Centaurea cyanus

Centaurea cyanus, Compositae or Asteraceae, Cnicine or centaurin (bitter agent), cyanidin (glycoside)
Centaurea cyanus, Compositae or Asteraceae, Cnicine or centaurin (bitter agent), cyanidin (glycoside)Centaurea cyanus, Compositae or Asteraceae, Cnicine or centaurin (bitter agent), cyanidin (glycoside)Centaurea cyanus, Compositae or Asteraceae, Cnicine or centaurin (bitter agent), cyanidin (glycoside)Centaurea cyanus, Compositae or Asteraceae, Cnicine or centaurin (bitter agent), cyanidin (glycoside)Centaurea cyanus, Compositae or Asteraceae, Cnicine or centaurin (bitter agent), cyanidin (glycoside)
Botanical Nomenclature Centaurea cyanus
Common Name Cornflower
Taxonomy- Family Compositae or Asteraceae
Distinguishing Features of the Plant Centaurea cyanus is an annual, herbaceous plant growing from 30 to 60cm, with blue flowers. The narrow leaves are pinnate at the base and lanceolate at the top. The flowering and the harvesting take place from June to August
Region Found Epirus
Part of the Plant with Active Substances Flowers
Active Substances Cnicine or centaurin (bitter agent), cyanidin (glycoside)
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications The whole plant is recommended as diuretic and orexigenic, due to its bitter taste. Also, it is administered in the tired eyes in the form of a soothing lotion and in the form of eye drops against conjunctivitis. The blue flowers are used for the preparation of herbal teas as coloring agent. In folk medicine, the plant is also recommended as antirheumatic, antitussive, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue and laxative.
Method of Administration The plant is administered in the form of eye drops, soothing ointment and poultice, mostly againt eye diseases.
Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions.
Toxicity- Adverse Effects No side effects are reported.
References 1) Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 217-218 2)http://advances.nutrition.org/content/2/1/32.full.pdf+html 3)Herbal Extracts & Phytochemicals:Plant Secondary Metabolites & the Enhancement of Human Brain Function, David Kennedy, Emma Wightman 4)http://www.valentine.gr/linkOfTheMonth_gr-august2004.php 5)http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Centaurea+cyanus 6)http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/cornf102.html