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Tel: (800) SPRINGER Fax: +1 (201) 348 4505 E-mail: orders @ springer-ny.com Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry Medicinal Plants © TECHNIQUE & DOCUMENTATION, 1999 ISBN : 2-7430-0316-2 (2nd edition, 1999) (reprint, 2001) ISBN : 2-7430-0028-7 (1st edition, 1995) Originally published in French as: Pharmacognosies phytochimie, plantes medicinales (3rd edition, 1999) by Technique & Documentation/Editions medicales internationales © INTERCEPT Ltd, 1999 ISBN : 1-898298-63-7 (2nd edition, 1999) (reprint, 2001) ISBN : 1-898298-13.-0 (1st edition, 1995) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher or the Centre francais d'exploitation du droit de copie (20, rue des Grands-Augustins - 75006 Paris, France). Exceptions are allowed in respect of reproduction exclusively intended for the private use of the person making the copy and not intended for collective use, or for analysis and short extracts justified by the scientific or informative character of the publication in which they are included (Law dated July 1, 1992 - art. L 122-4 and L 122-5 and Penal Code art. 425). 2nd edition Translated by Caroline K. Hatton Intercept Ltd LONDRES NEW YORK PARIS 11, rue Lavoisier F 75384 Paris Cedex 08 MBfff8™*8 Also available: Toxic Plants Dangerous to Humans and Animals J. Bruneton, 1999 Insects and forests: the role and diversity of insects in the R. Dajoz, 1999 Illustrations. This book was illustrated by Annie Bruneton, after the foSl> Berg, O.C. and Schmidt, C.F. (1893-1902). At/asderofficinei/en Pflanzen, 4 volumes, Verlag von Arthur Felix Leipzig: (p. 22, 54, 74, 84, 94, 114, 132, 140, 182, 232, 244, 256, 268, 286, 300, 320, 354, 392, 416, 426, 432, 446, 454, 468, 486. 500, 514, 522, 534, 542, 556, 566, 574, 586, 594, 606, 612, 618, 644, 666, 690, 712. 720, 728. 744, 762, 774, 792, 812, 816, 820, 828, 848, 858, 900, 912, 930, 950, 960, 976, 984, 1002, 1012, 1030, 1044, 1048, 1060, 1070, 1082). Chaumeton, F.P. (1814 -> 1818). Flore medicate, 6 volumes, C.L.F. Panckoucke, Paris, (vol. 3 -> 6 with the collaboration of Chamberet and Poiret; illustrations by E. Panckoucke and PJ.F. Turpin); (p. 10, 104,154, 198. 206, 212, 280, 332, 338, 382, 550, 644, 678, 840, 866, 884, 924). Lamarck. J.B. de Monet, chevalier de (1791 -»). Tableau encyclopedique et mithodique des trois regnes de la nature, Panckoucke, Paris; (p. 956). Cover photography: Papaver rhoeas l. (Papaveraceae) by Annie BRUNETON In the four years since the publication of the first English edition of "Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants", the level of interest in plants with potential health benefits has not dropped, quite the contraiy. _ The therapeutic armamentarium has been augmented, in particular with antimalarial and anticancer compounds that are semisynthetic, but would not exist without the plants that produce their precursors. The future will tell the real impact of these recent additions; the knowledge of the novel mechanism of action of three of them opens new and hopeful research avenues. Novel natural substances have demonstrated potential as antiretroviral agents in experimental conditions. Others that were long known could SOOT help improve the symptoms of Alzheimer's senile dementia. The market for herbal medicines has evolved dynamically. Quantitatively, th Europeans are believed to have spent nearly six billion U.S. dollars in 1995 on plan based pharmaceuticals *. Qualitatively, the release of certain new drugs on the mark has made quite a sensation. Again, the future will tell—/ hope—if the excitement that tht generate is clinically justified. Consumers, who want to see risk minimized in many domains, are becomin increasingly interested in prevention. This is probably why they are interested in foe quality and in plants, for the micronutrlents that they contribute to the daily food intak Pharmacognosy cannot ignore this facet of the knowledge of plants. It has a mission i participate in wellness education at the grass-roots level because of the potential impa* on public health. These multiple changes and the accumulation of new data have led to delaying n further the distribution of an updated and expanded version of "Pharmacognos-Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants ". The second edition was revised in the same spirit as that in which the previous one wc I written, but not all facets of the knowledge of plants were treated in the same fashior some were developed, others simply maintained. The same is true for the monograph. The phytochemical generalities are among the portions that were not expanded: it did nc seem desirable to go beyond a general overview—structural or metabolic—of the principc categories of secondary metabolites. In contrast, special attention was devoted to th biological activity of plants and their constituents, and to the extent that information could be found and used, to clinical data. The