" is becoming in­ toxicological notes. A health-care prac­ nal and flavoring herb resources and creasingly popular, the true value of titioner who wants to find information production techniques. The article on this book emerges when it is read by on dosage for a patient who insists on polyphenolic compounds provides de­ using one of these natural products will tails on the pharmacokinetics of pol­ the health consumer, who then might avoid the need to see a doctor or phar­ be disappointed with the lack of ttuly yphenols common as secondary practical clinical facts. macist, and, instead, go directly to The metabolites in plants, including pheno­ As a vade mecum for the health­ lic acids, flavonoids, tannins, and an­ Food PluJrmacy.- SF care professional interested in natural thraquinones. Hypoglycemic effects of products, this reference falls short. As plants in folk medicine has been a ma­ a welcome, useful, conservative survey jor natural products research interest for and sampler of natural products medi­ some time now, and Meir Perl's review cine, this book is the flfSt I have found on the subject helps provide a clearer that I can recommend with confidence understanding of the mechanisms of to orthodox medical clinicians. - SF plant compounds with hypoglycemic

Page 42- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989 CONFERENCE REPORTS

Congress, continued from page 16 ------

fungi, algae and lichens. Several such papers were presented Phytophlhera parasiJica. Some polysaccharides, especially at this congress, including the following. glucans, are known to exhibit antitumor activity, and this re­ Knaus and Wagner report that various polysaccharides of search sttongly supports the belief that that activity is due to plant and animal origin have been found showing both inhib­ the effects on the immune system. The research showed that itory and stimulant activity on the human complement system the glucan had no direct toxic effects against tumor cells, and (a part of the immune system concerning non-specific re­ that the antitumor activity could be inhibited by cyclosporin A sponse). "Highly sulfated polysaccharides from lichens and - a commonly used immunosuppressanL Another interesting algae showed a significant activating influence of about 100% observation is that pretreatment with the glucan was effective activation." In contrast, neutral polysaccharides from animals as well as treatment after a tumor had been introduced, proba­ or higher plants exhibited anticomplementary activity. A third bly indicating a protective effect against tumor formation. group of polysaccharides including those from Arnica montana Another important area of natural products research is in showed both kinds of activity on the complement system. antihepatotoxic agents (compounds which prevent or treat liver Houvinen et al. isolated various polysaccharide fractions toxicity). Dr. Wagner and his prolific Institute of Pharmaceu­ from lichens also with significant effects on complement activ­ tical Biology at the Univ. of Munich are active in this research ity. The authors comment, "Most of the common antitumor as well. Research by Wong, Wagner et al. showed two types agents are immunosuppressive. Preliminary results showed of compounds to be major antihepatotoxic components of the that some of the lichen polysaccharide fractions may have im­ popular Chinese medicines Rehmannia glutinosa and Cassia munosuppressive effects by decreasing classical an

Honest Herbal, continued from page 36 ------

syndrome" in long-term users. are few financial incentives for pharmaceutical companies or As Professor Tyler is aware, the Siegel study was not research centers to investigate therapeutic uses of herbs if "scientific"- there were no controls established on the pur­ there is no patent protection to help recoup the massive costs ported usage of what the patients ingested; there was no guar­ to be incurred in getting new drug approval from FDA. Sort antee that they were actually using verified ginseng products. of a catch-22 situation that Tyler has publicly lamented in Tyler omits Siegel's connection of the overuse of caffeine some of his own speeches and articles. with ginseng by some of the respondents of the survey. In Readers might be disappointed that the book does not other words, without getting into a critique of the Siegel contain an index, but it is quite easy to fmd information on study in this review, this is an example where the author each herb, making the need for such an index excusable. makes evaluations of a product based on what is supposedly What's more, one of the most interesting features of The New "scientific" support, when in fact the study was not scientific. Honest Herbal is the table at the back in which the author Throughout the book, Tyler continally notes that without summarizes the herb name, the part used, its principal uses, clinical evidence, he cannot recommend this herb or that pros and cons with respect to each herb's "apparent efficacy" one-that there is often a lack of scientific evidence of an and "probable safety" with a plus or minus sign in the appro­ herb's efficacy. Yet he is also well aware, having himself priate column. As a response to some of his more intense crit­ published on this subject, that the lack of scientific research ics, a review of this section will reveal that there are many into some of the more commonly used herbs is not necessarily more pluses than minuses, which should indicate that, in gen­ a result of lack of efficacy-it is more a mauer of medical eral, the author is still "pro-herb."- MB economics. In fact, some of the herbs for which proof of ef­ ficacy does not exist, simply have not been researched. There

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HerbaiGram No. 18/19- Faii19881Winter 1989- Page 45 Summary of Back Issues

Ongoing Market Report, Research Reviews (glimpses of studies published in over a dozen scientific and technical journals), Access, Book Reviews, calendar, Legal and Regulatory, Herb Blurbs and Potpoum columns.

