m e d i c p h y t o i n e s, rbal drug he s, and p o i s o n s

Ben-Erik van Wyk m e d i c p h y t o i n e s, rbal drug he s, and p o i s o n s

Ben-erik van Wyk

Plants have been used to treat disease chemical structures of the active compounds throughout human history. On a clay slab in each. Readers learn, for example, that Aca- that dates back approximately five thou- cia senegal, or gum acacia, is used primarily in sand years, the Sumerians recorded me- Sudan and Ethiopia as a topical ointment to dicinal recipes that made use of hundreds protect the skin and mucosa from bacterial of plants, including poppy, henbane, and and fungal infections, and that Aconitum na- mandrake. During the Middle Ages, monks pellus, more commonly known as aconite, is commonly grew and prescribed plants such used in cough syrups but can be psychedelic as sage, anise, and mint in their monaster- when smoked or absorbed through the skin. ies. And as the market for herbal remedies With 350 full-color photographs featuring and natural medicine grows, we contin- the plants and some of their derivative prod- ue to search the globe for plants and plant ucts, Phytomedicines, Herbal Drugs, and Poisons compounds to combat our various ailments. will be an invaluable reference not only for In Phytomedicines, Herbal Drugs, and Poisons, those in the health care field but also for those Ben-Erik van Wyk offers a richly illustrated, growing their own medicinal herb gardens, scientific guide to medicinal and poisonous as well as anyone who needs a quick answer to plants, including those used for their mind-al- whether a plant is a panacea or a poison. tering effects. Van Wyk covers approximately 300 species—from Aloe vera and Ephedra sinica Ben-Erik van Wyk is professor of botany at the to Cannabis sativa and Coffea arabica—detail- University of Johannesburg. He is the author of ing the botanical, geographical, pharmaco- Culinary Herbs and Spices of the World, also pub- logical, and toxicological data as well as the lished by the University of Chicago Press.

61/4 x 91/4 · 304 pages For a review copy or other publicity inquiries, To place orders in North and South America, 350 color plates please contact: Australia and New Zealand, and East Asia Micah Fehrenbacher ISBN-13: 978-0-226-20491-8 except Japan, please contact your local Uni- Promotions Manager E-book ISBN-13: 978-0-226-20507-6 versity of Chicago Press sales representative The University of Chicago Press Publication date: September 2014 or contact The University of Chicago Press 1427 East 60th Street Cloth: $45.00 by phone at 1-800-621-2736 or by fax at Chicago, IL 60637 Copublished with the Royal 1-800-621-8476. Other rights are restricted. Botanics Gardens, Kew, and Phone: 773-702-7717 Briza Publications Fax: 773-702-9756 E-mail: [email protected] Contents

Preface (page 6) Introduction (page 7) Medicine systems of the world (page 8‐9) Phytomedicines (page 10‐11) Herbal drugs (mind‐altering drugs) (page 12‐13) Plant poisons (page 14‐15) Plant parts used (page 16‐17) Dosage forms (page 18‐19) Methods and routes of administration (pa ges 20‐21) Extraction and isolation of chemical compounds (page 22‐23) Methods of analysis (TLC, GC, HPLC, IR, MS, NMR) (page 24‐25) Quality control and safety (page 26‐27) Pharmacological and toxic effects (page 28‐29) Regulation and legal aspects (page 30‐31) Overview of secondary metabolites (page 32‐37) Alkaloids; non‐protein amino acids; lectins and peptides; cyanogenic glycosides; glucosinolates; mono‐ and sesquiterpenes; sesquiterpene lactones; iridoids; diterpenes; triterpenes; steroids; saponins; cardiac glycosides; tetraterpenes and polyterpenes; phenylpropanoids and phenolic acids; phenols (including alkyl and alkenyl phenols); coumarins and furanocoumarins; lignans; flavonoids; tannins; quinones; polllyacetylenes, polyenes and alkam ides; carbhdbohydrates; small reactive molecules (ethanol, oxalates, organic acids and reactive lactones) Photographic index of plants (pages 38‐279) Glossary (pages 280‐295) Further reading (pages 296‐298) Acknowledgements and photo credits (page 299) Index (pages 300‐304) 5 Abrus precatorius Acacia senegal crab’s eye vine ● coral pea gum acacia ● gum arabic tree