approved indications for plants are systematically mentioned for the quasi totality of the species listed in the annex of the French Explanatory Note on "plant-based medicines" ["Medicaments a base de plantes", Les cahiers de I'Agence du medicament, 1998]. It seemed useful to cite, as much as possible, and while awaiting a much-needed European harmonization, the data on plant use as it is presented in the German Commission E monographs. As indicated above, a non negligible place was granted to plant metabolites whose consumption is thought to have an impact on the incidence of certain disorders, particularly cardiovascular disease and cancer. For the bibliography, I made the choice not to systematically reference all the data: although this would be required for a monograph, perhaps it is not in a general text, considering its breadth and its primary purpose, which is pedagogical. The principle of selecting recent and representative articles and books to list at the end of each chapter was maintained. The vast majority of the selected references were published between 1993 and 1998. Once more, I am at a loss for words to express my deep gratitude to Michel Lebceuffor his thankless labor, meticulously reading the manuscript, and most of all, for his observations, always pertinent. I give special thanks to Helene Guinaudeau, Gilbert Fournier, and Jean-Frangois Verbist, who provided useful advice on specific points. I also wish to thank Daniele Pioletfor her relentless hunt for spelling and typographical errors. December 1998 I am especially grateful to Caroline K. Hatton, Ph.D., who provided the translation of the original manuscript with uncommon diligence, efficiency, and competence, and whose pertinent comments gave me food for thought, and to Cindy Angerhofer, Ph.D. (Director of Research and Product Development, Tom's of Maine), who devoted substantial time to reviewing the translation. July 1999 rta í? ft 'Cc C f>C(~< *5 I. Introduction to the 2nd edition (1993) The concept of phytochemistry is easy to understand, but that of pharmacognosy undoubtedly requires definition and commentary. The phrase "medicinal plants" also deserves a few comments. There is no point in proceeding any further without a good grasp of the meaning of the words which define the scope of this work. Etymologically,p/ia77wac0gn0S'j> is the knowledge (from the Greek gnosis) of poisons (pharmacon). Note that pharmacon not only means poison, but also medication... the difference lies in the dose. Thus one might legitimately think that pharmacognosy treats all drug-like substances: that is not the case. Pharmacognosy limits its field of investigation to natural starting materials: it is simply the descendant of "materia medica *", a discipline which, since Dioscorides's treatise by that name, and until the birth of synthetic chemistry, dealt with mineral, animal, and plant starting materials, in other words all of the materials available to prepare remedies, since no others were known! As time passed, mineral substances lost their appeal. Those that are still in use are now covered as well-defined substances, just like synthetic organic substances and in the same texts. Is pharmacognosy, then, the study of starting materials of plant or animal origin intended for therapeutic use? In fact, a number of French experts and many foreign authors—the former through their lectures, the latter through their writings—treat hormones, enzymes, but also substances elaborated by micro-organisms. Some do not hesitate to include biotechnology and genetic engineering. Under these conditions, pharmacognosy is the study of starting materials and substances intended for therapeutics, and of biological origin, in other words obtained from plants, animals, or by fermentation from micro-organisms. Although I gladly abide by this definition, this writing will survey a field of applications both narrower and less restrictive. Is this a paradox? No. The field is narrower because it is limited only to plants and to products arising from plants *. It is less restrictive because it is not limited to the sole criterion of therapeutic use: starting materials for the synthesis of drugs, hallucinogenic plants, manufacturing aids, food additives, plants or components for cosmetology, or insecticides of plant origin must be included. The pharmacist—who is not the only one who should be concerned—musí frpd^cl ft ahlOfbn). know useful plants, and must also know toxic plants: therefore, these appear prominently in this book. Nature stimulates the creativity of chemists: synthetic analogs, when available, will be mentioned without being fully developed. Beyond the definition of pharmacognosy, it is important to emphasize what many consider, and they are absolutely correct, one of its major assets: its multidisciplinary character. In pharmacognosy, to study a plant is: to define its identity; to describe its morphology and anatomy; to know its origin and production