Transcript 06. MP and MPM that contain essential oils (sesquiterpene la

Herbs and medical plant
material that contain
essential oils
(sesquiterpene lactones
and aromatic compounds)
Volatile oils (VO) are miscellaneous volatile
organic compounds which are produced in
plants and cause their specific odour.
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They differ entirely in both chemical and
physical properties from fixed oils. VO can be
distilled from their natural sources; they do not
consist of glyceryl esters of fatty acids. Hence,
they do not leave a permanent grease spot on
paper and cannot be saponified with alkalies.
VO do not become rancid as do the fixed oils,
but instead, on exposure to light and air, they
oxidize and resinify.
Chamomillae flores - German chamomile flowers,
Romanae chamomillae flos – Roman chamomile
EuPh (P. 1487)
Chamomilla recutita L. (Matricaria chamomilla L.) German Chamomile
Chamaemelum nobile L. – Rpman chamomile
Family - Asteraceae
Description. Flos Chamomillae consists of conical
flower heads, each bearing a few white ligulate
florets and numerous yellowish orange to pale
yellow tubular or disk florets on conical, narrow
hollow receptacles with a short peduncle; disk
florets are perfect and without a pappus, ray florets
are pistillate, white, 3-toothed and 4-veined;
involucre is hemispherical composed of 20-30
imbricate, oblanceolate and pubescent scales;
peduncles are weak brown to dusty greenish
yellow, longitudinally furrowed, more or less
twisted and up to 2,5 cm long. The odour is
pleasent, aromatic and slighty bitter.
Constituents. Minium 7 ml/kg essential oil (dried drug) of a blue colour due to
Chamazulene (1-15 %). Chamazulene is formed from matricin during steam distillation
of th Chamazulene eoil.
Chamazulene
Matricin
Other major constituents include α-bisabolol and related sesquiterpenes (up to
50 % of the oil).
(+) - α-bisabolol
bisabolol oxide A
Apigenin and related flavonoid glycosides constitute up to 8 %% (dry weight)
of the drug. It contains also amino acids, anthemic acid (biter), coumarins, acetylenes ,
choline, polysaccharide, fatty acids, tannin.
IDENTIFICATION
A. Macroscopic analysis
B. Microscopic analisis
All parts of the flower-heads are covered with numerous small yellow glistening
glandular trichomes. The involucral bracts and paleae have epidermal cells in
longitudinal rows, sclerified at the base and they are covered with conical trichomes,
about 500 μm long,each composed of 3-4 very short base cells and a long, bent,
terminal cell about 20 μm wide.
The corolla of the ligulate flowers consists of papillary cells with cuticular
striations. The ovaries of both kinds of florets have at their base a sclerous ring
consisting of a single row of cells. The receptacle and the ovaries contain small clusters
of calcium oxalate. The pollen grains have a diameter of about 35 μm and are rounded
or triangular with 3 germinal pores and a spiny exine.
C. TLC
Presence of the apigenin and apigenin-7-glucoside
TESTS
Diameter of the flower-heads: maximum 3 per cent of flower-heads have a diameter
smaller than 8 mm.
Deteriorated flower-heads: brown or darkened flower-heads are absent.
Loss on drying (2.2.32) : maximum 11.0 per cent, determined on 1.000 g of the
powdered drug (355) (2.9.12) by drying in an oven at 105 °C for 2 h.
Total ash (2.4.16) : maximum 8.0 per cent.
ASSAY
Carry out the determination of essential oils in herbal drugs (2.8.12). Use 20.0 g of
whole drug, a 500 ml round-bottomed flask, 250 ml of water R as the distillation liquid
and 0.50 ml of xylene R in the graduated tube. Distil at a rate of 3-3.5 ml/min for 3 h.
Uses. German chamomile is stated to possess anti-inflammatory, carminative,
antispasmodic, mild sedative, antiseptic and anticatarrhal properties. Symptomatic
treatment of digestive ailment such as dyspepsia, epigastric bloating, impaired
digestion, and flatulence.
Internally- symptomatic treatment of digestive ailment such as dyspepsia, epigastric
bloating, impaired digestion, and flatulence. Infusions of chamomile flowers have been
used in the treatment of restlessness and mild cases of insomnia due to nervous
disorders. Externally- inflammation and irritation of the skin and mucosa (skin cracks,
bruises, frostbites and insect bites, including irritations and infections of the mouth and
gums, and haemorrhoids).
Carminative, cholagogic,
hypoglycemic species
The drug increases the secretion
of gastric juice improves the
digestion process. Shows antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, and
vitrohinnu
action.
hypoglycemic
Inulae rhizomata et radices –
Elecampane rhizome and root
Inula helenium - Inula, Elecampane, Alant,
Yellow Starwort
Family - Asteraceae
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Habitat. Europe and Asia, along roadsides and
in damp pasture land.
