Natural Remedies A-Z
The actions of plant chemicals on body systems |
Often, we read monographs and information about medicinal herbs, and we are presented with lists of obscure sounding chemicals. Along with this there are actions that are attributed to the herb itself. Would it not be more useful to gain understanding of the actions of many of these phytochemicals that we commonly see in order to be able to understand additional potential applications and toxicities of medicinal plants? This is something that frustrated my so much during my studies. In light of this I have compiled this list of the most commonly observed phytochemicals in plants within the western materia medica. There are of course thousands of these chemicals, and in reality we clearly understand only a small percentage. This list purely represents phytochemicals that are understood and are found in many plants that we use today, and is presented in a list format so it can be used for easy reference.
Monoterpenes
Limonene - Expectorant, sedative, anti-neoplastic
Menthol - Bronchiodilator, carminative, gastric sedative, antipruritic, analgesic, antiseptic.
Citronellal - Antiseptic, sedative.
Carvacol - Antiseptic, antifungal, anthelmintic.
Thymol - Antiseptic, antifungal.
Iridoids (monoterpene lactones)
Harpagoside - Analgesic, bitter.
Gentiopicrin - Antimalarial.
Valerenic acid - Antispasmodic.
Verbenalin - Uterine stimulant, autonomic nervous system relaxant.
Sesquiterpenes
Chamazulene - Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic.
Zingiberene - Carminative.
Sesquiterpene lactones
Absinthin - Anthelmintic, bitter.
Alantolactane - Antibacterial, antifungal, expectorant, cholagogue, urinary tract antiseptic, vermifuge against liver fluke.
Matricin - Chamazulene precursor, anti-inflammatory.
Diterpenoids
Carnosol - Aromatic bitter
Ginkolides A - Bitter, bronchiodilator, antiasthmatic.
Marubiin - Expectorant.
Saponins
General actions of saponins - Adaptogenic, alterative/tonic, anthelmintic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiulcerogenic, capillary strengthening, cholesterol lowering, diuretic, expectorant, hemolytic, hepatoprotective, hormone modulating, immunomodulating, spermicidal.
Glycyrrhetic acid - Anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, mineralocorticoid action.
Glycyrrhizin - Antiulcerogenic, expectorant.
Steroidal saponins
Astragaloside III - Antioxidant.
Cimicifugoside - nucleoside transport inhibitor.
Diosgenin - Used in partial synthesis of steroidal hormones such as pregnenalone.
Convallotoxin - Cardiac tonic in small doses.
Polyphenols
Arbutin - Diuretic, antitussive, urinary tract antimicrobial.
Caffeic acid - Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, natibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant.
Curcumin - Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory.
Myristin - Monoamine oxidase inhibitor, platelet aggregation reducer.
Coumarins
General actions - Antifungal, antitumour, lymphatic stimulant.
Cimicifugin - Hypotensive, possibly increases coronary blood flow.
Anthraquinones (often red and purple pigments in plants)
Aloe-emodin - Cathartic, antileukemic.
Sennoside A - Cathartic.
Hypericin - Antiviral, antidepressant.
Hyperforin - Antidepressant
Flavanoids (pigments or co-pigments)
Quercetin - Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral.
Rutin - Anti-inflammatory, capillary strengthener, antiviral.
Apigenin - Anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antibacterial, hypotensive.
Alkaloids
Betonicine - Anti-inflammatory.
Lobeline - Stimulates respiratory centre, induces coughing.
Atropine - Anticholinergic.
Hyoscyamine - Anticholinergic, controls gastric secretions, can cause visceral spasms and abdominal cramps, reduces parkinsons tremours.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
Symphytine - Hepatotoxic.
Isoquinaline alkaloids
Berberine - Amoebicidal, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antitumour, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective.
Cephaeline - Emetic, expectorant, antiamoebic.
Emetine - Emetic, antiamoebic, cytotoxic.
Hydrastine - Hemostatic, antiseptic.
Sanguinarine - Antibacterial, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory.