| Botanical Nomenclature |
Tilia cordata |
| Common Name |
Littleleaf Linden, Small-Leaved Lime, Small-Leaved Linden |
| Taxonomy- Family |
Tiliaceae |
| Distinguishing Features of the Plant |
Tilia cordata is a deciduous tree growing from 15 to 40m, with heart-shaped, wavy leaves and yellow flowers in inflorescences. The flowering and the harvesting of flowers take place from June to July, while the harvesting of the bark takes place in winter. |
| Region Found |
Epirus |
| Part of the Plant with Active Substances |
Flowers, bark |
| Active Substances |
The flowers contain essential oil (farnesol), glycosides, quersitrosides, tannins, mucus, while the bark contains polyphenols and coumarins. |
| Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications |
The flowers' infusion is used as diaphoretic, spasmolytic and antitussive. The herbal tea made from the bark is used as cholagogue and antirheumatic, while that made from the flowers is used for the treatment of cough, fever, runny nose, neuralgia and stress. The whole plant has soothing, emollient, diuretic and antipyretic properties, and it is recommended against atherosclerosis and hypertension as it relaxes blood vessels and reduces blood pressure. Finally, it is administered against the abdominal pain. |
| Method of Administration |
The plant is administered as antitussive, antipyretic and soothing in the form of infusion and herbal tea (2-4g of dried flowers in 1L of boiled water, 2-3 times a day) |
| Toxicity- Adverse Effects |
Skin contact with the plant may cause hives (urticaria). The oral administration may cause allergic reaction and rhinoconjunctivitis. |
| References |
1)Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδα 318-319 2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3178942/ 3)Sabiha Sumbul, Mohd. Aftab Ahmad, Asif Mohd., and Akhtar Mohd. Role of phenolic compounds in peptic ulcer: An overview. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2011, Vol. 3, 3, pp. 361–367. 4)http://www.drugs.com/npp/linden.html 5)http://practicalplants.org/wiki/Tilia_tomentosa 6)http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/t/tilia-tomentosa=silver-lime.php |
 Tilia cordata/1 ) Tilia cordata.jpg "Tilia cordata, Tiliaceae, The flowers contain essential oil (farnesol), glycosides, quersitrosides, tannins, mucus, while the bark contains polyphenols and coumarins.")
 Tilia cordata/2) Tilia cordata.jpg "Tilia cordata, Tiliaceae, The flowers contain essential oil (farnesol), glycosides, quersitrosides, tannins, mucus, while the bark contains polyphenols and coumarins.")
 Tilia cordata/3) Tilia cordata.jpg "Tilia cordata, Tiliaceae, The flowers contain essential oil (farnesol), glycosides, quersitrosides, tannins, mucus, while the bark contains polyphenols and coumarins.")
 Tilia cordata/4) Tilia cordata.JPG "Tilia cordata, Tiliaceae, The flowers contain essential oil (farnesol), glycosides, quersitrosides, tannins, mucus, while the bark contains polyphenols and coumarins.")
 Tilia cordata/5) Tilia cordata.jpg "Tilia cordata, Tiliaceae, The flowers contain essential oil (farnesol), glycosides, quersitrosides, tannins, mucus, while the bark contains polyphenols and coumarins.")
 Tilia cordata/6) Tilia cordata.jpg "Tilia cordata, Tiliaceae, The flowers contain essential oil (farnesol), glycosides, quersitrosides, tannins, mucus, while the bark contains polyphenols and coumarins.")
 Tilia cordata/7 ) Tilia cordata.jpg "Tilia cordata, Tiliaceae, The flowers contain essential oil (farnesol), glycosides, quersitrosides, tannins, mucus, while the bark contains polyphenols and coumarins.")