Lupinus albus
Botanical Nomenclature | Lupinus albus |
Common Name | Field Lupine, White Lupin |
Taxonomy- Family | Fabaceae, Leguminosae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Lupinus albus is an annual plant growing from 30 to 120cm, with small, oval leaves and yellow or white flowers. The seeds (Lupins) are oval, flat and there are many species. One variety of Lupins have sweet taste, while those which are cultivated are bitter. The flowering lasts from June to July and the fruiting happens from August to September. |
Region Found | Ioannina (Gramos) |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Seeds, fruits |
Active Substances | Legumin, nitrogen compounds, essential oil, calcium phosphate, magnesium, potassium and iron phosphate, starch, albumin, lipinin, lupinidin, lupinotoxin (bitter agents), conglutin |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The plant has diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, hypoglycaemic and anthelmintic properties. The herbal tea is recommended against rheumatism, rheumatic pain, myalgia and intestinal parasites. It is applied externally to the skin in the form of poultice for the treatment of inflammation, abscesses, boils and arthritis. In folk medicine it is used for the treatment of high blood pressure, hypertension and diabetes. |
Method of Administration | The plant is administered in the form of herbal tea (a spoon of dried herb in a cup of boiled water for 5-10min, 3 times a day). It is applied externally to the skin as anti-inflammatory in the form of poultice made from the fresh plant. 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 | Lupinidin may cause poisoning and a fatal disease called 'lupinosis'. This disease is mainly caused by the livestock species of 'Lupinus arboreus' which grows in western and middle Europe, mainly in Germany and it is used in livestock as sheep feed, which die if they are fed only on Lupinus. |
References | 1)1)Bιβλίο: Τα φαρμακευτικά βότανα και οι θεραπευτικές τους ιδιότητες, Λάμπρου Π. Σπύρου, Αγροτικός εκδοτικός οίκος, Αθήνα 1981, Ά τόμος, σελίδες: 232-234, 2)http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Lupinus+albus 3) http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/l/lupinus-albus=white-lupin.php 4)http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/l/lupins50.html#con 5)http://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/lupinus.html 6)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17317651 |