IDENTIFICATION Macroscopic analysis Microscopic analisis

Herbs and medical plant Herbs and medical plant material that contain material that contain

essential oils essential oils (sesquiterpene lactones (sesquiterpene lactones

and aromatic and aromatic compounds)compounds)

Volatile oils (VO) are miscellaneous Volatile oils (VO) are miscellaneous volatile organic compounds which are volatile organic compounds which are

produced in plants and cause their produced in plants and cause their specific odour.specific odour.

They differ entirely in both chemical and They differ entirely in both chemical and physical properties from fixed oils. VO physical properties from fixed oils. VO can can be distilledbe distilled from their natural sources; they from their natural sources; they do not consist of glyceryl esters of fatty do not consist of glyceryl esters of fatty acids.acids. Hence Hence,, they they do not leavedo not leave a a permanent grease spot on paper and permanent grease spot on paper and cannot be saponifiedcannot be saponified with alkalies. VO with alkalies. VO do do not become rancidnot become rancid as do the fixed oils, but as do the fixed oils, but instead, on exposure to light and air, they instead, on exposure to light and air, they oxidize and resinify.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.

IDENTIFICATIONA.Macroscopic analysisB.Microscopic analisisAll parts of the flower-heads are covered with numerous small yellow glistening glandular trichomes. The involucral bracts and paleae have epidermal cells inlongitudinal 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 cuticularstriations. 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. TLCPresence of the apigenin and apigenin-7-glucosideTESTS 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.ASSAYCarry 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 anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and vitrohinnu action.hypoglycemic

Inulae rhizomata et radices –Elecampane rhizome and root Inula helenium - Inula, Elecampane, Alant, Yellow StarwortFamily - Asteraceae

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, AbsinthFamily - Asteraceae Geographical distribution.

Europe, Asia and Northern Africa.

Constituents. 0,2-1,5 % volotile oil. The bitter compounds (0,15-0,4 %) is sesquiterpnoid lactone absinthin, matricin. Essential oils components (up to 40 %): thujone, tujol, sabinil acetate, ocimene. The drug also contains tannic acid, resin, etc.

IDENTIFICATIONA. The leaves are greyish or greenish, densely tomentose on both surfaces. The basal leaves, with long petioles, have triangular or oval bipinnatisect or tripinnatisectlamina, 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, 2-4 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. TLCAbsintinTESTSForeign 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.ASSAYminimum 2 ml/kg of essential oilCarry 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)Millefolii Herba – Yarrow herb, EuPh (P.3243)Achillea millefolium L.- Yarrow, Milfoil, Achillea millefolium L.- Yarrow, Milfoil, Thousand-leafThousand-leafFamily - AsteraceaeFamily - Asteraceae

Habitate. Habitate. North America, Europe and Asia.North America, Europe and Asia. Constituents. 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 α-thujone, caryophyllene, achillicin, achillin, millefin (sesquiterpene lactone), azulene and chamazulene (sesquiterpene lactone-derived) 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, Amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids, caffeic acids, folic acids, resinous, bitter caffeic acids, folic acids, resinous, bitter substance called iwin, tannins, flavonoids substance called iwin, tannins, flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin) etc.(apigenin, luteolin) etc.

IDENTIFICATIONA. 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 afinely 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 ray-florets 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, partlybrown or violet stems are longitudinally furrowed, up to 3 mm thick with a light-coloured 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 4-6 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. TLCTest 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.TESTSForeign 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.ASSAYEssential oil. Carry out the determination of essential oilsin herbal drugs (2.8.12).

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.

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, expressedas 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.

Arnicae Flores - Arnica Arnicae Flores - Arnica flowerflowerArnica montana- Arnica, Arnica montana- Arnica, EuPh EuPh AsteraceaeAsteraceae

Habitat.Habitat. Mountains and meadows Mountains and meadows of Europe.of Europe.

Constituents. Constituents. Contains up to 0,8% Contains up to 0,8% of sesquiterpene lactones- the main of sesquiterpene lactones- the main is helenalin, 11,13-dihydrohelenalin is helenalin, 11,13-dihydrohelenalin d their esters with organic acids. In d their esters with organic acids. In 1970 from leaves and flower heads 1970 from leaves and flower heads of arnica arnifolin was extracted, it of arnica arnifolin was extracted, it has tonic action on womb muscles. has tonic action on womb muscles. Ether oil has a golden colour.Ether oil has a golden colour.

Uses. Uses. Medicines have haemostatic, Medicines have haemostatic, cholagogue, antisclerotic, irritating cholagogue, antisclerotic, irritating and bacteriostatic action. In high and bacteriostatic action. In high amounts remedies have sedative amounts remedies have sedative properties. properties. Tincture and infusion Tincture and infusion are used externally to treat skin are used externally to treat skin disorders, trophic ulcers, burns and disorders, trophic ulcers, burns and frostbites.frostbites.

MP and MPM containing MP and MPM containing aromatic ether oilsaromatic ether oils

Anisi vulgaris Fructus - Anisi vulgaris Fructus - Anisi Oleum Anisi Oleum Anisum vulgare- AniseAnisum vulgare- Anise Apiaceae Apiaceae

Habitat. Habitat. Asia Minor, Greece and Asia Minor, Greece and Egypt, Southern Ukraine.Egypt, Southern Ukraine.

Constituents. Constituents. Up to 6% of Up to 6% of volatile oil containing anethol; volatile oil containing anethol; fixed oils, etc.fixed oils, etc.

