Helleborus odorus cyclophyllus
Botanical Nomenclature | Helleborus odorus cyclophyllus |
Common Name | |
Taxonomy- Family | Ranunculaceae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Helleborus odorus cyclophyllus is a perennial, herbaceous plant growing up to 30cm, with lobed, green-yellow leaves and white-greenish flowers. The flowering lasts from December to April and the harvesting takes place all year round. |
Region Found | Epirus (Pindos) |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | The whole plant |
Active Substances | Phenols, flavonoids, glycosides (gellebrin, dezglikogellebrin, gellebrigenin), saponins, essential oil |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The whole plant is used as cardiotonic and local anesthetic, due to its high content in cardiac glycosides. In folk medicine it is recommended to stimulate the memory and for the treatment of mental illness, epilepsy and various skin diseases (purulent wounds). It is applied to the scalp in order to reduce the hair loss, to treat the dandruff and to strengthen the hair follicle. |
Method of Administration | The plant is administered as cardio in the form of tablets and ampoules. In folk medicine it is used in the form of herbal tea (a quantity of dried herb in a cup of boiled water, 2-3 times a day) 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 | Attention required as the plant is poisonous, narcotic and toxic to the skin. Plant's consumption may lead to death. |
References | 1)http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874107004953 2)Meenakshi Singh, Neha Singh, P.B. Khare, A.K.S. Rawat, Antimicrobial activity of some important Adiantum species used traditionally in indigenous systems of medicine, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 115, Issue 2, 17 January 2008, Pages 327-329, 3)http://www.academia.edu/3261226/The_effect_of_the_extract_of_rhizome_and_root_of_Hellebore_Helleborus_odorus_W._et_K._on_parameters_of_white_blood_count_and_degree_of_phagocytosis_in_Wistar_rats 4)http://omedicine.info/en/moroznik-pakhuchij-helleborus-odorus-waldst-et-kit.html 5)http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/21861636/Antioxidant_and_antiproliferative_activities_of_Helleborus_odorus_Waldst__&_Kit_H__multifidus_Vis__and_H__hercegovinus_Martinis_ |