#1- Summer 83 (4 pp.) Eucalyptus Repels Aeas, Stones #13- Summer 87 (Number 13). (16 pp.) The Economic Sig­ Koalas; FDA arc Panel Reviews Menstrual & Aphrodisiac Herbs; nificance of Herbs; Swedish Court Ruling in Evening Primrose Oil; Tabasco Toxicity?; Garlic Odor Repels Deer; and more. Court Nixes FDA DALS; Society for Economic Botany Symposium on #1- FaD/Winter 83-84 (8 pp.) Appeals Court Overrules the Investigation of Folk Medicine; Ginseng Anti-aging Effect; Im­ FDA on Food Safety; FDA Magazine Pans Herbs; Beware of Bay mune-enhancing Effects of Ginseng; Anti-ulcer Activity of Germander; Leaves; Tiny Tree: Cancer Cure?; Comfrey Tea Recall; plus. ·saikosaponin For Kidney Disease; Native Plant Survey Being Con­ #3 - Spring 84 (8 pp.) Celestial Sells to Kraft; Aowers and ducted; Mesquite Pods: Future Food?; and more. Dinosaurs Demise?; Citrus Peels for Kitty Litter; Saffron; Antibacterial #14- Fall87 (Number 14). (16 pp.) Celestial Seasonings Sold Sassafras; WHO Studies Anti-fertility Plants; Chinese Herbal Drugs; to Lipton, Inc.; Anit-diabetic Effect of Ginseng; NOV A Airs ''The Feverfew Migraines; Ginseng as Cash Crop; and more. Hidden Power of Plants"; Botanist Duke Profiled in Washington Post; #4- November 84 (Vol. 1, #4). (12 pp.) Rebuttal to FDA Chaparral and Mosquito Longevity; Mood-elevating Bananas; Special Article; Medicinal Effects of Eggplant Leaves; Ayurvedic Medicine for Report on Herbal Data Bases; Ethnobiology Update; An Emerging Sciatica & Arthritis; Coffee and Iron Absorption; Synthetic Garlic; Science of Varying Specialities; and more. Lethal Chocolate Chips; Alternative Approaches to Gout; plus. #15- Winter 88 (Number 15). (24 pp.) Major Herb Confer­ #S- Spring 8S (Vol. 2, #1). (12 pp.) FDA Sues GNC; Herbal­ ence in Thailand; Export control of Ladyslipper; Canada Bans Comfrey iCe v.s. FDA; Herb Traders Beware; Onions & Hypoglycemic Com­ Leaf; Tea Tannins Reduce Cholesterol; Feverfew for Physicians; pound; Fenugreek Reduces Insulin Need?; Black Walnut Repels Fleas; Gingko Makes Big News; Licorice Retards Tooth Decay; Lomatium­ Psyllium Allergy; Willow Tree Rooting Compound; Yohimbine for Herbal Viricide?; Neem Extract- Natural Pesticide; Search for Anti­ Sexual Therapy; Parsley Reviewed; The Sciences of Herbs; Soothing Cancer Plants Funded by NCI; Digitalis Depressing?; EPA Permits Use Chamomile; Eleuthero & the Liver; and more. of Herbicide Alachlor; APHAEstablishes arc Committee; and more. #6- Summer 8S (Vol. 2. #2). (12 pp.) Desert Plants for Fu­ #16- Spring 88 (Number 16). (24 pp.) Farnsworth Joins HRF ture Foods?; Hispanic Folk Medicines; Ginger for Motion Sickness; Advisory Board; AHPA Standards Committee Making Progress; FDA Ipecac Abuse; Toxic Clove Cigarettes; New Herbal Sweetener; Chilies Rules on GRAS Substances; Fresh Ginger Juice in Treatment of & Ulcers; Milk Thistle Extracts; Ginseng for Liver Damage; plus. Kitchen Burns; King Tut and the Spice of Afterlife; "CocoDent"; Gin­ #7- Fall85 (Vol. 2, #3). (12 pp.) Fund for Herb Safety Re­ seng/Ethnobiology Conference Reports; Interview- Dr.I.I. Brekhman; view; Scullcap Substitution; Therapeutic Gingko Trees; Ginseng & Rain Forest Update; New Tool in Antibiotic Arsenal; Valerian Effec­ Potency; Dahlia as New Sweetener; Herbal Cures for Heroin & tiveness; Fungal Studies; More Polysaccharides; Recent Research on Opium; American Ginseng Harvest; Jojoba vs.IRS; Aromatherapy for Ginseng; Heart Peppers; Yew Continues to Amaze; Licorice O.D. Stress; Bloodroot in Oral Hygiene; and more. Prevention; Ginseng in Perspective; Poisonous Plants Update; Medici­ #8- Winter 86 (Vol. 2. #4). (12 pp.) Call for Government­ nal Plant Conservation Project; 1989 Oberly Award Nominations; sponsored Natural Drug Research, by Dr. Jim Duke; Ginseng & Agen­ Trends in Self-Care Conference; License Plates to Fund Native Plant ing; Chinese Herbs Treat Altitude Sickness; Sweet Wormwood for Manual; and more. Malaria; Feverfew for Arthritis?; Coca Leaf Tea; and more. #17 - Fall 88 ( Number 17). (24 pp.) Sarsaparilla, A Litera­ #9- Spring 86 (Vol. 3, #1). (12 pp.) Canadian Expert Panel ture Review by Christopher Hobbs; Hops May Help Metabolize Tox­ Makes Herb Use Recommendations; Herbal Bibliographic Service; ins; Herbal Roach Killer; Epazote Getting More Popular; Aloe Market Methods in Phytochemistry; Valerian's Value; Feverfew Fever; Faulty Levels Off; Herbal Tick Repellent?; Chinese Herb Products Regulated; Herbal "Scare" Articles; Juicy Jabornadi; and more. Recommended Celestial Seasonings lndependant Again; Texas Botanical Garden; Plant Reading Reprints: "Medicinal Plants in Therapy": by Professor Nor­ Invaders; Interview with Professor H. Wagner; Research on Herbal man R. Farnsworth; "Herbal Water Purification?" by Dr. Jim Duke. Cancer Remedies; New Tool in Antibiotic Arsenal; Antiviral Alkaloids #10- Summer/FaD 86 (Vol. 3, #2). (16 pp.) Major FDA Inhibit AIDS Virus; Neurological Disease from Plant Seeds; All About Policy Shift on Herbs; Chemobyl Limits Supplies, Raises Prices; lndoles; Huh? Lizard's Tale?; Sedative Peanut Leaves; Cardiac Benefits Garlic Studied for Obesity & Meningitis; Guar Gum for Diabetes; of Tienchi Ginseng; Antitumor Effects of Sophora; Anti-aging For­ Tumor Inhibitor in Licorice; Anti-cancer Effect of Mistletoe and Tur­ mula; Chinese Arthritis Treatment; Kava Covered in Two Newspapers; meric; and more. Special Report: Overview of Spice Marketing. Gin Ads Reveal Herbal Ingredients; High Aying Wild Aowers; Tradi­ #11- Winter 87 (Number 11). (16 pp.) Plant Drugs in the tional Medicine of China, Vietnam Covered; Forest Watch; Herb Indus­ 21st Century; Biologists Race to Save Tropical Rain Forests; Natural try Adopts Lady's Slipper Resolution; and more. Blood Thinners; Chinese Antitumor Plants; Herbal Gout Remedy for Severe Cirrhosis; Banana Peel for Plantar's Warts; $2.68 Million for Plant Cancer Cures; and more. #12- Spring 87 (Number 12). (16 pp.) Ayurveda, the Tradi­ tional Herbal Medicine of India; Thai Medicinal Plants; Herbal Dream Inducer; Mexican Vanilla Revisited; Eleuthero and Soviet Athletes; Ginseng Growing Grows; and more.

