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Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (Apiaceae/Umbelliferae)
Synonyms
Daucus visnaga L., Selinum visnaga E.H.L. Krause, Sium visnaga Stokes, Visnaga
daucoides Gaertn.
Local names
Ammi, besnika, bisagna, bishop’s weed, herbe aux cure-dents, herbe aux
gencives, kella, kella balady, khelâl dandâne, khella, nunha, owoc
keli, Spanish carrot, viznaga, Zahnstocherkraut
Description
An annual or biennial herb, up to 1.0 m high. Leaves dentate, in strips. Stems
erect, highly branched. Infl orescence umbellate; rays, highly swollen at the
base, become woody and are used as toothpicks.
Plant material used
dried ripe fruits
Chemical assays
Contains not less than 1% γ-pyrones (furanochromone derivatives) calculated
as khellin, determined by spectrophotometry. A number of high-performance liquid
chromatography methods are also available for quantitative analysis
Major chemical constituents
The major constituents are γ-pyrones (furanochromone derivatives; up to
4%), the principal compounds being khellin (0.3–1.2%) and visnagin (0.05–0.30%).
Other γ-pyrones of signifi cance are khellinol, ammiol, khellol and its
glucoside khellinin (0.3–1.0%). A second group of major constituents are
the coumarins (0.2–0.5%), the main one being the pyranocoumarin visnadin
(0.3%). Essential oil contains camphor, a-terpineol and linalool, among others,
and also fixed oil (up to 18%)
Medicinal uses
Uses supported by clinical data
None.
Uses described in pharmacopoeias and well established
documents
As an antispasmodic, muscle relaxant and vasodilator.
Uses described in traditional medicine
Treatment of mild anginal symptoms. Supportive treatment of mild obstruction
of the respiratory tract in asthma, bronchial asthma or spastic bronchitis,
and postoperative treatment of conditions associated with the presence of urinary
calculi. Treatment of gastrointestinal cramps and painful menstruation. Internally
as an emmenagogue to regulate menstruation, as a diuretic, and for treatment
of vertigo, diabetes and kidney stones
Proven pharmacological activity
Animal studies
Antimicrobial, Antispasmodic, Increase coronary blood flow
Human studies
Increase HDL
Toxicology
In mice, the oral and subcutaneous median lethal doses (LD50) of the fruits
were 2.24 g/kg bw and > 370.0 mg/kg bw, respectively. In rats, the oral LD50
was > 4.0 g/kg bw, and in rabbits, the intravenous LD50 was 50.0 mg/kg bw.
In dogs, the oral and intravenous LD50 values were
20.0 mg/kg bw and 200.0 mg/kg bw, respectively.
Adverse reactions
Pseudoallergic reactions and reversible cholestatic jaundice have been reported.
High oral doses of khellin (100.0 mg/day) reversibly elevated the activities
of liver transaminases and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Prolonged use or overdose
may cause nausea, vertigo, constipation, lack of appetite, headache and sleeplessness
Contraindications Fructus Ammi Visnagae is used in traditional systems of medicine
as an emmenagogue, and its safety during pregnancy has not been established.
Therefore, in accordance with standard medical practice, the fruits should not
be used during pregnancy.
Warnings
No information available.
Precautions
General
Exposure to sun or other sources of ultraviolet light should be avoided during
treatment because khellin causes photosensitivity.
Drug interactions
No drug interactions have been reported. However, khellin is reported to inhibit
microsomal cytochrome P450 subenzymes, and may therefore decrease the serum
concentrations of drugs metabolized via this pathway, such as ciclosporin, warfarin,
estrogens and protease inhibitors.
Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, impairment of fertility
A 95% ethanol extract of Fructus Ammi Visnagae, 10.0 mg/plate, was not mutagenic
in the Salmonella/microsome assay using S. typhimurium strains TA98 and TA102.
Furthermore, an infusion of the fruits had antimutagenic effects against ethyl
methanesulfonate- or 2-amino-anthraceneinduced mutagenicity in S. typhimurium
strains TA98 and TA100. Khellin also inhibited the mutagenicity of promutagens
such as benzopyrene, 2-aminofl uorene and 2-aminoanthracene in S. typhimurium
TA98. However, there was no effect on direct-acting mutagens, such as 2-nitrofl
uorene, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine, in S. typhimurium TA100.
Pregnancy: teratogenic effects
Intragastric administration of up to 600.0 mg/kg bw of visnadin to rats on days
8–12 of pregnancy produced no toxic effects.
Pregnancy: non-teratogenic effects
See Contraindications.
Nursing mothers
Owing to the lack of safety data, Fructus Ammi Visnagae should be taken internally
only under the supervision of a health-care provider.
Paediatric use
Owing to the lack of safety data, Fructus Ammi Visnagae should be taken internally
only under the supervision of a health-care provider.
Other precautions
No information available on precautions concerning drug and laboratory test
interactions.
Dosage forms
Dried fruits, infusions, extracts and other galenical preparations. Store fully
dried fruits in well closed containers in a cool and dry place protected from
light.
Posology
(Unless otherwise indicated)
Average daily dose: Fructus Ammi Visnaga 0.05–0.15 g
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