CLASSIFICATION Cell toxin (1a); TM: Africa, Asia. CLASSIFICATION TM: Africa, Europe, Asia (Pharm). USES & PROPERTIES Theattractiveseedsareused USES & PROPERTIES Gum arabic is the tasteless to make necklaces, bracelets and other deco‐ and odourless dried exudate collected from the rative objects. A highly resistant seed coat bark. It is used topically as emollient to ensures that the intact seeds passes harmlessly promote healing and to protect the skin and through the digestive tract. However, when mucosa from bacterial and fungal infections. It seeds are pierced or damaged, the poison is main use in pharmacy is as emulsifier, stabiliser released, causing dermatitis, intoxication and of suspensions and additive for solid formula‐ even death. tions and tablets. ORIGIN Africa, Asia. ORIGIN Africa. Gum is produced in North Africa BOTANY Woody climber; leaves pinnate; flowers and especially in Sudan and Ethiopia. pale purple; pods 4–5‐seeded. BOTANY Tree (to 6 m); thorns in groups of three; CHEMISTRY Abrin (a mixture of four lectins called leaves compound; flowers minute, cream‐ abrina–d,inseeds);abrusosides(sweet‐tasting coloured, in elongated spikes; pods flat, oblong. triterpene saponins, in leaves and roots). CHEMISTRY Gum arabic is a polysaccharide (MW PHARMACOLOGY Abrin: haemagglutinating, inhibi‐ 270000) with arabinose, galactose, D‐glucuro‐ tor of ribosomal protein synthesis. nic acid and L‐rhamnose subunits.

TOXICOLOGY Abrin: LD50 =0.02mg/kg(mouse, PHARMACOLOGY Moisturising, antibiotic and pro‐ i.p.); seeds: lethal dose = 0.5 g (humans, p.o.). tective effect on skin and mucosa. NOTES Fatal cases of poisoning are rare. TOXICOLOGY Non‐toxic (edible).

Abrus precatorius L. (Fabaceae); pois rouge (French); Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. (Fabaceae); acacie gomme ara‐ Paternostererbse (German) bique (French); Verek‐Akazie (German); acacia del Senegal (Italian) 38 Achillea millefolium Aconitum napellus yarrow ● milfoil ● woundwort aconite ● monkshood ● wolfsbane

CLASSIFICATION TM: Asia, Europe (Pharm; Comm. CLASSIFICATION Neurotoxin (1a); mind‐altering; E+). TM (Europe, Asia); MM and homeopathy. USES & PROPERTIES The whole plant (Millefolii USES & PROPERTIES Dilute root tinctures are used herba), flowers (Millefolii flos) or sometimes the in cough syrups and in homoeopathy. Higher essential oil are used for lack of appetite and concentrations (or pure alkaloid) are applied minor dyspeptic complaints. Traditional uses topically to treat rheumatism and neuralgia. include the treatment of arthritis, the common Aconite is a psychoactive drug. In India and cold, fever and hypertension. Internal use: 4.5 g China, some species are used topically for anal‐ of the herb per day, as infusion or tincture (or 3 gesic, antineuralgic, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐ g flowers). External use: 100 g herb in 20 liters pyretic effects. Formerly used for executions, of bath water. murder, suicide and to control vermin (hence ORIGIN Europe and W Asia (widely cultivated). “wolfbane”). BOTANY Perennial herb; leaves compound, ORIGIN Europe (widely cultivated). feathery; flowers white to pink. BOTANY Perennial herb with tuberous rootstock; CHEMISTRY Pyrrolidine alkaloids (betonicine, sta‐ leaves dissected; flowers with colourful sepals. chydrine), flavonoids and essential oil (α‐pine‐ CHEMISTRY Diterpenoid alkaloids (aconitine). ne, camphor, 1,8‐cineole, caryophyllene and PHARMACOLOGY Aconitine stimulates Na+‐chan‐ blue azulenic compounds released from lac‐ nels; peripheral nerve endings are first activa‐ tones (e.g. achillicin) during steam distillation). ted and then paralysed. It is strongly psychede‐ PHARMACOLOGY Antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, lic when smoked or absorbed through the skin. antispasmodic; antipyretic, hypotensive. TOXICOLOGY Aconitine: lethal dose 3–6 mg TOXICOLOGY Low toxicity; may cause dermatitis. (humans).

Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae); millefeuille (French); Aconitum napellus L. (Ranunculaceae); aconit napel Schafgarbe (German); achillea millefoglio (Italian); milen‐ (French); Blauer Eisenhut (German); aconito (Italian); rama (Spanish) acónito (Spanish) 39