Page 46- HerbaiGram No. 18119- Faii19881Winter 1989 SUPPORT HERBAL HRFADVISORYBOARD -, RESEARCH Dr. Glenn Appelt Profess« of PlumDacology WITH A TAX DEDUCTIBLE MEMBERSHIP Dr. Jolm A. Beutler IN THE Natural Products Clemist Dr. Robert A B,e, Jr. HERB RESEARCH FOUNDATION Professor of Elbnoboamy Dr. Subhuti Dhannananda The Herb Research Foundation is a non-profit research and educa­ Director. IDstiblte for tional organization dedicated to raising funds for research, and providing Tnldiljnnat MediciDe Dr. Jacs A Duke reliable research data to members, the public, and the press. We believe Plant Taxonomist there is a great potential for encouraging and directing research on Dr. Norman R. Famswordl common botanicals, and increasing the quality of information available Research Professor of on herbs as medicines, foods, and cosmetics. Pharmacognosy Dr. Richard L Ford HERBALGRAM Profess« of Edmobolany Members receive HerbalGram, the official publication of the Herb Research Dr. Hsriet Kuhnlein Foundation. Herbal Gram presents reviews of research from the world's technical Professor of Nuaition press, follows legal events involving herbal products, and reports on media coverage Dr. Walltz Lewis of herbs. Members can access in-depth information on herbs through low-cost HRF Professm of Biolo&Y literature searches. Dr. Albert Leung STRUCTURE Plamacognosist The Herb Research Foundation is an independent non-profit organization supported Dr. Ara Der Manbosian by grants and memberships, governed by an independent Board of Directors, and Professor of Pbarmacogoosy guided by an advisory board that includes some of the world's leading plant re­ Dr. c. Dwayne Ogzewalla searchers and educators. Professor of Pharmacognosy Dr. James Ruth OBJECTIVES Professor of Medical~ • To encourage and support research on herbal folk medicines, herbal teas, and other Dr. E. John Staba herbal products. Professor of Pbarmacoposy • To publish and disseminate accurate research information to other researchers and Dr. Vano B. Tyla' the public. Professm of Pharmacoposy • To provide a forum for discourse and cooperation between herbalists, physicians, health food advocates, and scientists. Dr. Phil Weber • To serve as a reliable source of information on medicinal plants and herbal prod­ Medical Doctor ucts for the public and the press. Dr. Andrew Weil • To form a liaison between the American herbal movement, and the worldwide Medical Doctor scientific community. ~ V ' YES, I want to support herbal research and get 4 quarterly Issues of Herba/Gram. Name ______

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