Bitter Candytuft
Botanical name
Iberis amara L.
Family
Brassicaceae
Common name
Wild candytuft, Rocket candytuft, Annual candytuft, Clown’s mustard, Sciatica cress
Information about the plant
Bitter candytuft is an herbaceous cruciferous plant that grows up to 40 cm tall and prefers light and warm summer temperatures. It is native to central and southern Europe and grows primarily in ruderal areas such as rubble sites, gravel pits, and landfills, or as a wild plant in gardens and fields. The genus name Iberis is derived from Greek and means “cress”. The species epithet amara (Latin, from “amarus” = bitter) refers to the bitter taste. The unequal size of the four white petals and their arrangement—namely, two small ones side by side and two larger ones opposite them—resembles a bow.
The stem branches out laterally; the lower, narrow, wedge-shaped leaves are stalked, while the upper ones are sessile. The whorls of four white or pale pink flowers are arranged in loose clusters. The four sepals are rounded, and the four petals vary in size (see above). The fruit is a winged pod, or more precisely, a silicle. This term is used when the length of the pod does not exceed three times its width. Bitter candytuft is also cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens. The flowering time is from May to August.
Medicinally used parts of plants (herbal drug)
Fresh or frozen aerial and underground parts harvested between the onset of flowering and full bloom, from June to September (fresh bitter candytuft plant—Iberis amara recens), are used.
The commercially available drug comes from cultivated plants.
Constituents of the herbal drug
Fresh bitter candytuft contains mustard oil glycosides (glucosinolates), bitter-tasting cucurbitacins, flavonols, amines, and fatty oil (in the seeds).
Quality of the drug
The quality standards for the fresh bitter candytuft plant (Iberis amara recens) are specified in the German Drug Codex (DAC).
Medical applications
Recognised medical use
Bitter candytuft has not been reviewed by the HMPC and ESCOP.
Traditional use
The bitter candytuft has not been classified as a traditional herbal medicinal product (Article 16a of Directive 2001/83/EC).
Herbal drug preparations in finished dosage forms
- 50% hydroalcoholic extract of fresh bitter candytuft in drops or in combination preparations
Dosage
Finished pharmaceutical products: See patient information leaflet.
Tea: Not applicable.
Preparation of a tea
Not applicable.
Notes
The efficacy and side effects of bitter candytuft (fresh plant) used alone have not been sufficiently documented. Therefore, its use is not recommended.
From a toxicological perspective, there are no concerns regarding the use of combination preparations in the form of finished pharmaceutical products during pregnancy and lactation, nor regarding use in children over 3 years of age.
Side effects
None known. Cucurbitacins are toxic, but the daily dose of the finished medicinal products is calculated so that no significant concentrations of cucurbitacins penetrate the intestinal wall.
Interactions
None known.