Constituents. 1 to 4% volatile oil, mainly
sesquiterpene lactones, including alantolactone,
isolactone and dihydroalantolactone
(eudesmanolides), alantic and azulene.
The mixture of alantolactone is also known as
helenin or elecampane camphor.
Triterpenoids , as well as sterols and up to 44 %
carbohydrates (inulin) are also present
Alantolactone
Uses. The antiseptic expectorant in bronchial catarrh, whooping cough
(and irritating cough), and bronchits. Elecampane are used for
complaints and problems affecting the respiratory and gastrointestinal
tracts, as well as the kidney and lower urinary tract.
It is active constituent, helenin, has been employed as an antiseptic and
bactericide in pulmonary diseases. Alantolactone is an anthelmintic
remedy. Alanton is used to treat peptic ulcers.
In folk medicine, the drug, is used as a stomatic, carminative, and
cholagogue (bitter substances), as well as a diuretic, vermifuge and in
menstrual complaints.
Absinthii Herba – Wormwood
herb EuPh (P. 3228)
Artemisia absinthium L. Wormwood, Absinth
Family - Asteraceae
 Geographical
distribution.
Europe, Asia and Northern
Africa.
 Constituents. 0,2-1,5 % volotile
oil. The bitter compounds (0,150,4 %) is sesquiterpnoid lactone
absinthin, matricin. Essential oils
components (up to 40 %):
thujone, tujol, sabinil acetate,
ocimene. The drug also contains
tannic acid, resin, etc.
IDENTIFICATION
A. The leaves are greyish or greenish, densely tomentose on both surfaces. The basal
leaves, with long petioles, have triangular or oval bipinnatisect or tripinnatisect
lamina, with rounded or lanceolate segments. The cauline leaves are less segmented and
the apical leaves are lanceolate. The stem of the flower-bearing region is greenish-grey,
tomentose, up to 2.5 mm in diameter and usually with 5 flattened longitudinal grooves.
The capitula are arranged as loose, axillary panicles, inserted at the level of the
lanceolate to slightly pinnatisect leaves; they are spherical to flattened hemispherical, 24 mm in diameter and consist of a grey, tomentose involucre, the outer bracts linear,
inner layer ovate, blunt at the apices with scarious margins, a receptacle with very long
paleae up to 1 mm or more long, numerous yellow, tubular, hermaphroditic florets about
2 mm long and few yellow, ray florets.
B. Diagnostic characters : many T-shaped trichomes with a short uniseriate stalk consisting
of 1-5 small cells, perpendicularly capped by a very long, undulating terminal cell tapering
at the ends; fragments of epidermises with sinuous or wavy walls, anomocytic stomata
(2.8.3) and secretory trichomes each with a short, biseriate, 2 celled stalk and a biseriate
head with 2-4 cells ; fragments of the tubular and ray florets, some containing small cluster
crystals of calcium oxalate ; numerous paleae each composed of a small cell forming a stalk
and a very long, cylindrical and thin-walled terminal cell about 1-1.5 mm long; spheroidal
pollen grains, about 30 μm in diameter, with 3 pores and a finely warty exine ; groups of
fibres, small vessels with spiral and annular thickening, larger vessels with bordered pits and
parenchyma with moderately thickened and pitted walls, from the stem.
C. TLC
Absintin
TESTS
Foreign matter (2.8.2) : maximum 5 per cent of stems with a diameter greater than 4
mm and maximum 2 per cent of other foreign matter.
Bitterness value (2.8.15) : minimum 10 000.
Loss on drying (2.2.32) : maximum 10.0 per cent, determined on 1.000 g of powdered
drug (355) (2.9.12) by drying in an oven at 105 °C for 2 h.
Total ash (2.4.16) : maximum 12.0 per cent.
Ash insoluble in hydrochloric acid (2.8.1) : maximum 1.0 per cent.
ASSAY
minimum 2 ml/kg of essential oil
Carry out the determination of essential oil in herbal drugs (2.8.12). Use 50.0 g of the
cut drug, a 1000 ml round-bottomed flask and 500 ml of water R as the distillation
liquid. Add 0.5 ml of xylene R in the graduated tube. Distil at a rate of 2-3 ml/min for
not less than 3 h.
Uses. Aromatic bitter to stimulate appetite, for gastrointestinal complaints, diaphoretic
and flavouring agent. Medicines: bitter tincture, tincture, appetising and cholagogue
herbal collections.
