Botanical name

Common buckthorn - Frangula alnus Mill. (Syn. Rhamnus frangula L.) American buckthorn - Frangula purshiana (DC.) J.G. Cooper (Syn. Rhamnus purshiana DC.)

Family

Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae)

Useful information about the plant

The common buckthorn is native to Europe, West Asia, Asia Minor and the Caucasus, and it grows wild in North America. It grows as a strong shrub or small tree (1-3m high, sometimes higher) from the plane to the lower mountain area, in light deciduous and coniferous forests, preferably at the edges of the woods, also in bushes and hedges along water courses in bushes and on the moors. At 6 to 10m high, the American buckthorn a strong tree that is native to the Pacific coast of North America, from southern Canada to central California, where it is also farmed. The genus name Frangula comes from the Latin "frangere" (= to break) and refers to the brittle nature of the wood of the shrub or tree. The epithet alnus (= alder) clearly draws a similarity of the leaves with those of the alder.
The common buckthorn is characterised by horizontally projecting branches. Its bark is green when young, later it is grey-brown and is clearly characterised by distinct, diagonally arranged, grey-white lenticels. Even the bark of the American buckthorn has these clear lenticels. The leaves of both species are similar, they are stiff, elliptic to obovate and entire. The flowers of the common buckthorn are inconspicuous, greenish white, the American buckthorn flowers are white. They are in axillary cymes with 2 to 10 flowers each. After fertilisation, they mature into berry-like drupes that change colour during ripening from green to red and finally black. The flowering period is May / June.

Medicinally used parts of plants (herbal drug)

The dried whole or ground bark of the trunks and branches of both species are used. The bark of the common buckthorn (alder bark) comes from the wild or from cultivations in riparian forests in Eastern Europe, mainly in Poland. After the harvest in early summer, the fresh bark must be stored for one year or dried in a hot air stream at 80 - 100°C (see ingredients). The bark of the American Buckthorn (Cascara bark) comes from farms in the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon, and from western Canada.

Constituents of the herbal drug

Buckthorn bark (from the common buckthorn) contains anthranoids (hydroxyanthracene derivatives, "anthraquinones"), and mainly glucofrangulin and frangulin. They are formed by oxidation during storage or when being dried in a hot air stream from the corresponding anthraquinone glycosides. Cascara bark (from the American Buckthorn) also contains anthranoids, mainly cascaroside, along with aloin.

Quality of the drug

The quality of the following drugs or drug preparations is specified in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur):

• Buckthorn bark (Frangulae cortex)
• Set (standardised) Buckthorn bark dried extract (Frangulae corticis extractum siccum normatum)
• Cascara bark (Rhamni purshianae cortex)
• Set (standardised) Cascara dried extract (Rhamni purshianae extractum siccum normatum)

Medical applications

Recognised medical use

With blockages (Commission E) for a short-term treatment of occasional constipation (ESCOP).
The following areas of use were documented (approval) through clinical data: short-term use with constipation (blockage).
The HMPC has accepted the internal use of Buckthorn bark and short-term treatment with Cascara bark for occasional constipation as a "well-established medicinal use".

Traditional use

No listing as a traditional medical product (§ 109a)

Herbal drug preparations in finished dosage forms

• chopped or coarsely powdered drug as a tea
• standardised Buckthorn bark dried extract on anthranoids (Glucofrangulin A) in solid dosage forms
• standardised Cascara dried extract on anthranoids (cascaroside) in solid dosage forms

Dosage

Prepared drugs: see package insert;
Tea infusion: 20 to 30mg of anthranoids per day is sufficient for the laxative effect. This is attained with a tea infusion of 0.5g of Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark. The tea should be taken in the evening before bedtime. It is useful to combine it with other drugs such as Senna leaves (which has a laxative effect too) or Cumin (for flatulence).

Preparation of a tea

Pour 150ml of boiling water over 2 cups of finely chopped Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark and strain after 10 to 15 minutes.

Notes

Buckthorn bark or Cascara back must not be taken for over 1 to 2 weeks (gut-irritating laxative), a long-term use increases the constipation. Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark should not be taken for intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), abdominal pain of unknown origin and severe dehydration symptoms. A slight discoloration of urine can occur while taking Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark.
Although there have been no reports of adverse or harmful effects from Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark in pregnant women and the foetus, because of the potential genotoxic properties of various anthranoids, it is advised to avoid taking Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark during pregnancy. The transfer of anthranoids into the breast milk cannot be excluded, so that even a dose of Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark during breast-feeding is not recommended. Likewise, children under the age of 12 should not take Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark.

Side effects

Rarely cramp-like gastrointestinal complaints (reduce dosage!). The prolonged ingestion of Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark (laxative abuse) can lead to problems with the water/electrolyte metabolism, especially potassium loss. Blood and protein (proteinuria, haematuria) may enter the urine. Chronic use leads to (reversible) pigment deposition in the intestinal mucosa.

Interactions

The chronic use of Buckthorn bark or Cascara bark (laxative abuse) can increase the impact of digitalis drugs (drugs with cardiac glycosides) due to the potassium deficiency, the effect of antiarrhythmic drugs may also be affected. The concomitant use of thiazide diuretics, adrenal corticosteroids and liquorice root can further enhance the loss of potassium.

References

Herbal drug monographs

HMPC, Commission E, ESCOP, WHO (Vol. 2)

Further literature

Wichtl: Teedrogen und Phytopharmaka, pg. 270, pg. 559
Schilcher: Leitfaden Phytotherapie, pg. 92, pg. 36
Van Wyk: Handbuch der Arzneipflanzen, pg. 268, pg. 269
Kommentar zum Europäischen Arzneibuch (Buckthorn bark, no. 25;
Buckthorn bark dried extract, no. 1214;
Cascara bark, no. 105; Cascara dried extract, no. 1844)