Frangulae cortex

Medicinally used, Ph.Eur.2 monogrpahized, dried bark of the twigs and the younger stems of the buckthorn, both of Franula alnus, the fine-leaved buckthorn and the American buckthorn, s.a. Rhamni purshianae cortex.

Quality is laid down in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.).

HMPC monograph: well-established use: Internal: short-term treatment of constipation, 1 week
ESCOP monograph: short-term treatment of constipation.
Commission e-monograph: constipation

Empirical medicine: abscesses, arteriosclerosis, blood purification, obesity, bile flow congestion, biliary insufficiency, gallstones, grind,
hemorrhoids, scabies, swelling of the liver, inflammation of the oral mucosa, constipation, bloating, dropsy, gingivitis

Efficacy determining ingredients: numerous hydroxyanthracene glycosides, especially of the aloe emodin type, as well as glycosides of emodin (of which 80-90% are C-glycosides of the aloe type, so-called cascarosides); furthermore frangulin A and frangulin B and saponins, more rarely also bitter substances andtannins.

Laxative, anti-absorptive.

Indication: chronic constipation,

0.5-2.0g as 10% decoction 20.0g. Duration of the intake 1-2 weeks.

The fresh drug has emetic effect (fresh bark contains anthrones and dianthrones which are no longer present in deposited bark).

Cramp-like gastrointestinal complaints, with long-term use disorders of the water and electrolyte balance, especially hypokalemia with subsequent cardiac dysfunction and muscle weakness, albuminuria and hematuria, pigmentation of the intestinal mucosa (pseudomelanosis coli).

Contraindications: Ileus, acute inflammatory bowel disease, unclear abdominal pain

With long-term use: enhancement of the effect of cardiac glycosides, influence on antiarrhythmic drugs, increase in potassium losses when combined with adrenal steroids, thiazide diuretics, licorice root.

No ready-made preparations, only homeopathic combination preparations.

Not for children <12 years

1. Brkanac SR et al. (2015) Toxicity and antioxidant capacity of Frangula alnus Mill. bark and its activeemodin. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 73:923-929.
2. Demuth G et al.,(1978) Investigations on anthraquinone glycosides of Rhamnus species, V Emodin-8-O-beta-gentiobioside,e a new O-glycoside from Rhamnus frangula. Planta Med 33:53-56.
3. Koyama J et al.(2001) Inhibitory effects of anthraquinones and bianthraquinones on Epstein-Barr virus activation. Cancer Lett 170:15-18.
4. Sadowska B et al. (2014) Vaccinium myrtillus leaves and Frangula alnus bark derived extracts as potential antistaphylococcal agents. Acta Biochim Pol 61:163-169.
5. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/faulbaum.php
6. https://heilkraeuter.de/lexikon/faulbaum.htm
7. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/rhamnus_frangula/faulbaum.htm

8. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 264-266