LECTURE 2 – Application forms, mode of
administration. Herbal tea preparations.
Dr. Ivana Daňková
Dept. of Natural Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, VFU Brno
PHYTOPHARMACEUTICALS
academic year 2018/19
Plant drugs – terminology
2
Pharmacopoeial names of plant organs:
 radix = root (e.g. Liquiritiae radix, liquorice)
 rhizoma = rhizome (e.g. Zingiberis rhizoma, ginger)
 cortex = bark (e.g. Salicis cortex, willow bark)
 lignum = wood (e.g. Juniperi lignum, Quassiae lignum)
 herba = whole aerial (above-ground) part of plant
= stem + leaves + flowers (e.g. Thymi herba, thyme)
 folium = leaves (e.g. Sennae folium)
 flos = flowers, or inflorescences (e.g. Calendulae flos, marigold flower)
 fructus = fruit (e.g. Anisi fructus, aniseed)
 semen = seed (e.g. Lini semen)
 pericarpium (fructus sine semen) = pericarp (e.g. Aurantii pericarpium
= orange fruit pericarp; Phaseoli fructus sine semen)
Plant drugs terminology
3
 binomial terminology – first part of a drug name is according the plant
(usually name of plant genus or species), second part is according
the plant organ
 Sambucus nigra → Sambuci flos
 Salvia officinalis → Salviae folium
 Mentha piperita → Menthae piperitae folium
 Atropa belladonna → Belladonnae radix
 exceptions:
 one name → Aloe, Lycopodium
 more names → Crataegi folium cum flore
 name of drug is different from plant name →
e.g. Liquiritiae radix (Glycyrrhiza glabra),
Cynosbati fructus (Rosa canina)
Plant drugs terminology
4
 !! older terminology of plant drugs – the opposite order of names of
plant drugs or galenical preparations (in older literature and
pharmacopoeias, e.g.:
 Valerianae radix (now) ↔ Radix valerianae (formerly)
 Salviae officinalis folium (now) ↔ Folium salviae officinalis
(formerly)
 Gentianae tinctura (now) ↔ Tinctura gentianae (formerly)
 Althaeae sirupus (now) ↔ Sirupus althaeae (formerly)
BUT Sirupus simplex
Plant drugs terminology
5
 other terms:
 Etheroleum, etherolea =
essential oils
(e.g. Anisi etheroleum)
 Olea plantarum pinguia (Olea
herbaria) = vegetable fatty oils
(e.g. Helianthi oleum)
 Mucilago = mucilage
(e.g. Acaciae mucilago)
 Oleoresinum, oleoresina =
oleoresin (e.g. Capsici oleoresina)
 Balsamum = balm
(e.g. Balsamum peruvianum)
 Pix = tar
(e.g. Pix lithantracis = coal tar)
 etc.
 names of galenical preparations
 Extractum = extract
 Tinctura = tincture
(e.g. Gentianae tinctura x Tinctura
amara)
 Solutio = solution
(e.g. Lactulosi solutio)
 Sirupus = syrup (e.g. Althaeae
sirupus x Sirupus simplex)
 Spiritus = spirit
(e.g. Spiritus anisi compositus)
 Guttae = drops
 Tabulettae = tablets
 Capsulae = capsules
 Unguentum = ointment
Plant drugs constituents
6
 Chemical constituents of plants:
 active principles = effective constituents, the substances
mainly responsible for the use of the drug
 constituents that can influence the main constituents =
co-effective principles
 dietetically significant components
 auxiliary components
 concomitant components
 ballast components
Biologically active secondary metabolites
7
The most important groups of active constituents:
 alkaloids
 flavonoids and relative compounds
 phenolics, polyphenolics
 saponins
 essential oils (terpenes or phenylpropanoids)
 anthraquinones
 tannins
 bitter principles
 polysaccharides, mucilage…
Alkaloids
 are highly biological active and highly toxic (depending on dose)
 !!! the most of alkaloid drugs are not suitable as
phytopharmaceuticals due to their toxicity – alkaloid drugs
are rather used for isolation of active compounds
 Examples of highly biologically active alkaloids:
 morphine (Papaver somniferum) – analgesic
 codeine (Papaver somniferum) – antitussive
 papaverine (Papaver somniferum) – spasmolytic
 quinine (Cinchona sp.) – antimalarial, analgesic
 emetine (Cephaelis ipecacuanha) – emetic (vomiting)
 atropine (Atropa bella-donna) – parasympatholytic, anticholinergic
 etc.