Millefolii Herba – Yarrow herb, EuPh (P.3243)
Achillea millefolium L.- Yarrow, Milfoil,
Thousand-leaf
Family - Asteraceae
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Habitate. North America, Europe and Asia.
Constituents. VO is minimum 2 ml/kg ,
proazulenes, expressed as chamazulene:
minimum 0,02 %. Numerous identified
components include borneol, bornyl acetate,
camphor, 1,8-cineole, eucalyptol, limonene,
sabinene, terpinen-4-ol, terpineol and αthujone, caryophyllene, achillicin, achillin,
millefin (sesquiterpene lactone), azulene
and chamazulene (sesquiterpene lactonederived) and isoartemisia ketone. The
azulene are not present in fresh herb: they
are formed as artefects during steam
distillation of the oil, from unstable
precursors called proazulenes.
Amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids,
caffeic acids, folic acids, resinous, bitter
substance called iwin, tannins, flavonoids
(apigenin, luteolin) etc.
IDENTIFICATION
A. The leaves are green or greyish-green, faintly pubescent on the upper surface and
more pubescent on the lower surface, 2-3 pinnately divided with linear lobes and a
finely pointed whitish tip. The capitula are arranged in a corymb at the end of the stem.
Each capitulum, 3-5 mm in diameter, consists of the receptacle, usually 4-5 ligulate rayflorets and 3-20 tubular disk-florets. The involucre consists of 3 rows of imbricate
lanceolate, pubescent green bracts arranged with a brownish or whitish, membranous
margin. The receptacle is slightly convex and, in the axillae of paleae, bears a ligulate
ray floret with a three-lobed, whitish or reddish ligule and tubular disk-florets with a
radial, five-lobed, yellowish or light brownish corolla. The pubescent green, partly
brown or violet stems are longitudinally furrowed, up to 3 mm thick with a lightcoloured medulla.
B. Reduce to a powder (355) (2.9.12). The powder is green or greyish-green. Examine
under a microscope, using chloral hydrate solution R. The powder shows the following
diagnostic characters : fragments of the stems, leaves and bracts bearing very rare
glandular trichomes with a short stalk and a head formed of 2 rows of 3-5 cells
enclosed in a bladder-like membrane and uniseriate covering trichomes consisting of 46 small, more or less isodiametric cells at the base and a thick-walled, often somewhat
tortuous terminal cell, about 400 μm to greater than 1000 μm long; fragments of the
ligulate corolla with papillary epidermal cells ; small-celled parenchyma from the
corolla tubes containing cluster crystals of calcium oxalate ; groups of lignified and
pitted cells from the bracts ; spherical pollen grains, about 30 μm in diameter.
C. To 2.0 g of the powdered drug (710) (2.9.12) add 25 ml of ethyl acetate R, shake for
5 min and filter. Evaporate to dryness on a water-bath and dissolve the residue in 0.5 ml
of toluene R (solution A). To 0.1 ml of this solution add 2.5 ml of
dimethylaminobenzaldehyde solution R8 and heat on a water-bath for 2 min. Allow to
cool. Add 5 ml of light petroleum R and shake the mixture vigorously. The aqueous
layer shows a blue or greenish-blue colour.
D. TLC
Test solution. Use solution A prepared in identification test C.
Reference solution. Dissolve 10 mg of cineole R and 10 mg of guaiazulene R in 20 ml
of toluene R.
TESTS
Foreign matter (2.8.2) : maximum 5 per cent of stems with a diameter greater than 3
mm and maximum 2 per cent of other foreign matter.
Loss on drying (2.2.32) : maximum 12.0 per cent, determined on 0.500 g of powdered
drug (355) (2.9.12) by drying in an oven at 105 °C for 2 h.
Total ash (2.4.16) : maximum 10.0 per cent.
Ash insoluble in hydrochloric acid (2.8.1) : maximum 2.5 per cent.
ASSAY
Essential oil. Carry out the determination of essential oils
in herbal drugs (2.8.12).
Proazulenes. To ensure that as little water as possible is transferred, transfer the blue
essential oil-xylene mixture obtained in the assay of essential oil into a 50 ml
volumetric flask with the aid of small portions of xylene R, rinsing the graduated tube of
the apparatus with xylene R and dilute to 50.0 ml with the same solvent. Measure the
absorbance (2.2.25) at 608 nm using xylene R as the compensation liquid.
Calculate the percentage content of proazulenes, expressed
as chamazulene, using the following expression :
i.e. taking the specific absorbance of chamazulene to be 23.8.
A = absorbance at 608 nm;
m = mass of the drug to be examined, in grams.
