Medicinal plants and Medicinal plants and medical plant material medical plant material that contain essential that contain essential

oils (sesquiterpene oils (sesquiterpene lactones and aromatic lactones and aromatic

compounds)compounds)

Volatile oils (VO) are miscellaneous Volatile oils (VO) are miscellaneous volatile organic compounds which are volatile organic compounds which are

produced in plants and cause their produced in plants and cause their specific odour.specific odour.

They differ entirely in both chemical and They differ entirely in both chemical and physical properties from fixed oils. VO physical properties from fixed oils. VO can can be distilledbe distilled from their natural sources; they from their natural sources; they do not consist of glyceryl esters of fatty do not consist of glyceryl esters of fatty acids.acids. Hence Hence,, they they do not leavedo not leave a a permanent grease spot on paper and permanent grease spot on paper and cannot be saponifiedcannot be saponified with alkalies. VO with alkalies. VO do do not become rancidnot become rancid as do the fixed oils, but as do the fixed oils, but instead, on exposure to light and air, they instead, on exposure to light and air, they oxidize and resinify.oxidize and resinify.

Folia AbsinthiiFolia AbsinthiiHerba AbsinthiiHerba AbsinthiiArtemisia Absinthium- Artemisia Absinthium- Wormwood, AbsinthWormwood, AbsinthAsteraceaeAsteraceae

Geographical Geographical distribution. distribution. Europe, Asia Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. and Northern Africa.

Constituents.Constituents. VO VO containing absinthol, a containing absinthol, a bitter glycoside termed bitter glycoside termed absinthin, tannic acid, absinthin, tannic acid, resin, etc.resin, etc.

Uses.Uses. Aromatic bitter, Aromatic bitter, diaphoretic and flavouring diaphoretic and flavouring agent. Medicines: agent. Medicines: bitter bitter tincture, tincture, tincture, tincture, appetising and cholagogue appetising and cholagogue collections.collections.

Rhizomata et radices Rhizomata et radices InulaeInulaeInula helenium- Inula, Inula helenium- Inula, ElecampaneElecampaneAsteraceaeAsteraceae

Habitat.Habitat. Europe and Asia, along Europe and Asia, along roadsides and in damp pasture land.roadsides and in damp pasture land.

Constituents. Constituents. 1 to 2% of an active 1 to 2% of an active crystalline substance known as alant-crystalline substance known as alant-camphor or helenin; inulin, acrid camphor or helenin; inulin, acrid resin, volatile oil with the peppermint-resin, volatile oil with the peppermint-like odour and consisting chiefly of like odour and consisting chiefly of alantol, inulenin, mucilage, etc.alantol, inulenin, mucilage, etc.

Uses. Uses. Elecampane is used as an Elecampane is used as an ingredient in veterinary pulmonic ingredient in veterinary pulmonic powderspowders and numerous proprietary and numerous proprietary medicines. It is active constituent, medicines. It is active constituent, helenin, has been employed as an helenin, has been employed as an antiseptic and bactericide in antiseptic and bactericide in pulmonary diseases. Alantolactone is pulmonary diseases. Alantolactone is an anthelmintic remedy. an anthelmintic remedy. AlantonAlanton is is used to treat peptic ulcers.used to treat peptic ulcers.

Flores ChamomillaeFlores ChamomillaeChamomilla recutita (Matricaria Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria chamomilla) - Matricaria, German chamomilla) - Matricaria, German ChamomileChamomileAseraceaeAseraceae

Constituents. Constituents. VO (0.4- 1.5%) of a blue VO (0.4- 1.5%) of a blue colour due to azulene ( Chamazulene) colour due to azulene ( Chamazulene) and containing isoamyl, isobutyl and and containing isoamyl, isobutyl and other alcohols combined as esters with other alcohols combined as esters with angelic and tiglic acids; and related angelic and tiglic acids; and related sesquiterpenes (up to 50% of the oil), sesquiterpenes (up to 50% of the oil), anthemic acid (a bitter principle), anthemic acid (a bitter principle), tannins, etc.tannins, etc.

Uses. Uses. Internally- symptomatic treatment Internally- symptomatic treatment of digestive ailment such as dyspepsia, of digestive ailment such as dyspepsia, epigastric bloating, impaired digestion, epigastric bloating, impaired digestion, and flatulence. Infusions of chamomile and flatulence. Infusions of chamomile flowers have been used in the treatment flowers have been used in the treatment of restlessness and mild cases of of restlessness and mild cases of insomnia due to nervous disorders. insomnia due to nervous disorders. Externally- inflammation and irritation of Externally- inflammation and irritation of the skin and mucosa (skin cracks, the skin and mucosa (skin cracks, bruises, frostbites and insect bites, bruises, frostbites and insect bites, including irritations and infections of the including irritations and infections of the mouth and gums, and haemorrhoids.mouth and gums, and haemorrhoids.

