| Common Names | Snowdrop |
|---|---|
| Description | |
| Locations | Vikos-Aoos Ioannina Pindos Zagori |
| Clinical Summary | |
| Contraindications | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness, anorexia, weight loss. |
| Active Substance | Galantamine lykorine tazetine (alkaloids) |
| Active Substance Plant Part | The whole plant (mainly the tuber) |
| Adverse Reaction | |
| Educational Research | |
| Interaction | |
| Features Description | Galanthus nivalis is a biennial bulbous plant growing up to 15cm, with streaked, green leaves and white, green-spoted flowers, which are replaced by leaves when the blooming ends. The blossoming and the harvesting take place from March to April. |
| Method Administration | The plant is administered as emetic in the form of herbal tea (a spoon of dried bulb in a cup of boiled water, up to 2-3 times a day). The bulb of the plant is used for the collection of galantamine, which is used for the preparation of the drug Reminyl (Alzheimer's medication).Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
| Pharmacological Info | The plant's extract is used efficiently to enhance the memory and it is considered to be effective against the progression of Alzheimer's disease due to galantamine content (inhibitor od acetylcholinesterase). It is also administered for its emetic properties mainly in Eastern European countries. |
| Pharmacological Use | |
| Mechanism Action | |
| References | Bιβλίο: Τα φαρμακευτικά βότανα και οι θεραπευτικές τους ιδιότητες, Λάμπρου Π. Σπύρου, Αγροτικός εκδοτικός οίκος, Αθήνα 1981, A' τόμος, σελίδες: 174 Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 33, http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/galanthus-nivalis-common-snowdrop http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Galanthus+nivalis http://en.heilkraeuter.net/herbs/snowdrop.htm http://herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.gr/2011/01/snowdrops-health-benefits-proven-by.html |
| Research |