Uses. Yarrow is stated to possess stomatic , carminative and cholagogue, diaphoretic,
astrigent, diuretic and urinary antiseptic properties.
Armatic bitter, diaphoretic and emmenagogue.
Medicines- rotocan, vundekhil, appetising, laxative, hypotensive collections, tincture,
liquid extract. Ungentum Vundehin. Rotocan.
Arnicae Flores - Arnica flower
Arnica montana- Arnica, EuPh
Asteraceae
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Habitat. Mountains and meadows of
Europe.
Constituents. Contains up to 0,8% of
sesquiterpene lactones- the main is
helenalin, 11,13-dihydrohelenalin d their
esters with organic acids. In 1970 from
leaves and flower heads of arnica
arnifolin was extracted, it has tonic
action on womb muscles. Ether oil has a
golden colour.
Uses. Medicines have haemostatic,
cholagogue, antisclerotic, irritating and
bacteriostatic action. In high amounts
remedies have sedative properties.
Tincture and infusion are used externally
to treat skin disorders, trophic ulcers,
burns and frostbites.
MP and MPM containing
aromatic ether oils
Anisi vulgaris Fructus Anisi Oleum
Anisum vulgare- Anise
Apiaceae
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Habitat. Asia Minor, Greece and Egypt,
Southern Ukraine.
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Constituents. Up to 6% of volatile oil
containing anethol; fixed oils, etc.
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Uses. Stimulant, carminative and
flavouring agent. Medicines also have
expectorant, antiseptic, bactericide and
antispasmodic actions. Fruits are part of
stomach and ches collections, oil- part
of chest elixir, ammonia-anise drops,
dry mixture from cough, Traskov’s
mixture (antiasthmatic properties), and
remedies- anitos, altalex, strepsilsoriginal, etc.
Foeniculi Fructus
Foeniculi Oleum
Foeniculum vulgare- Fennel
Apiaceae
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Habitat. Southern Europe and
Asia Minor.
Constituents. Up to 6.5% of
Oleum Foeniculi containing
anethol and fenchone, anise
ether, anise acid, fixed oils, etc.
Uses. Medicines usually have
carminative, spasmolitic,
secretolitic and light sedative
actions. Fruits are part of
Carminative, Sedative and
Laxative collections, ether oilpart of the fennel water, altalex
drops, Traskov’s mixture.
Serpylli Herba – wild thyme herb
Thymus serpyllum-Wild thyme, creeping
thyme
Lamiaceae
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Habitat. Europe and Northern
Asia. Naturalised in eastern North
America, and growing on fields.
Constituents. From 0.15 to
0.6% of VO containing carvacrol
and cymene, bitter principles,
tannins, etc.
Uses. Wild Thyme is employed as
an antispasmodic in the treatment
of whooping-cough, dry nervous
asthma, severe spasms with little
sputum and other respiratory
inflammations, either in the form
of fluid extract, tincture or syrup.
Thymus serpyllum is ingredient of
pertussin, anitos.
Thymi Herba
Thymi Oleum
Thymus vulgaris
Lamiaceae
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Habitat. Southern Europe.
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Constituents. VO, about 2.5%,
containing thymol, carvacrol,
thymine, cymene and l-pinene;
tannins, etc.
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Uses. Antispasmodic, carminative,
stimulant, and condiment; an
ingredient in poultry dressing, in the
flavouring of meat and fish dishes
and soups. Preparations: thyme
fluid extract, thyme syrup.
Thymol is a phenol occurring in large colourless,
transparent crystals or as a white powder having a thyme
odour and a pungent taste. It is used as an anthelmintic (
for hook worm), as an antiseptic and deodorant in mouth
washes and gargles and occasionally as an intestinal
antiseptic. The average daily dose as anthelmintic is 2g.
divided into 3 doses.
Thyme oil is a VO distilled from the flowering plant of
Thymus vulgaris. It is a colourless, yellow or red liquid.
Actions- stimulant, carminative and antiseptic. Oil is part of
camistad-gel (used in dental practice).
Herb extract is ingredient in pertussin, efkamon and
pinosol.
Origani Herba
Origanum vulgare-Pot majoram,
wild majoram
Lamiaceae
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Constituents. VO contain
carvacrol, thymol, free
alcohol and ester.
Uses. The dried herb is
used as a condiment in
flavouring of salads, in the
treatment of whoopingcough and other
respiratory inflammations.
Has cholagogue, diuretic
and diaphoretic actions,
stimulates indigestion,
extract is part of urolesan
which has litholitic
properties.
To treat the kidney stones and gallstones,
urinary diathesis, acute and subacute calculous
pyelonephritis and chronic cholecystitis, biliary
dyskinesia