Medicines-Medicines- romazulan, rotocan, alorom, romazulan, rotocan, alorom, herbagastrin, fiton, camistad-gel, gastrolit,herbagastrin, fiton, camistad-gel, gastrolit, flowers are ingredients of flowers are ingredients of arphazetin, elecasol.arphazetin, elecasol.

Herba MillefoliiHerba MillefoliiFlores MillefoliFlores MillefoliAchillea millefolium- Yarrow, Achillea millefolium- Yarrow, Milfoil, Thousand-leafMilfoil, Thousand-leafAsteraceAsterace

Habitat. Habitat. North America, Europe North America, Europe and Asia.and Asia.

Constituents. Constituents. An azure-blueAn azure-blue aromatic VO (to 0.8%), aromatic VO (to 0.8%), containing chamazulene, containing chamazulene, cineole, a brownish-red cineole, a brownish-red substance called achillein, substance called achillein, achilleic acid, a dark yellow, achilleic acid, a dark yellow, resinous, bitter substance resinous, bitter substance called iwin, tannins, etc.called iwin, tannins, etc.

Uses. Uses. Aromatic bitter, Aromatic bitter, diaphoretic and diaphoretic and emmenagogue.emmenagogue.

MedicinesMedicines- - rotocan, rotocan, vundekhil, appetising, laxative, vundekhil, appetising, laxative, hypotensive collections.hypotensive collections.

Flores ArnicaeFlores ArnicaeArnica montana- ArnicaArnica montana- ArnicaAsteraceaeAsteraceae

Habitat.Habitat. Mountains and meadows Mountains and meadows of Europe.of Europe.

Constituents. Constituents. Contains up to 0,8% Contains up to 0,8% of sesquiterpene lactones- the main of sesquiterpene lactones- the main is helenalin, 11,13-dihydrohelenalin is helenalin, 11,13-dihydrohelenalin d their esters with organic acids. In d their esters with organic acids. In 1970 from leaves and flower heads 1970 from leaves and flower heads of arnica arnifolin was extracted, it of arnica arnifolin was extracted, it has tonic action on womb muscles. has tonic action on womb muscles. Ether oil has a golden colour.Ether oil has a golden colour.

Uses. Uses. Medicines have haemostatic, Medicines have haemostatic, cholagogue, antisclerotic, irritating cholagogue, antisclerotic, irritating and bacteriostatic action. In high and bacteriostatic action. In high amounts remedies have sedative amounts remedies have sedative properties. properties. Tincture and infusion Tincture and infusion are used externally to treat skin are used externally to treat skin disorders, trophic ulcers, burns and disorders, trophic ulcers, burns and frostbites.frostbites.

MP and MPM containing MP and MPM containing aromatic ether oilsaromatic ether oils

Fructus Anisi vulgarisFructus Anisi vulgarisOleum AnisiOleum AnisiAnisum vulgare- AniseAnisum vulgare- Anise Apiaceae Apiaceae

Habitat. Habitat. Asia Minor, Greece and Asia Minor, Greece and Egypt, Southern Ukraine.Egypt, Southern Ukraine.

Constituents. Constituents. Up to 6% of Up to 6% of volatile oil containing anethol; volatile oil containing anethol; fixed oils, etc.fixed oils, etc.

Uses. Uses. Stimulant, carminative and Stimulant, carminative and flavouring agent. Medicines also flavouring agent. Medicines also have expectorant, antiseptic, have expectorant, antiseptic, bactericide and antispasmodic bactericide and antispasmodic actions. Fruits are part of stomach actions. Fruits are part of stomach and ches collections, oil- part of and ches collections, oil- part of chest elixir, ammonia-anise drops, chest elixir, ammonia-anise drops, dry mixture from cough, Traskov’s dry mixture from cough, Traskov’s mixturemixture (antiasthmatic properties), (antiasthmatic properties), and remedies- and remedies- anitos, altalex, anitos, altalex, strepsils-originalstrepsils-original, etc., etc.

Fructus FoeniculiFructus FoeniculiOleum FoeniculiOleum FoeniculiFoeniculum vulgare- FennelFoeniculum vulgare- FennelApiaceaeApiaceae

Habitat. Habitat. Southern Europe Southern Europe and Asia Minor.and Asia Minor.

Constituents. Constituents. Up to 6.5% of Up to 6.5% of Oleum Foeniculi containing Oleum Foeniculi containing anethol and fenchone, anise anethol and fenchone, anise ether, anise acid, fixed oils, ether, anise acid, fixed oils, etc.etc.