8
Papaver somniferum, poppy plant
Papaveris fructus
morphine – analgesic
codeine – antitussive
papaverine – spasmolytic
Atropa belladonna, deadly nightshade
Belladonnae folium, B. radix
atropine, scopolamine
– anticholinergic agents
Cinchona pubescens
Cinchonae cortex
quinine
– antimalarial, analgesic
ALKALOID
DRUGS
9
Mode of administration
10
 internal use – orally
 herbal teas
 drops, syrups, aromatic waters, aromatic spirits...
 lozenges (pastilles)
 tablets, capsules
 external use
 inhalation
 on skin – water/alcoholic preparations, ointments,
creams
 compress, bath,...
extraction
with ethanol
Medicinal preparations
Fresh (crude)
plant material
Plant drug
medicinal wines
pressed juices
oil concentrates
ethanolic extracts
tinctures,...
aqueous extracts
(infusion, decoction)
essential oils (distillation)
extraction
with H2O
solid forms
(tablets,
capsules,...)
drying
(lyophilisation)
external use
11
plant material
primary extract
active extract
fractionation
biological tests
isolation, purification
pure active substance
extraction
searching of biologically
active fraction
General procedure for isolation of active principles
12
Herbal tea preparations
13
 Plantae medicinales ad potionem aquosam (ČL 2009) = medicinal
plant drugs for tea preparations
 monocomponent = a herbal medicinal product consisting solely of
one plant drug
 polycomponent = „species“, remedies – consisting of more plant
drugs, optimum 4-6 drugs (maximally 8)
 remedium basis – main component responsible for biological
effect
 remedium adjuvans – a drug that support the effect of the main
component
 remedium corrigens – a drug that influences the taste and smell
 drugs are treated (cut) according to the requirements
 herbal teas are loose or in tea bags
Herbal teas – dosage
14
 tea bags – approx. 1.5-2 g of
treated plant drug or mixture
of drugs (package – usually
20 tea bags in a box)
 usually for internal use – one tea
bag per cup (150-250 mL of
water)
 dosage of loose teas
(package – usually 50/100 g)
 for internal use – teaspoon or
tablespoon per cup
 for external use – to a bath,
as a compress, for inhalation
Herbal teas - monocomponent
15
 monocomponent - a herbal
tea consisting only of one plant
drug
 the name of product according
to the plant drug, in case of
medicinal herbal teas is
necessary also Latin name
of plant drug
 Plantain leaf, Plantain tea,
Plantaginis folium
Herbal teas - polycomponent
16
 polycomponent - a herbal tea
consisting of more plant drugs,
„species“
 herbal tea formulas must
comply with legal requirements
and demonstrate evidence of
quality, efficacy and safety
 the name of product usually
according to the indication/
pharmacological effect of tea
mixture
Herbal teas – polycomponent
17
 Tea for cough
(Megaphyt Pharma)
 Thymi herba
Matricariae flos
Sambuci flos
Tiliae flos
 20 tea bags/1,5 g
 Species Pectorales
(Leros)
 Plantaginis folium
Althaeae radix
Farfarae folium
Menthae piperitae herba
Liquiritiae radix
Verbasci flos
Foeniculi fructus
 loose tea, 100 g
Herbal teas – polycomponent
18
 the name of product sometimes
according to „designed to“ („for who“),
e.g.:
 Herbal tea for women
 Herbal tea for nursing mothers
(lactating women)
 Herbal tea for children
 etc.
Medicinal preparations
19
 Mode of extraction (techniques) – water extracts, tea:
 maceration
 infusion
decoction
 pressing
 distillation (isolation of essential oils)
Medicinal preparations
20
 MACERATION
 solvent: cold/lukewarm water
(at room temperature)!
 in a ratio of drug to water
= usually 5:100
 time of extraction – several hours
(3-12 hours)
 examples of suitable plant drugs
– mucilage drugs,
e.g. Malvae flos, Althaeae folium
Medicinal preparations
21
 INFUSION
 solvent: hot water
 suitable for soft structures
(flowers, leaves, herbs…),
plant drugs with essential oils…
 in a ratio of drug to water
= 2-10 :100
 pour hot (boiling) water over
the plant drug, cover
 time of extraction – usually
(5-) 10-15 (-30) minutes
 pass through a tea strainer
Medicinal preparations
22
 DECOCTION
 solvent: boiling water
 suitable for hard structures
(roots, bark, hard fruits…),
plant drugs containing tannins…
 in a ratio of drug to water =
5-10 :100
 boil (!) the drug with water
 time of extraction – usually
10-15 minutes
 pass through a tea strainer
Comparison between infusion and decoction
INFUSION DECOCTION
Plant material Soft structure (leaves,
flowers,...)
Hard, woody structure
(bark, root,...)
Menstruum (Solvent) Hot/Boiling water Boiling water
Procedure Infusing the drug with hot
water
Boiling the drug with water
Time of extraction Calculated as soon as the
water is added to drug
Calculated as soon as the
water begins to boil
Adjustment of final
volume
No adjustment Adjustment is necessary
Apparatus Infusion earthenware pot Any covered apparatus
Storage Used fresh within 12 hours Used fresh and when
stored in refrigerator used
within few days
23
Extractum, extracta
24
 aqueous/alcoholic extracts:
 liquid (Extractum fluidum) – drug : solvent
= 1:5, 1:10; e.g. Matricariae extractum
fluidum
 semi-solid, paste (Extractum spissum) –
residual solvent 15-25 %
e.g. Capsici acris extractum spissum
normatum
 dry (Extractum siccum) – residual solvent
max. 5 %; e.g. Ginseng extractum siccum
normatum,
Ginkgo bilobae extractum siccum
normatum
 suitable for preparation of drops, syrups
and other application forms (tablets,
capsules,…)
Extract classification in Ph. Eur. (2009)
25
 Standardised extracts
 adjustment to a defined content of a constituent with known
therapeutic activity
 Quantified extracts
 adjustment to a defined range of constituents (active markers)
 active markers are generally accepted to contribute to the
therapeutic activity
 Other extracts
 neither constituents with known therapeutic activity nor active
markers are known
 monographs define a lower limit of a constituent (analytical
marker)
Standardised Extracts in Ph. Eur.
not necessary to know, do not memorize that26
 Aloes extractum siccum normatum
 Belladonnae folii extractum siccum normatum
 Belladonnae folii tinctura normata
 Cinchonae extractum fluidum normatum
 Frangulae corticis extractum siccum normatum
 Hippocastani seminis extractum siccum normatum
 Ipecacuanhae extractum fluidum normatum
 Liquiritiae extractum fluidum ethanolicum normatum
 Myrtilli fructus recentis extractum siccum raffinatum et normatum
 Opii extractum siccum normatum
 Rhamni purshianae extractum siccum normatum
 Rhei extractum siccum normatum
 Sennae folii extractum siccum normatum
 Silybi mariani extractum siccum raffinatum et normatum
Quantified Extracts in Ph. Eur.
not necessary to know, do not memorize that27
 Capsici oleoresina raffinata et quantificata (6.5-8.0 % capsaicinoids)
 Crataegi folii cum flore extractum fluidum quantificatum - Hawthorn leaf and
flower liquid extract (0.8-3.0 % flavonoids)
 Ginkgonis extractum siccum raffinatum et quantificatum - Ginkgo dry extract
(22.0-27.0 % flavonoids, 2.6-3.2 % bilobalide, 2.8-3.4 % ginkgolides)
 Hyperici herbae extractum siccum quantificatum - St. John‘s wort dry extract
(0.1-0.3 % hypericins)
 Melissae folii extractum siccum quantificatum - Melissa leaf dry extract (in
preparation, 3.0-6.0 % rosmarinic acid)
Other Extracts in Ph. Eur.
not necessary to know, do not memorize that28
 Agni casti fructus extractum siccum
 Boldi folii extractum siccum
 Cynarae folii extractum siccum
 Harpagophyti extractum siccum
 Liquiritiae extractum siccum ad saporandum
 Matricariae extractum fluidum
 Melissae folii extractum siccum
 Menthae piperitae folii extractum siccum
 Oleae folii extractum siccum
 Passiflorae herbae extractum siccum
 Salicis corticis extractum siccum
 Saw palmetto extract
 Valerianae extractum aquosum siccum
 Valerianae extractum hydroalcoholicum siccum
Liquritiae extractum in Ph. Eur.
