Arnica montana
Arnica montana | |
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1897 illustration[1] | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Arnica |
Species: | A. montana
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Binomial name | |
Arnica montana | |
Synonyms[3] | |
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Arnica montana, also known as wolf's bane, leopard's bane, mountain tobacco and mountain arnica,
Arnica montana is used as a herbal medicine for analgesic and anti-inflammatory purposes, but there is insufficient high-quality clinical evidence for such effects, and it is toxic when taken internally or applied to injured skin.[5]
Description
Arnica montana is a flowering plant about 18–60 cm (7.1–23.6 in) tall
The flowering season is between May and August (Central Europe). The 2 in (5.1 cm) flower heads are composed of orange-yellow disc florets in the centre which are externally bordered by 10 to 15 yellow ray florets. The achenes have a one-piece rough pappus which opens in dry conditions.
Taxonomy
The Latin specific epithet montana refers to mountains or coming from mountains.[10]
Distribution and habitat
Arnica montana is widespread across most of Europe.[11] It is absent from the Celtic Isles and the Italian and Balkan peninsulas.[12] In addition, it is considered extinct in Hungary and Lithuania.[12] Arnica montana grows in nutrient-poor siliceous meadows or clay soils.[9] It mostly grows on alpine meadows and up to nearly 3,000 m (9,800 ft). In more upland regions, it may also be found on nutrient-poor moors and heaths. However Arnica does not grow on lime soil,[9] thus it is an extremely reliable bioindicator for nutrient poor and acidic soils. It is rare overall, but may be locally abundant. It is becoming rarer, particularly in the north of its distribution, largely due to increasingly intensive agriculture and commercial wildcrafting (foraging).[13] Nevertheless, it is cultivated on a large scale in Estonia.[12]
Chemical constituents
The main constituents of Arnica montana are
Cultivation
Arnica montana is propagated from seed. Generally, 20% of seeds do not germinate. For large scale planting, it is recommended to raise plants first in a nursery and then to transplant them in the field. Seeds sprout in 14–20 days but germination rate depends highly on the seed quality. Planting density for Arnica montana is of 20 plants/m2 such that the maximum yield density will be achieved in the second flowering season. While Arnica montana has high exigencies of soil quality, analyses should be done before any fertilizer input.[17]
The flowers are harvested when fully developed and dried without their bract nor receptacles. The roots can be harvested in autumn and dried as well after being carefully washed.[9]
Arnica montana is sometimes grown in herb gardens.[18]
Use in herbal medicine
Arnica montana has been used as a
Toxicity
The
Arnica montana contains the toxin helenalin, which can be poisonous if large amounts of the plant are eaten or small amounts of concentrated Arnica are used. Consumption of A. montana can produce severe gastroenteritis, internal bleeding of the digestive tract, raised liver enzymes (which can indicate inflammation of the liver), nervousness, accelerated heart rate, muscular weakness, and death if enough is ingested.[22][23] Contact with the plant can also cause skin irritation.[24][25] In the Ames test, an extract of A. montana was found to be mutagenic.[23]
Market
The demand for A. montana is 50 tonnes per year in Europe, but the supply does not cover the demand.[citation needed] The plant is rare; it is protected in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and in some regions of Switzerland.[citation needed] France and Romania produce A. montana for the international market.[26] Changes in agriculture in Europe during the last decades have led to a decline in the occurrence of A. montana. Extensive agriculture has been replaced by intensive management.[27]
References
- ^ illustration from Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1897
- doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T162327A5574104.en. Retrieved January 23, 2024.)
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ The Plant List Arnica montana L.
- ^ Judith Ladner. "Arnica montana". Food and Agriculture Organization. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Arnica". Drugs.com. May 6, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ Arnica montana L., relevant European medical plant (2014). Waizel-Bucay J., Cruz-Juarez M. de L. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Forestales, Vol. 5 Issue 25 pp. 98–109
- ^ "BiolFlor search system". Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- ^ "FloraWeb: Daten und Informationen zu Wildpflanzen und zur Vegetation Deutschlands". www.floraweb.de. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 3-517-08019-5.
- ^ Archibald William Smith A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins, p. 239, at Google Books
- ^ "Arnica montana [Arnica]". luirig.altervista.org. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Map of Arnica Montana". euromed.luomus.fi. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ M. Finlay, Sandra. Advance home remedies. ask1on.
- ^ PMID 30586911.
- ISBN 9789241547024.
- .
- ^ B.M.Smallfield & M.H. Douglas (2008) Arnica montana a grower‟s guide for commercial production in New Zealand. New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Limited
- ^ a b "Arnica". Flora of North America. efloras.org. Archived from the original on April 4, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
- PMID 23728701.
- S2CID 76330596.
- PMID 9820349.
- ISBN 0-87842-359-1.
- ^ PMID 11558636.
- ^ "Poisonous Plants: Arnica montana". North Carolina State University. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
- S2CID 46223008.
- ^ Pasquier, B., Godin, M. (2014) L’arnica des montagnes, entre culture et cueillette. Dossier simple et aromatique, Jardins de France 630.
- ^ Michler, B. (2007) Conservation of Eastern European Medicinal Plants Arnica Montana in Romania
External links
- Royal Society of Medicine Article concerning testing involving Arnica (RSM)
- Botanical.com, a modern herbal Arnica