Uses. Uses. Medicines usually have Medicines usually have carminative, spasmolitic, carminative, spasmolitic, secretolitic and light sedative secretolitic and light sedative actions. Fruits are part of actions. Fruits are part of Carminative, Sedative and Carminative, Sedative and Laxative collectionsLaxative collections, ether oil- , ether oil- part of the part of the fennel water, fennel water, altalex drops, Traskov’s altalex drops, Traskov’s mixture.mixture.

Herba SerpylliHerba SerpylliThymus serpyllum-Wild thyme, creeping Thymus serpyllum-Wild thyme, creeping thymethyme LamiaceaeLamiaceae

Habitat. Habitat. Europe and Northern Europe and Northern Asia. Naturalised in eastern Asia. Naturalised in eastern North America, and growing on North America, and growing on fields.fields.

Constituents. Constituents. From 0.15 to From 0.15 to 0.6% of VO containing carvacrol 0.6% of VO containing carvacrol and cymene, bitter principles, and cymene, bitter principles, tannins, etc.tannins, etc.

Uses. Uses. Wild Thyme is employed Wild Thyme is employed as an antispasmodic in the as an antispasmodic in the treatment of whooping-cough, treatment of whooping-cough, dry nervous asthma, severe dry nervous asthma, severe spasms with little sputum and spasms with little sputum and other respiratory inflammations, other respiratory inflammations, either in the form of either in the form of fluid fluid extract, tincture or syrupextract, tincture or syrup. . Thymus serpyllum is ingredient Thymus serpyllum is ingredient of of pertussin, anitos.pertussin, anitos.

Herba Thymi vulgarisHerba Thymi vulgarisOleum ThymiOleum ThymiThymus vulgarisThymus vulgarisLamiaceaeLamiaceae

Habitat.Habitat. Southern Europe.Southern Europe.

Constituents.Constituents. VO, about 2.5%, VO, about 2.5%, containing thymol, carvacrol, containing thymol, carvacrol, thymine, cymene and l-pinene; thymine, cymene and l-pinene; tannins, etc.tannins, etc.

Uses. Uses. Antispasmodic, Antispasmodic, carminative, stimulant, and carminative, stimulant, and condiment; an ingredient in condiment; an ingredient in poultry dressing, in the poultry dressing, in the flavouring of meat and fish flavouring of meat and fish dishes and soups. Preparations: dishes and soups. Preparations: thyme fluid extract, thyme thyme fluid extract, thyme syrup.syrup.

Thymol is a phenol occurring in large colourless, Thymol is a phenol occurring in large colourless, transparent crystals or as a white powder having a transparent crystals or as a white powder having a thyme odour and a pungent taste. It is used as an thyme odour and a pungent taste. It is used as an anthelmintic ( for hook worm), as an antiseptic and anthelmintic ( for hook worm), as an antiseptic and deodorant in deodorant in mouth washes and garglesmouth washes and gargles and and occasionally as an intestinal antiseptic. The average occasionally as an intestinal antiseptic. The average daily dose as anthelmintic is 2g. divided into 3 daily dose as anthelmintic is 2g. divided into 3 doses.doses.Thyme oil is a VO distilled from the flowering plant Thyme oil is a VO distilled from the flowering plant of Thymus vulgaris. It is a colourless, yellow or red of Thymus vulgaris. It is a colourless, yellow or red liquid. Actions- stimulant, carminative and liquid. Actions- stimulant, carminative and antiseptic. Oil is part of antiseptic. Oil is part of camistad-gelcamistad-gel (used in dental (used in dental practice).practice).Herb extract is ingredient in Herb extract is ingredient in pertussin, efkamon pertussin, efkamon and and pinosol.pinosol.

Herba OriganiHerba OriganiOriganum Origanum vulgare-Pot majoram, vulgare-Pot majoram, wild majoramwild majoram

LamiaceaeLamiaceae

Constituents. Constituents. VO VO contain carvacrol, thymol, contain carvacrol, thymol, free alcohol and ester.free alcohol and ester.

Uses. Uses. The dried herb is The dried herb is used as a condiment in used as a condiment in flavouring of salads, in flavouring of salads, in the treatment of the treatment of whooping-cough and whooping-cough and other respiratory other respiratory inflammations. Has inflammations. Has cholagogue, diuretic and cholagogue, diuretic and diaphoretic actions, diaphoretic actions, stimulates indigestion, stimulates indigestion, extract is part of extract is part of urolesanurolesan which has litholitic which has litholitic properties.properties.