methods; to appreciate their impact on the plant quality; to determine its chemical composition and the factors that may affect it; to know the structure, physico-chemical properties, and pharmacological activity of the active principles; and, this is a crucial goal, to identify the variables which objectively reflect quality and to develop the methods to control it; finally, to come to grips with all the problems linked to the optimal utilization of plants and plant products: indications, contraindications, side effects, and drug interactions. As noted by V. E. Tyler et al. pharmacognosy is "an applied science that deals with the biologic, biochemical, and economic features of natural drugs and their constituents". To know plants and their uses is also—and this applies mostly to phytotherapy—to be aware of the limits and the dangers of what must be at times no more than a "placebotherapy", but is never completely innocuous: the intoxications reported in 1992 show, if need be, that "natural" does not always rhyme with innocuous. As stated by P. Delaveau, medicinal plants, also known in French as simples, are in reality exceptionally complex. Medicinal Plant. The noun is common, the adjective is commonplace, and their juxtaposition introduces a concept that is not always easy to define. A plant is said to be medicinal when "at least one part possesses therapeutic properties". It may be listed in the French or in other Pharmacopoeias, although this may be true for plants that are of use to pharmacy without being medicinal. In France, a plant not listed in the Pharmacopoeia can be a drug, even if it is not considered a medicinal plant: the only requirement is to present it as having curing or preventive properties for diseases (article 512 of the French public health code. Many medicinal plants are only medicinal (for example the foxglove, used for its leaves), but many are not just medicinal: thyme and other Lamiaceae are herbs as well as medicinal plants, the artichoke is an edible vegetable, as well as a medicinal plant. If these examples are straightforward—the in vitro spasmolytic properties of the infusion of thyme are well known, and the fact that it is the artichoke leaf that is medicinal and the inflorescence receptacle that is edible is well known—things are sometimes less clear: what about the onion? What about tea? What about nutmeg? The onion is an edible vegetable *, but do the inhibitory properties toward cyclo-oxygenase of its sulfur-containing compounds make it a medicinal plant? Tea is one of the beverages most widely consumed worldwide, and everybody knows the effects of caffeine: isn't tea also a medicinal plant? Nutmeg is a spice, but is it known in every country that it can be a hallucinogen? And that the neolignans that have been isolated from it are not without pharmacological interest? The French Pharmacopoeia does note that "plants with medicinal properties can also have dietary or culinary uses or also be used in the preparation of refreshing beverages". These digressions are not aimed at arriving at a precise definition of the concept of medicinal plant: they simply lead to the question of the scope of the present text. First of o!mj$ ofplt r J frt Con u>tJ- of pMA A^ ^ ~qj :,CVAeti ^% I f *• ^ fret 0* fr* f*»*'/iU**C A>6sUS(j Of VAMJ^ Of ,- a. ,./ . „,.. /,,, ,/ THC FDA Food and Drug Administration » (J 1 FPP farnesyl pyrophosphate l> (- ■-i-'i i£ •- c,a., ci-yomtUtjr-,/>K-fm"v^\> TPA French Expl. Note French Explanatory Note .„,-/>/,, , „ .'. ' UDP Br PI-, P«»n/-1i Dk.,m.m„™™ I TV gas chromatography-mass spectrometry geranyl pyrophosphate reduced glutathione high density lipoproteins high fructose corn syrup hexahydroxydiphenic acid human immunodeficiency virus high pressure liquid chromatography id est (that is) intramuscular (route) international non-proprietary name Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique intraperitoneal (route) isopentenyl pyrophosphate infra-red International Organization for Standardization term intra-uterine device intravenous (route) lethal dose 50 low density lipoproteins luteinizing hormone linalyl pyrophosphate lysergic satire didthylamide methylazoxymefhanol monoamine oxidase 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (reduced) Norme Frangaise = French standard nuclear magnetic resonance non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug o-succinylbenzoic acid = 4-(2'-carboxyphenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid platelet activating factor polyethylene glycol phosphoenolpyruvate pro parte (in part) part per million psoralen + 320-400 nm UVA radiation treatment ribonucleic acid subcutaneous (route) Societe d'Exploitation Industrielle des Tabacs et Allumettes = French manufacturer of tobacco products and matches species various species in the genus subspecies tetrahydrocannabinol thin-layer chromatography 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate uridine diphosphate