not necessary to know, do not memorize that29
 Liquiritiae extractum fluidum
ethanolicum normatum
 Liquorice ethanolic liquid
extract, standardised
 3.0-5.0 % of glycyrrhizic acid
 the extract is produced from
the herbal drug by a suitable
procedure using ethanol 70%
(V/V)
 Liquiritiae extractum siccum
ad saporandum
 Liquorice dry extract for
flavouring purposes
 „other“ extract
 5.0-7.0 % of glycyrrhizic acid
 the extract is produced from
the cut herbal drug by a
suitable procedure using
water
30
EUROPEAN PHARMACOPOEIA 7.0
Plant juices
31
 complex composition –
important in phytotherapy
 content of hydrophilic
components, not highly
effective (no toxic)
compounds
 processing of fresh (crude)
material, immediately after
harvesting (or after freezing)
to prevent enzymatic
degradation
 pressing using high pressure
 heat treatment –
pasteurisation
 ALOE VERA GEL
 Aloe barbadensis
 juice of inner part of leaves,
cold pressing
 high content of
polysaccharides, saponins,
lignins, vitamins, minerals,…
 low content of aloin
 for internal/external use
Etheroleum, etherolea
32
 = essential oils, volatile oils
 concentrated hydrophobic liquids
containing volatile aroma (fragrant)
compounds from plants
 generally extracted by distillation
(often by using steam), using
solvent extraction or by mechanical
process without heating (pressing)
 wide biological effects – using in
phytotherapy, aromatherapy
 for culinary purposes;
in cosmetics, perfumes
Tinctura, tincturae
33
 alcoholic extracts of drugs or alcoholic
solutions of dry extracts
 the solvent is only ethanol of suitable
concentration (usually 60-70 %)
 Preparation:
 usually maceration at normal
temperature, in ratio of drug to ethanol
= 1:5
 percolation; in a ratio of drug to ethanol
= 1:10 (suitable for extraction of
alkaloids, glycosides, essential oils)
 dissolution of semi-solid or dry extract in
ethanol
percolator
Tinctura, tincturae
34
 Tinctura simplex
– prepared of one drug
 e.g. Arnicae tinctura
Gentianae tinctura
Valerianae tinctura…
 Tinctura composita
– prepared of more drugs
 e.g. Tinctura amara
Tinctura aromatica…
Guttae, solutiones
35
 = drops and medicinal solutions
 homogenised dispersions of two or
more components in water,
ethanol, or glycerine (hydrophilic),
or in oil (hydrophobic)
 Preparation:
 dissolution of dry medicines in
solvent
 mixing of one-phase liquid systems
 Dosage:
 drops – internal or external use
 greater volume – e.g. gargles,
mouthwash
Oil concentrates
36
 extraction of water/alcoholic
insoluble compounds
 high content of volatile
compounds (essential oils,
terpenic compounds)
 e.g. extraction of flowers with
cold oil (fat) – „enfleurage“ →
high-quality fragrant oils
(suitable for perfumes)
Aromatic waters and spirits
37
 Aromatic waters
 saturated aqueous solutions of essential oils with small
addition of alcohol for better solubility
 used for adjustment of taste and smell, or as medicines,
e.g. Aqua carminativa rubra
 Aromatic spirits (alcohols)
 solutions of essential oils or volatile compounds
in alcohol, e. g. Anisi spiritus compositus
 used for adjustment of taste and smell, or as medicines,
especially as digestive, carminative and spasmolytic
agents.
 tinctures of fresh (non-dried) plants – Alcoholaturae
AQUA CARMINATIVA ČL2009
Carvi etheroleum 0,1 g
Citri etheroleum 0,1 g
Citronellae etheroleum 0,1 g
Coriandri etheroleum 0,1 g
Foeniculi amari fructus etheroleum 0,1 g
Mentae piperitae etheroleum 0,1 g
Ethanolum 96% (V/V) 2,4 g
Aqua purificata 997,0 g
Talcum 5,0 g
ANISI SPIRITUS COMPOSITUS ČL2009
Anisi etheroleum 2,0 g
Ammonii chloridum 3,0 g
Ethanolum 96% (V/V) 40,0 g
Aqua purificata 55,0 g
ČL 2009 = PHARMACOPOEIA BOHEMICA MMIX
38
Sirupus, sirupi
39
 = syrups
 a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily
of a solution of sugar in water, in water plant
extract or in fruit juice.
 containing a large amount of dissolved sugars
(mainly sucrose, or glucose, fructose), or
polyols (alcoholic sugars, e.g. mannitol,
sorbitol)
 Sirupus simplex (Simple syrup) = 64% (m/V)
aqueous solution of sucrose (saccharose) –
this concentration has a preservative effect
 medicinal syrups contain dissolved medicinal
compounds, plant extracts
SIRUPUS SIMPLEX ČL2009
Saccharosum 640,0 g
Aqua purificata 360,0 g
ALTHAEAE SIRUPUS ČL2009
Althaeae radix 25,0 g
Ethanolum 96% (V/V) 20,0 g
Aqua purificata 400,0 g
Saccharosum 640,0 g
Methylparabenum 1,5 g
40
Medicinal wines
41
 the base is usually „malt
wine“ – obtained due to
the fermentation of malt
extract (from germinated
barley grains – Hordeum
vulgare)
 the malt wine is enriched
with water/alcoholic plant
extract
 ripening several months
in oak barrels
 MALTOFERROCHIN
(Herbadent)
 natural malt wine with a high
content of iron, suitable for the
treatment of anaemia.
 contains also Cinchonae bark
extract
 CONDURANGO WINE
 malt wine enriched with
water-alcoholic extract of
Marsdenia condurango bark
 suitable for the treatment of
digestive disorders, in case
of loss of appetite
Other application forms
42
 instant/granular teas
 tablets, sugar coated tablets, capsules, effervescent
tablets
 lozenges (pastilles), medicinal gums
 preparations for inhalation
 ointments, creams, lotions, aero-dispersions (sprays)
 adhesive plasters (emplastra)
 etc.