Uses. Uses. Stimulant, carminative and Stimulant, carminative and flavouring agent. Medicines also flavouring agent. Medicines also have expectorant, antiseptic, have expectorant, antiseptic, bactericide and antispasmodic bactericide and antispasmodic actions. Fruits are part of stomach actions. Fruits are part of stomach and ches collections, oil- part of and ches collections, oil- part of chest elixir, ammonia-anise drops, chest elixir, ammonia-anise drops, dry mixture from cough, Traskov’s dry mixture from cough, Traskov’s mixturemixture (antiasthmatic properties), (antiasthmatic properties), and remedies- and remedies- anitos, altalex, anitos, altalex, strepsils-originalstrepsils-original, etc., etc.

Foeniculi Fructus Foeniculi Fructus Foeniculi Oleum Foeniculi Oleum Foeniculum vulgare- FennelFoeniculum vulgare- FennelApiaceaeApiaceae

Habitat. Habitat. Southern Europe Southern Europe and Asia Minor.and Asia Minor.

Constituents. Constituents. Up to 6.5% of Up to 6.5% of Oleum Foeniculi containing Oleum Foeniculi containing anethol and fenchone, anise anethol and fenchone, anise ether, anise acid, fixed oils, ether, anise acid, fixed oils, etc.etc.

Uses. Uses. Medicines usually have Medicines usually have carminative, spasmolitic, carminative, spasmolitic, secretolitic and light sedative secretolitic and light sedative actions. Fruits are part of actions. Fruits are part of Carminative, Sedative and Carminative, Sedative and Laxative collectionsLaxative collections, ether oil- , ether oil- part of the part of the fennel water, fennel water, altalex drops, Traskov’s altalex drops, Traskov’s mixture.mixture.

Serpylli Herba – wild thyme herbSerpylli Herba – wild thyme herbThymus serpyllum-Wild thyme, creeping Thymus serpyllum-Wild thyme, creeping thymethyme LamiaceaeLamiaceae

Habitat. Habitat. Europe and Northern Europe and Northern Asia. Naturalised in eastern Asia. Naturalised in eastern North America, and growing on North America, and growing on fields.fields.

Constituents. Constituents. From 0.15 to From 0.15 to 0.6% of VO containing carvacrol 0.6% of VO containing carvacrol and cymene, bitter principles, and cymene, bitter principles, tannins, etc.tannins, etc.

Uses. Uses. Wild Thyme is employed Wild Thyme is employed as an antispasmodic in the as an antispasmodic in the treatment of whooping-cough, treatment of whooping-cough, dry nervous asthma, severe dry nervous asthma, severe spasms with little sputum and spasms with little sputum and other respiratory inflammations, other respiratory inflammations, either in the form of either in the form of fluid fluid extract, tincture or syrupextract, tincture or syrup. . Thymus serpyllum is ingredient Thymus serpyllum is ingredient of of pertussin, anitos.pertussin, anitos.

Thymi Herba Thymi Herba Thymi Oleum Thymi Oleum Thymus vulgarisThymus vulgarisLamiaceaeLamiaceae

Habitat.Habitat. Southern Europe.Southern Europe.

Constituents.Constituents. VO, about 2.5%, VO, about 2.5%, containing thymol, carvacrol, containing thymol, carvacrol, thymine, cymene and l-pinene; thymine, cymene and l-pinene; tannins, etc.tannins, etc.

Uses. Uses. Antispasmodic, Antispasmodic, carminative, stimulant, and carminative, stimulant, and condiment; an ingredient in condiment; an ingredient in poultry dressing, in the poultry dressing, in the flavouring of meat and fish flavouring of meat and fish dishes and soups. Preparations: dishes and soups. Preparations: thyme fluid extract, thyme thyme fluid extract, thyme syrup.syrup.

Thymol is a phenol occurring in large colourless, Thymol is a phenol occurring in large colourless, transparent crystals or as a white powder having a transparent crystals or as a white powder having a thyme odour and a pungent taste. It is used as an thyme odour and a pungent taste. It is used as an anthelmintic ( for hook worm), as an antiseptic and anthelmintic ( for hook worm), as an antiseptic and deodorant in deodorant in mouth washes and garglesmouth washes and gargles and and occasionally as an intestinal antiseptic. The average occasionally as an intestinal antiseptic. The average daily dose as anthelmintic is 2g. divided into 3 daily dose as anthelmintic is 2g. divided into 3 doses.doses.Thyme oil is a VO distilled from the flowering plant Thyme oil is a VO distilled from the flowering plant of Thymus vulgaris. It is a colourless, yellow or red of Thymus vulgaris. It is a colourless, yellow or red liquid. Actions- stimulant, carminative and liquid. Actions- stimulant, carminative and antiseptic. Oil is part of antiseptic. Oil is part of camistad-gelcamistad-gel (used in dental (used in dental practice).practice).Herb extract is ingredient in Herb extract is ingredient in pertussin, efkamon pertussin, efkamon and and pinosol.pinosol.

Origani Herba Origani Herba Origanum Origanum vulgare-Pot majoram, vulgare-Pot majoram, wild majoramwild majoram

LamiaceaeLamiaceae

Constituents. Constituents. VO VO contain carvacrol, thymol, contain carvacrol, thymol, free alcohol and ester.free alcohol and ester.

Uses. Uses. The dried herb is The dried herb is used as a condiment in used as a condiment in flavouring of salads, in flavouring of salads, in the treatment of the treatment of whooping-cough and whooping-cough and other respiratory other respiratory inflammations. Has inflammations. Has cholagogue, diuretic and cholagogue, diuretic and diaphoretic actions, diaphoretic actions, stimulates indigestion, stimulates indigestion, extract is part of extract is part of urolesanurolesan which has litholitic which has litholitic properties.properties.

To treat the kidney stones and gallstones, urinary diathesis, acute and subacute calculous pyelonephritis and chronic cholecystitis, biliary

dyskinesia