Medicinal Plant Drugs: Astringents, Flavonoids, Mucilage, Starch, Saponins and Bitters

Astringent Drugs

Gallae, Quercus infectoria, Fagaceae – use: astringent (in mouth)

Rathaniae radix, Krameria triandra, Krameriaceae – use: astringent (in mouth)

Quercus cortex, Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Fagaceae – use: astringent (hemorrhoids)

Hamamelidis folium, Hamamelis virginiana, Hamamelidaceae – use: astringent (skin)

Agrimoniae herba, Agrimonia eupatoria, Rosaceae – use: astringent (skin)

Bistortae radix, Polygonum bistorta, syn. Bistorta major, Polygonaceae – use: astringent

Tormentillae radix, Potentilla erecta, Rosaceae – use: astringent

Flavonoids

Crataegi folium cum flore, Crataegus laevigata, Rosaceae – use: cardiac insufficiency

Betulae folium, Betula pendula, Betulaceae – use: diuretic

Equiseti herba, Equisetum arvense, Equisetaceae – use: diuretic

Verbasci flos, Verbascum densiflorum, Scrophulariaceae – use: antitussive

Tiliae flos, Tilia cordata, Tiliaceae – use: diaphoretic in feverish infection

Rutae herba, Ruta graveolens, Rutaceae – use: isolation of rutin

Sambuci flos, Sambucus nigra, Caprifoliaceae – use: diaphoretic in feverish infection

Auranti amari epicarpium et mesocarpium, Citrus aurantium ssp. amara, Rutaceae – use: digestive

Mucilage

Tiliae flos, Tilia cordata, T. platyphyllos, Tiliaceae – use: diaphoretic in feverish infection

Althaeae folium, Althaea officinalis, Malvaceae – use: antitussive

Farfarae folium, Tussilago farfara, Asteraceae – use: antitussive

Althaeae radix, Althaea officinalis, Malvaceae – use: antitussive

Lini semen, Linum usitatissimum, Linaceae – use: laxative

Swelling index: The volume (in millilitres) occupied by 1 gram of a drug, including any adhering mucilage, after it has swollen in an aqueous liquid for 4 hours.

Starch

Amylum solani, Solanum tuberosum, Solanaceae – use: in pharmaceutical technology

Amylum tritici, Triticum aestivum, Poaceae – use: in pharmaceutical technology

Amylum oryzae, Oryza sativa, Poaceae – use: in pharmaceutical technology

Amylum maydis, Zea mays, Poaceae – use: in pharmaceutical technology

***Use: In mucilage form it is used as a skin emollient, as a basis for some enemas and as an antidote in the treatment of iodine poisoning.

Iodine test solution: dark blue colour, I₃^- embedded in amylose helix.

Inulin

Taraxaci radix, Taraxacum officinale, Asteraceae – use: choleretic, digestive ++

Molisch’s test: α-naphthol + H₂SO₄ = violet colour

Saponins

Liquiritiae radix, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Fabaceae – use: tea flavourant, expectorant; treatment of peptic ulcer

Primulae radix, Primula veris, P. elatior, Primulaceae – use: expectorant, diuretic

Quillajae cortex, Quillaja saponaria, Quillajaceae – use: natural soap – historically

Polygalae radix, Polygala senega, Polygalaceae – use: expectorant

Herniariae herba (Herniary), Herniaria glabra, Caryophyllaceae – use: diuretic

***

Determination of Foaming Index / Foaming Value

Saponins create a foam in water solutions depending on their structure (length and number of glycosidic chains attached to the aglycone). The relative content of saponins can be correlated to this foaming ability. The foam index is determined by measuring the height of the foam produced by the equivalent of 1 g of herbal drug under standard test conditions.

Bitterness

Gentianae radix, Gentiana lutea, Gentianaceae – use: amarum

Absinthii herba, Artemisia absinthium, Asteraceae – use: amarum

Centaurii herba, Centaurium erythraea, Gentianaceae – use: amarum

Condurango cortex, Marsdenia condurango, Apocynaceae – use: amarum

Marrubii herba, Marrubium vulgare, Lamiaceae – use: amarum

Bitterness value: The reciprocal of the dilution that still has a bitter taste, determined by comparison with quinine hydrochloride (200 000 B.V.).