Alder buckthorn

Authors:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 03.05.2025

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Synonym(s)

buckthorn; Casacara bark from the Spanish "cascara sagrada" = holy bark; Frangula; Rhamnus purshiana

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

The buckthorn belongs to the buckthorn family. There are the common or fine-leaved buckthorn - Frangula alnus Mill. and the American buckthorn - Frangula purshiana (DC.) A. Gray (syn. Rhamnus purshiana DC.) and the African buckthorn (Rhamnus prinoides). The buckthorn is native to western North America, southern Canada and central California. The plant grows as a shrub or small tree and reaches heights of 1.5 - 3 m to a maximum of 6 m. A typical feature of the tree is the foul smell of the bark (which gives it its name).


The bark of the tree can be used to dye wool, cotton or silk.

The bark of Rhamnus frangula and Frangula purshiana, Rhamni purshianae cortex , the official extract of buckthorn bark(monographs of Commission E, ESCOP and HMPC) is used phytotherapeutically in various applications, especially for constipation.

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Stott C et al.(2012) Randomized controlled trial of laxative use in postcolostomy surgery patients. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 39:524-528.
  2. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/faulbaum.php
  3. https://heilkraeuter.de/lexikon/faulbaum.htm
  4. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/rhamnus_frangula/faulbaum.htm

Authors

Last updated on: 03.05.2025

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter AltmeyerProf. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles